Avoid wallpaper in high-moisture spaces, areas with fluctuating temperatures, heavily used rental properties, and rooms with uneven, unprimed, or damaged walls. Wallpaper easily absorbs steam, causing peeling, warping, and invisible mold growth behind the paper.
These are the places you should never wallpaper if you want a low-maintenance home
Yes, wallpaper is not only in style, but it is considered a fundamental design element rather than a basic accent. Modern, easily removable, and highly tactile options allow you to choose from three major directions:
Zinsser's Wallpaper-Cover Up is ideal for painting over wallpaper, offering a specially formulated solution that not only primes the surface but also seals and blocks any stains or patterns, ensuring they won't bleed through the topcoat.
Step 1: Prep the Surface
First, it eliminates the cost of wallpaper glue. Secondly, it naturally sticks to a wide variety of surfaces, including satin-finished drywall, ceramic tile, linoleum, plastic, as well as particleboard or melamine, which is often featured in IKEA furniture.
Yes, you can absolutely put wallpaper on plywood. However, because wood is porous and prone to expanding and contracting, proper surface preparation is the secret to getting a smooth, lasting finish.
While peel-and-stick wallpaper is renter-friendly and easy to install, it struggles on textured or humid walls, requires meticulous measuring, and can be frustrating to reposition. Over time, edges may lift, and cheaper brands can bubble or shrink.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
The best overall wallpaper primer is Zinsser Shieldz Universal Wallcovering Primer. It’s water-based, prevents drywall tearing during future removal, and allows for easy repositioning.
Any type of emulsion paint will paint over wallpaper. You might need a few coats and be careful that the paper doesn't start to peel away as the paste has deteriorated. Try an inconspicuous area first and let it dry thoroughly.
Current wallpaper trends emphasize warmth, personality, and tactile luxury. The hottest looks include Trompe L'oeil (faux-textures like plaster or linen), Heritage Revival (vintage, cottagecore motifs), and Micro-prints (tiny, delicate patterns that add detail without clutter).
Wallpaper in 2026 shifts away from flat accent walls, focusing instead on immersive natural themes, tactile materials, and bold statement prints. Top trends include trompe l'oeil textures (faux plaster, stone), moody or vintage-inspired florals, and Biophilic Maximalism, which uses panoramic, hand-painted murals to bring nature directly indoors.
Ditch the traditional contrasting accent wall and elevate your space with these modern alternatives. Instead of painting a single wall a bold color, try all-over immersive color, 3D wood slat panels, texture-rich wall coverings like grasscloth, or large-scale wall murals.
The top 2026 wallpaper trends feature a blend of tactile neutrals (like faux linen and concrete), heritage revival block prints, and immersive scenic murals. These styles transform walls into foundational art rather than just background accents.
Check what type of adhesive the wallpaper has
Permanent glue will damage your wall, whereas removable glue will not leave a residue and should leave your wall damage free. Peel and stick products from Peel & Paper are always removable, so your walls are safe!
Wallpaper primer isn't always necessary, but in general it's a good idea. There are lots of benefits to using a primer, including: Better adhesion. Wall protection.
Yes, you can use Kilz to paint over wallpaper, but you must use an oil-based or shellac-based formula, such as KILZ ORIGINAL or KILZ Complete. Do not use water-based (latex) primers, as the moisture will reactivate the wallpaper adhesive, causing the paper to bubble, peel, and detach.
Liquid wallpaper protection products are often used to seal feature walls or entire wallpapered rooms to protect them from dirt and damage.
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
There are three main types of “impossible” colors: Forbidden colors. These are colors our eyes simply cannot process because of the antagonistic way our cones work, for instance “red-green” or “yellow-blue.”
Beige tones, hues of white, and grey should be the colors of choice for your furniture, curtains, drapes, and other home accessories. Neutral colors not only give that plush look, but they also give you that warm feeling.
Current wallpaper trends feature nature-inspired designs, textured finishes (like limewash and plaster), bold maximalist florals, and "quiet luxury". If you are looking for digital backgrounds, deep-depth parallax and abstract gradient styles dominate.
Cover bad walls cheaply by using textured peel-and-stick wallpaper, hanging tapestries or fabric, or applying lightweight PVC wall panels. These options hide dents, cracks, and uneven textures without the high cost of drywall repairs.
Peel and stick wallpaper does not inherently look cheap, but it can if you choose low-quality materials or install it poorly. Because it is a DIY-friendly, removable option, the secret to an expensive look lies in the finish and the execution.