How to Revamp Furniture with Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Estimated reading time : 5 minutes

If you want to revamp a piece of furniture without getting the paintbrushes out, peel-and-stick wallpaper is a bit of a gem. It’s quick, easy to apply and can give a tired piece of furniture a whole new personality, even if you’re not a DIY expert. (We promise you won’t end up with tiny scraps of paper stuck to every finger!)

Why Choose Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper to Revamp Your Furniture

The first big advantage is convenience. Peel-and-stick wallpaper goes on in just a few simple steps, with no brushes, paint cans or hours spent waiting for everything to dry. It’s an easy way to completely change the look of a piece of furniture without giving up your entire weekend.

From a décor perspective, there’s also plenty of fun to be had. Warm colors to brighten up an old dresser, stripes for a beach-cabin look, solid colors for something a little calmer… Sometimes a new pattern is all it takes to give a piece of furniture a whole new personality. And if your tastes change a few years down the line, replacing the paper is generally much less hassle than sanding and repainting everything.

In short, it’s ideal for big ideas, small budgets and furniture you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to.

Peel-and-stick wallpaper can also add a little extra protection to the surface of your furniture, particularly against light everyday scratches. It won’t offer the same protection as a proper wood varnish, but it can still help with the little knocks and scratches of everyday life.

You’ll find all kinds of adhesive coverings on the market, many of them made from vinyl and often with a visible plastic finish.

At Made of Sundays, we’ve chosen to work with plastic-free peel-and-stick wallpaper instead, for a matte, natural finish that feels much closer to traditional wallpaper. It works particularly well on cabinet fronts, doors, drawers, shelves and even inside cupboards or wardrobes. 

Also, the great thing is that many of our wallpapers can be personalised in your favourite colours, with 90+ shades to choose from, so you can match your furniture to the rest of the room or create a combination that’s completely your own.

Preparing Your Furniture for Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Tools You’ll Need

Before you start, gather everything you’ll need. It’ll save you from hunting for your craft knife halfway through the job with half a sheet of wallpaper already stuck down.

For most projects, you’ll need :

• Our Made of Sundays peel-and-stick wallpaper
• A sharp craft or utility knife, ideally with a fresh blade for clean cuts
• A ruler and tape measure
• A squeegee or rigid card for smoothing the paper
• A clean, lint-free cloth
• A pencil for marking your measurements
• Depending on your project, a small level can also come in handy for keeping everything straight, especially on large doors or cabinet fronts.

Clean and Prepare the Surface

A good application starts with a well-prepared surface. Dust, grease and small bumps can prevent the wallpaper from sticking properly or show through once the furniture is covered.

Before you start:

• Dust the surface thoroughly with a clean cloth.
• Clean and degrease if necessary, then allow the surface to dry completely before applying the wallpaper.
• Make sure the surface is smooth. Raw or damaged wood may need a light sanding to remove fibers and small imperfections.
• Remove handles and knobs whenever possible. It’ll make application much easier and give you a cleaner finish.
• If your furniture has leftover glue, peeling varnish, holes or dents, it’s best to deal with them before applying the wallpaper. A little sanding or filling may feel like an extra step now, but you’ll thank yourself once you start applying the paper.

How to Apply Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper to Furniture

Measure and Cut the Wallpaper

Before peeling anything off, start by measuring. A piece cut slightly too small is difficult to fix, so leave yourself a small margin of around 1 to 2 cm, depending on the shape of the furniture and the area you’re covering.

Identify all the areas you want to cover: the top, drawers, doors, dresser sides, cabinet fronts or even the inside of the furniture. This will help you plan your cuts and any pattern matching before you begin.

Then it’s time to cut:

1. Lay the wallpaper on a flat surface.
2. Transfer your measurements and lightly mark your cutting lines with a pencil.
3. Cut along your guides with a sharp craft knife. Depending on the project, you can also leave a little extra paper and make the final trim once the wallpaper is in place.
4. If you ordered your wallpaper to match the dimensions of your furniture, good news: you may be able to shorten this step considerably or skip it altogether.
   

💡If you’re using patterned wallpaper, check the direction and alignment of the pattern before cutting several pieces. It’s much easier to fix now than once everything is stuck down.

Apply the Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Here we go: the moment your furniture really starts its new life. There’s no need to rush. The easiest approach is to work little by little.

