How to Install Removable Wallpaper
A peel-and-stick guide for a confident, beautiful application — no installer required.
A peel-and-stick guide for a confident, beautiful application — no installer required.
Tempaper is a self-adhesive, repositionable removable wallpaper with a water-based adhesive — no paste, no glue, no steamer. It’s designed to be applied by one person (though a second set of hands is always welcome), removed cleanly when you’re ready for a change, and re-hung many times over the life of the roll. Proper surface prep is the single most important factor in a successful installation.
Before You Begin
Surface Preparation
Proper surface prep is the single most important factor in a successful installation. Tempaper adheres to clean, smooth walls — and releases cleanly from them, too.
Recommended
Not Recommended
Freshly painted walls. Allow paint to cure fully before applying — curing time varies by paint type; check the label.
Clean first. Wipe walls with a cloth lightly dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Let dry completely before hanging.
Application
Step 01
Measure the height of your wall and add 2 inches at the top and bottom for trimming. Pre-cut all panels before you begin hanging. Lay them out in order so you can confirm pattern alignment from panel to panel before anything goes on the wall.
Step 02
Walls are almost never perfectly plumb. Use a level or laser level to draw a light pencil line from ceiling to floor as your starting reference. This ensures your first panel is true vertical — and every subsequent panel follows from it.
Remove outlet covers and switch plates before starting. Turn off electricity at the source first, and restore power only after covers are fully replaced.
Step 03
Peel back 3–4 feet of the backing from the top of the first panel — don't remove it all at once. Align the panel at the ceiling along your vertical guide, leaving a small overhang for trimming. Take care not to pull or stretch the paper during positioning.
Step 04
Use your hand or a squeegee to press the wallpaper to the wall working from the center out toward the edges — this pushes air outward rather than trapping it. Continue peeling the backing away slowly as you work downward, smoothing section by section.
Air bubbles? Use a safety pin to puncture a tiny hole at the center of the bubble and gently press the air out. The pinhole is nearly invisible once the air is released.
Step 05
Tempaper is repositionable — if a panel isn't lining up, gently peel it back and reposition before pressing firmly. Butt each panel edge to edge and match the pattern repeat carefully. In rooms with temperature fluctuations, a very slight overlap at seams can prevent splitting over time.
Step 06
Use a fresh craft knife blade and a straight edge to trim the overhang at the ceiling, baseboard, and any corners. A dull blade will tear rather than cut cleanly — replace it if you notice any dragging. Around outlets, measure and mark the cutout, then cut with an X-Acto knife before pressing the panel flat.
Field Notes
Order from the same lot
Wallpaper color can vary slightly between production runs. Order all rolls at once to ensure consistent lot numbers throughout a single room.
Order 10% extra
Add at least ten percent to your square footage calculation to account for pattern matching, trimming, and the occasional mistake.
Don't pull — smooth
Tempaper is vinyl and will stretch if pulled against resistance. Always hold and guide the panel gently rather than pulling at it.
Test first if uncertain
Applying to an unusual surface or an older wall? Press a small section and let it sit for 24 hours before committing to the full installation.
Cover switch plates with scraps
Use leftover wallpaper to cover outlet and switch plates for a seamless look. Apply a scrap, trim around the edges with an X-Acto knife, and reinstall.
Grab a friend for large rooms
It's easy enough to do solo, but a second person makes managing long panels and aligning pattern repeats significantly easier.
Removal
When you’re ready for a change, Tempaper comes down without the damage or mess of traditional wallpaper. No steamer, no chemical stripper, no scoring tool.
01
Start at a corner or seam and gently lift a corner of the wallpaper with your fingers.
02
Peel back slowly at a low angle — pulling at roughly 45° or less minimizes stress on the wall surface beneath.
03
Continue peeling evenly across the width of the panel, supporting the paper as you go to keep it from tearing.
04
No residue or wall damage should remain. If the paper has been up for many years, go slowly and test a small area first.
FAQ