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How to Apply Wall Decals: 7 Easy Steps
Decorating your child’s room is a great way to make it truly theirs — from showcasing their personality to designing with a just-for-them theme.
Whether you’re styling a playroom or decorating a nursery or toddler room, wall decals are a great way to add interest without damaging their walls. Plus, they’re easy to remove if you decide to repaint or want to redesign in a few years. Here, we’ll go over how to apply wall decals.
Watch our video to see the process in action, and keep our step-by-step instructions close by.
Tools
• Cloth
• Water
• Soap
• Tape measure
• Squeegee
• Pencil (optional)
• Level (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
There are just a few simple steps when it comes to knowing how to apply a vinyl wall decal. Ready to get started?
Step 1
Decide where you want the decal. Do a little planning in advance — if you’re applying a larger decal, like a letter or animal, you’ll want to measure out the area to make sure you have enough wall space. We recommend marking a few small guiding points with a pencil to ensure your vinyl decal is straight.
Step 2
Make sure the wall is clean. Take a quick look to ensure there aren’t any bumps, holes or adhesives (like from old decor) on the wall. Wipe down any areas that need cleaning with soap and water or fill in any holes. The wall should be dry before applying your decal.
Step 3
Unpackage the decal. Depending on the size of your vinyl wall decal, it will either come packaged rolled up in a tube or on sheets, like vinyl stickers. Lay them out on a flat surface.
Step 4
Peel and apply. Peel your first decal off its backing, and place it in the desired position on the wall.
Step 5
Smooth it out. Use your hands and a squeegee to smooth out the decal. Our Pottery Barn Kids decals come with an application tool to help you complete this step. Keep an eye out for air bubbles or wrinkles that need extra smoothing.
Step 6
Adjust as needed. If your decal needs to be straightened or moved, don’t stress — just peel it up and reposition as needed. No need to worry about damage.
Repeat steps 1–6. If there are multiple parts to your decal or more than one decal in your set, repeat the steps above until your new wall decor is complete.
Things to Keep in Mind
Even though applying a wall decal is pretty straightforward, we suggest keeping a couple of things in mind to ensure your wall decal goes up smoothly.
• Wall texture: We recommend applying a wall decal on a smooth wall. Vinyl wall decals won’t stick as well to highly textured walls.
• Weather: If your home is exceptionally hot or cold on the day you’re looking to apply your decal, you may run in to trouble. A cold surface could cause the decal to tear, while a hot surface could impact the adhesive.
Whenever it’s time to redecorate your little one’s nursery or big-kid room, you can easily peel off the wall decal. Our peel-and-stick options make it more than simple to redesign your child’s space. Plus, with no risk of wall damage, you can confidently decorate without fear of needing to fill holes or repaint.
Knowing how to apply vinyl decals is simple, straightforward and a great way to define a child’s space. Need more decor inspiration? Check out our wall decor to complete the look of your nursery or kid’s room.