The Low-Commitment DIY Decor Hack We Swear By
(Photo: Carmen Cheung. Prop stylist: Nicole Billark. Wallpaper: Otto)
Switching up your decor comes with a lot of decisions that can, in the moment, feel permanent. It may seem easier to play it safe—but what makes a space come to life are the big risks: the bold paint colours, the clashing patterns, the conversation-starting furniture pieces.
When it comes to low-commitment, high-impact decor moves, DIY expert and YouTuber Alexandra Gater—who shared her most-loved DIY hacks in our Spring 2026 issue—swears by peel-and-stick wallpaper. “[It] changed the decorating game for me,” she says, adding that she has been using this hack in rental apartments for years to bring in colour and pattern without the hassle or commitment of traditional wallpaper.
The first—and perhaps most challenging—step is picking your pattern. From funky retro swirls to delicate cottagecore florals to moody dark academia stripes, there are endless options for every decor style. When Chatelaine editor-in-chief Maureen Halushak wanted to bring in some colour to her back porch, she opted for peel-and-stick wallpaper. She chose Harvest Moon in Cotton Candy by Vancouver-based Otto Studio to match the blues and pinks of her adjacent kitchen, and prepped the room by painting her window trim a vibrant cobalt blue.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper sometimes gets a bad rap for being challenging to install and remove without damaging the wall, but not all products are created equal. Before you get started, order samples, says Devon Regier, production lead at Otto Studio. “Remove the backing from the sample, and give it a bit of a tug to check if it stretches or not,” he recommends. The less stretch the product has, the easier it will be to install. You’ll also want to check that it’s actually removable by installing—and removing—the sample on an inconspicuous area.
Ready to give this DIY hack a try? We asked Regier to share his top tips on how to install peel-and-stick wallpaper—and then put them to the test in Maureen’s back-porch makeover.
Materials
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper
- Measuring tape
- Sandpaper (optional)
- Isopropyl alcohol to clean
- Laser level
- Smoothing tool
- Utility knife
- Metal straight edge
- Ladder or step stool
How to install peel-and-stick wallpaper
Measure your surface
Figuring out how much wallpaper you need to order is crucial. Most companies have calculators on their website, which makes ordering a breeze. But this only works if your measurements are correct.
If your room has windows and/or a door, it’s best to calculate the surface area of the wall as if they don’t exist. Walls are always a little crooked, warns Regier, so measure across a few different areas and always order for the largest measurement. It’s also a good idea to triple-check your measurements before inputting the numbers into the calculator.
When the peel-and-stick wallpaper arrives, Regier recommends laying out your panels to make sure you’ve ordered enough and that all the panels line up properly.
Prep the wall
First, remove outlet covers and switch plates. Then, wipe your wall with isopropyl alcohol to remove dust and debris to ensure the adhesive sticks properly. If you want to go the extra mile, Regier likes to lightly sand the wall before cleaning it to ensure a smooth adhesion.
Install the first panel
Using a laser level, line up your first panel—leaving around two inches of excess material at the top. It’s especially important that the first panel isn’t crooked as you’ll be using it as a guide for the rest of the project. Regier suggests starting at the edge of a wall or door frame.
Have one person remove the back of the peel-and-stick wallpaper while the other smooths the paper down onto the wall with a smoothing tool. And don’t worry about air bubbles. “Drywall is very breathable,” explains Regier. “Most of the air can pass right through the drywall, even if it's painted.” He warns that installing on other surfaces can require a bit more finesse to smooth out air bubbles.
Align the pattern
For each new panel, align the pattern with the previous panel. You’ll want to overlap about half an inch with the previous panel to avoid gaps. If needed, Regier says that some brands—like Otto Studio—allow you to slowly remove the wallpaper to adjust it without damaging the vinyl or the wall.
Cut off the excess paper
Once all the panels are installed, trim off the excess wallpaper from the sides, top and bottom using a metal straight edge (or the plastic smoothing tool you used during installation),
Remove it—the right way
When you’re ready for a new look, the best way to remove peel-and-stick wallpaper without damaging the wall underneath is to work backwards from the installation. Start with the last panel you installed, and remove it from top to bottom.
The very best of Chatelaine straight to your inbox.
Andréanne Dion is the senior editor, style, beauty and travel at Chatelaine. She is also a contributing editor at FASHION and Hello! Canada.