1. Start along a straight edge and carefully position your first piece.
2. Peel the wallpaper gradually away from its backing rather than removing the entire backing sheet at once. This gives you much more control during application.
3. Stick down a few centimeters at a time, smoothing as you go with a squeegee or rigid card. Work from the center toward the edges to push out any trapped air.
4. If something starts going wonky, gently peel back the affected section and try again. Better to fix it now than carry on and hope nobody notices.
   

💡On some very smooth surfaces, lightly dampening the surface can make repositioning easier during installation.

Adjustments and Finishing Touches

Once the wallpaper is in place, there are just a few final details to take care of. Nothing too complicated, but this is often where a good finish becomes a really good one.

• Around the edges: carefully trim away any excess wallpaper with a craft knife, following the outline of the furniture. A sharp blade makes all the difference.
• In the corners: gently press the paper into the shape of the furniture. If a small crease appears, a tiny, discreet cut can help the paper lie flat again.
• Around handles and knobs: locate the original holes beneath the wallpaper, then simply screw the handles and knobs back. Removing them before applying the wallpaper gives you a much neater finish without having to cut awkwardly around them. For a more finished look, matching your wallpaper, you can replace those with our matching wooden knobs.

💡If you’re using several pieces on the same surface: try to position seams in the least visible areas and avoid overlapping the paper whenever possible.

And that’s it.

Revamping a piece of furniture with peel-and-stick wallpaper mostly takes a little patience and some careful measuring. You don’t need to be a DIY pro: with a well-prepared surface and a steady application, a tired piece of furniture can very quickly feel brand new again.

FAQ – Revamping Furniture with Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

How can I change the color of a piece of furniture without painting it?

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is an easy way to change the color or style of a piece of furniture without reaching for the paint. Solid colors, stripes or bolder patterns can be used to cover all or part of a piece, giving it a completely new personality without intensive sanding or drying time. Made of Sundays wallpapers can be customised in +90 colours to match your piece of furniture with the rest of the room.

Can peel-and-stick wallpaper be used on all types of furniture?

Yes and no. The condition of the surface is actually more important than the type of furniture itself. Our peel-and-stick wallpaper works best on smooth, clean, dry surfaces that are in good condition. Laminate, melamine, and painted or varnished wood furniture can generally work well, provided the original finish is stable.

Raw, highly porous, fibrous or damaged wood may require light sanding or some additional preparation first. If you’re unsure, it’s always a good idea to test the wallpaper on a small, discreet area before committing to the whole piece.

Can you use peel-and-stick wallpaper on a table or countertop?

You can with some coverings, but these surfaces have a harder life than cabinet doors or dresser fronts. Tables and countertops have to deal with much more friction, heat, water and the occasional everyday disaster, which might not be the best for our paper-made adhesive wallpaper.  For heavily used surfaces, it’s better to choose a covering specifically designed for that kind of wear and tear, or add some transparent protective layer on top of the wallpaper. 

Is peel-and-stick wallpaper resistant to water, humidity and heat?

It depends on the material. Our paper-based peel-and-stick wallpaper can generally cope with light cleaning and the occasional splash, but it isn’t designed for prolonged or constant contact with water.

Avoid areas that stay wet as well as surfaces exposed directly to high temperatures. In a kitchen, our peel-and-stick wallpaper can work well on cabinet fronts and other decorative areas, but it shouldn’t be placed right next to an open flame, a very hot cooktop or anywhere that regularly gets soaked.

Can Made of Sundays peel-and-stick wallpaper be used in a bathroom?

Yes, as long as you choose the right spot. Our peel-and-stick wallpaper can work well in a bathroom on a smooth, clean and dry surface, for example on a wall away from the shower or around a bathroom vanity.

Because it’s made from paper rather than vinyl, however, it’s best to avoid areas that come into direct or prolonged contact with water, such as inside a shower or immediately around a bathtub. The occasional splash is generally fine, but the wallpaper shouldn’t stay wet for long periods.

How do you remove peel-and-stick wallpaper without damaging furniture?

Remove it slowly and gently rather than pulling it off suddenly. If the adhesive is resisting, a little gentle heat from a hair dryer on a low setting can help loosen it.

Keep in mind that the result also depends on the original surface. Fragile paint, old varnish or an already damaged finish can sometimes come away with the adhesive. As always, testing on a small, inconspicuous area first is a good idea.

Can you paint over peel-and-stick wallpaper?

It’s generally not the best option. Peel-and-stick wallpaper isn’t designed as a base for paint, so the paint may not adhere properly and the finish could end up uneven. If you decide you’d rather paint your furniture, it’s better to remove the wallpaper first, clean and prepare the surface properly, and then get the paintbrushes out.