So, you’ve decided to wallpaper your walls. Bold move. That means you’re either incredibly stylish or you saw a Pinterest post at 2 AM and said, "Yeah, I can totally do that." Either way, I support your journey into adhesive-backed chaos.

Applying wallpaper isn’t rocket science, but it can make you question your life choices. Luckily, I’m here to walk you through the process with minimal emotional damage. Grab your tools, summon your patience, and let’s get that wallpaper up—without losing your sanity.

Step 1: Pick the Right Wallpaper (Because Not All Are Created Equal)

Before you start, you need to pick your weapon—I mean, wallpaper. Here are your options:

🛠️ Peel-and-Stick: The commitment-phobe’s dream. If you can put a sticker on a notebook, you can do this. But beware: peeling and reapplying can turn into a wrestling match.

🧴 Traditional (Paste-the-Wall or Paste-the-Paper): For the seasoned DIY-er or the wildly overconfident. You’ll need wallpaper paste and a willingness to get your hands messy.

🚀 Textured or Fabric Wallpapers: Fancy, expensive, and as forgiving as a cat that you forgot to feed. If you’re a beginner, maybe sit this one out.

Step 2: Prep Your Walls (a.k.a. Make Them Flawless)

You wouldn’t apply foundation to a dirty face (hopefully), so don’t slap wallpaper onto a bumpy, greasy wall.

✅ Clean – Wipe down the walls. Dust, grease, and mystery stains will make your wallpaper bubble.

✅ Smooth – Fill in any holes or dents. If your walls have texture, consider sanding them down, unless you like your wallpaper looking like a topographical map.

✅ Prime – A good primer will help the wallpaper stick properly and save you from a future meltdown.

Step 3: Measure Twice, Cut Once (or Cry Later)

Math is hard, but crooked wallpaper is worse.

📏 Measure Your Walls – Then measure again, because I guarantee the first time was wrong.

✂️ Cut the Strips – Add an extra few inches at the top and bottom. You can trim later, but you cannot make wallpaper grow.

📐 Match the Pattern – If your wallpaper has a pattern, make sure the seams line up. Otherwise, your beautiful floral print will look like abstract modern art.

Step 4: Stick It On (Where the Real Fun Begins)

Here’s where things get interesting.

🎯 Start from the Middle or a Corner – If your walls are straight, start in a corner. If they’re old and wonky, start in the middle to prevent things from looking tilted.

🛠️ Smooth It Out – Use a smoothing tool or credit card to remove bubbles. Do not use your hands unless you enjoy lumpy walls.

🔪 Trim the Edges – Use a sharp utility knife for clean cuts. Dull blades will rip your wallpaper like a toddler opening a present.

⏳ Step Back and Admire – Not bad, right? Now repeat a million times until you’re done.

Step 5: Celebrate (and Fix Your Mistakes in the Morning)

If you’re lucky, your wallpaper is now flawless. If not, grab a glass of wine and pretend you meant for that tiny misalignment to be there.

🔧 Bubbles? Prick them with a pin and smooth them out.

🔧 Edges Peeling? A little extra adhesive can fix that.

🔧 Completely botched a strip? Rip it off and try again. No one will ever know.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. Your walls now look like they belong in a magazine, and you have a great story about how you almost lost your mind in the process. But hey, nothing worth having comes easy, right?

Would you wallpaper again? Drop a comment below—or just send a photo of your triumph (or disaster). Either way, I’m here for it. 🎉