6 Wallpaper Mistakes Designers Immediately Notice in Any Home (2025)

Wallpaper made a comeback years ago and, with the ease and affordability of today’s peel-and-stick varieties, it’s gaining momentum. But despite the wide variety of easy-to-DIY self-adhesive products available now, experts agree that peel-and-stick coverings just don't look as refined.

"Traditional wallpaper may be more expensive and time- and tool-intensive, but it generally offers a more polished and professional finish," Catherine Jacob, head of design at wallpaper studio Hovia, says.

If you decide to go the long and arduous route of traditionally pasted wallpaper, here are some common mistakes you need to know and avoid.

Don’t Miscalculate

Many first-time wallpaper shoppers will incorrectly order the number of rolls needed to cover an entire wall or room, whether due to miscalculation during the planning process or not accounting for potential mishaps that can happen during application.

Either way, the last thing you need is to run out of material halfway or three-quarters of the way through the job, Lior Kahana, operations manager at 123 Remodeling, says. He adds that different production batches can have slight color variations, so even if you can rush-order more of the same wall covering should you run out, it might prove disastrous if you find the color is off from the first strips you applied. Kahana recommends ordering 10 to 15 percent more than you anticipate using to give you a bit of room for error.

“It’s worth spending a little extra now to save a lot of stress later," Kahana says.

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Consider the Space

People are often so consumed with patterns, colors, and styles they personally like at the moment that they forget to think about what’s appropriate for the space it’s going to occupy. Before choosing a wallpaper, consider:

Visuals

"Consider the scale of the room in figuring out what kind of pattern or graphic will work best," Armina Kasprowicz, owner and principal designer of Armina Interiors, says.

For instance, a mural-type covering might expand a small space visually. Kasprowicz emphasizes the importance of choosing a wallpaper you'll never get tired of, so it can last for years and withstand against trends. On the other hand, if it's a room that gets redecorated more frequently, such as a nursery or powder room, it's okay to experiment with easy-to-change peel-and-stick designs.

Environment

Along the same lines, think of the space's special environment, such as humidity in a bathroom. The peel-and-stick variety doesn’t cut it because it uses a low-tack adhesive that loosens in the presence of steam. But not just any traditional paste-up wallpaper works in the bath, either, because the material needs to have some water repellency. So, when shopping for a humid environment, it's best to forgo paper and other natural materials like grasscloth and instead consider vinyl.

Property Type

Think about the type of property you’re decorating. Since traditional wallpaper is pasted on and therefore more permanent whereas peel-and-stick paper is made to be removed without damaging the wall, the latter should be your go-to for use in a rental property.

Draw a Level Line

Don’t assume that the walls you’re about to cover are straight to begin with.

“If you don’t use a level or plumb line to set a proper starting point, the pattern will start tilting—and by the time you notice, it'll be too late,” Kahana says.

Simply use a carpenter’s or straightedge level to lightly pencil-draw a straight vertical line. This will become your plumb line. Kahana recommends double-checking this before laying on the first strip.

Plan the Layout

Don't just apply strip after strip without forethought. It’s a good idea to plan out the precise layout of each strip ahead of time as some patterns aren’t necessarily printed with matched-up edges. You might have to cut a strip or two ahead of time to make the pattern look seamless.

If you're considering a more complex mural or large-scale or bold pattern, Kasprowicz recommends hiring a skilled installer.

Don’t Paste Over Old Paper

A major mistake the home DIYer might make is wallpapering over old wallpaper: The wet paste of the new paper can end up reactivating the paste of the existing one, leading to unsightly bubbling, so take the time to strip the existing covering off.

Jacob recommends preparing your space before you get started by covering or moving any furniture out, protecting the floor with something as simple as plastic sheeting, and removing other objects from the walls such as vents and faceplates from light switches and sockets.

Take Your Time

Although it's normal to rush through a project since you may want to get it over with, Kahana warns against this. Traditional wallpaper can’t just be removed, repositioned, and re-smoothed out a pasted covering.

Kahana explains how the paste will need time to activate (follow the specific paste’s instructions) and be smoothed out to avoid wrinkles and air pockets.