MINNEAPOLIS — While social media influencers tout the affordability, ease and impact of one home improvement hack, real-life examples show the process may require some maneuvering.
Peel-and-stick wallpapers are removable, making it popular among renters and homeowners alike. They range in prices, some as low as $5 a roll on Amazon. Other brands like Love vs. Design and Spoonflower specialize in wallpapers and offer them at higher prices.
Melanie Zaelich has stick-on wallpaper throughout her south Minneapolis home — on her office ceiling and laundry room walls. With variations of the adhesives including removable backsplashes and countertops, Zaelich also uses them to cover a laundry folding table and an old picture frame.
"They're a great, fun way to add a little temporary kick," the designer behind Happy Place Interiors said. "It's non-committal. You can just peel it off and and redo it."
For Zaelich, the DIY tricks helped transform her laundry room for $500. She said that a similar makeover from outside service providers would have cost her upwards of $20,000.
The new look isn't perfect, however. Zaelich's cinderblock wall peeks through some spots of peeling and unevenness, and the designer wasn't alone in finding these imperfections.
Potential issues
KARE 11 purchased a $10 peel and stick wallpaper from Amazon and tested it out on the side of a cabinet. The most noticeable flaw was where edges curled up.
The first problem was that the wallpaper material was too thin. "That also means the adhesive is not going to be strong enough either," Zaelich said.
The measurements of the trimming are important when covering surfaces like tables and countertops.
"Overhangs are good," she added. "More overhang is going to give it more adhesive area to work with and hold it tight."
Problem solving
A KARE 11 producer shared photos of his bedroom wall, which showed pieces of removable wallpaper lifting around the corners. He said it only took a couple of days for it to start peeling, and every time the temperature changes, it peels and he has to pat it back down.
Zaelich said that older homes can have bumpy walls, which can interfere with smooth application. She advises, clear wood glue can add to the adhesives that come with the papers.
She also recommends, keep pieces as big as possible because the smaller the section, the more likely it is to roll up.
The final word
While big-box retailers sell wallpapers for a low price, Zaelich said they would be her "last resort." Products with the best quality are sold by wallpaper companies.
For other rules of thumb, she said to make sure surfaces are clean and dry. Also, expect trial and error.
"People can expand beyond the directions that come with it," she said.
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