We were excited to try wallpaper in our duplex and last week we installed two peel-and-stick wall murals. The whole process was much easier than we expected, and the results exceeded our hopes—these murals instantly transformed two small rooms into charming sleeping nooks.
We originally considered several wallpapers before choosing removable wall murals from Society6. These murals are essentially peel-and-stick wallpaper, but their designs come as wide, single-run panels (most are 8′ wide, some 12′) rather than repeating rolls—perfect for small 8′ x 8′ rooms. Because they’re removable, they’re also easy to peel off later if we change our minds.
Why We Chose a Peel-and-Stick Wall Mural
Beyond the size, a few features sold us on these murals:
- Large-scale, bold patterns and painted-style images that felt high-impact for the price
- Simple installation with no paste—panels peel and can be repositioned if they aren’t perfect the first time
- Durable, thick material with a slightly textured, fabric-like feel
- An installation demo on the seller’s site that helped set expectations
This isn’t sponsored—we bought them ourselves and are sharing our experience because we were genuinely impressed.
The Wall Mural Designs We Used
After debating multiple designs, we picked two painterly patterns: a blue watercolor whale mural for one side of the duplex and an orange blossom mural for the other. The whale mural looks great beside the side with pink doors, while the oranges complement the side with green-blue doors. We also bought both during a sale, which made the purchase a better value.
Installing them was straightforward but requires patience and care. The first installation took about three hours; the second took roughly two. Once you get the rhythm, the process moves quickly.
Tools & Supplies
You don’t need many tools, but the following make the job easier:
- Step ladder
- Level
- Pencil
- Tape measure or ruler
- Flathead screwdriver (for outlet covers)
- Scissors
- Utility knife or sharp craft knife
- Smoothing tool (a dedicated tool or a credit card works)
- An extra set of hands—this is much easier with two people
Step 1: Organize Your Panels
These wide murals arrive as multiple panels rolled together—typically four 24″ panels for an 8′ mural. Because the design doesn’t repeat, identify and lay out the panels in order before you start. We unrolled ours on a bed to confirm the sequence so we wouldn’t accidentally reverse any panels during installation.
Step 2: Position the First Panel Carefully
Peel back a small portion of the backing and stick the top of the first panel to the wall. This first panel sets the tone: take your time. The material is forgiving, so you can stick, unstick, and reposition several times without losing adhesion. Use a level to draw a vertical guide line—don’t rely on the corner of the room or the ceiling, since most walls aren’t perfectly square. We set our first panel so it overlapped the adjacent wall by a little and extended about an inch above the ceiling line to allow for uneven surfaces.
Step 3: Peel, Stick, and Smooth
Work from the middle outward as you peel small sections of backing, press the material to the wall, and smooth out bubbles. A smoothing tool helps but a credit card will do in a pinch. If anything wrinkles or sits wrong, peel it back and try again—the panels are very forgiving. Continue until the panel reaches the baseboard; you’ll trim the excess later.
Step 4: Match the Pattern on the Second Panel
These murals are printed edge-to-edge rather than with overlapping seams, so butt the next panel up against the first. Peel a small section of backing, line up the pattern carefully, and smooth into place. The material can stretch slightly, so avoid pulling too hard while smoothing; if alignment shifts, peel back and reposition until the seam is seamless.
Step 5: Cut Around Small Obstacles
For outlets and switches, turn off the power, remove the cover plate, and loosely press the mural over the opening. Feel the outline through the paper and use your utility knife to carefully cut an opening that the switch or outlet cover will conceal. Smooth, replace the cover plate, and you’re done.
Step 6: Trim Around Windows and Doors
When a window or door interrupts a panel, start the panel at the top and trim away the portion that interferes. Cut conservatively at first—leave a few inches of excess—and trim more as needed. Use diagonal cuts around corners and press the mural flat as you go. Excess over trim and baseboards can be trimmed later for a clean finish.
Step 7: Handle Tricky Seams and Overlaps
If you can’t get a perfect seam—especially next to windows—focus on aligning the pattern where it will be most visible. In one spot we split a panel at a narrow, mostly blank area and slightly overlapped the edges for a smooth, subtle seam. From a normal viewing distance the overlap is barely noticeable and will be hidden by furniture in these rooms.
Step 8: Trim Excess with a Knife
Trim the excess material along the ceiling, baseboards, and adjacent walls with a utility knife. You can either score along a crease and cut freehand or press a card along the edge as a straight guide while cutting. Wait until panels are correctly positioned before trimming—once it’s cut, it can’t be undone.
Step 9: Enjoy the Result
Once the panels are up and trimmed, the change is dramatic. These murals turned two tiny rooms into cozy, distinctive sleeping spaces. We still need to finish furnishing them—twin bed platforms are in place and mattresses are coming—but the murals set the style and feel of each room.
Bottom line: peel-and-stick murals are a fast, relatively simple way to add personality to small spaces. With the right tools, a little patience, and careful alignment, even a beginner can achieve a professional-looking result in a few hours.
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