If you’re looking for a way to add personality to your new apartment without making lasting changes, risking damage or fully committing to one design, peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles can help. “Rather than being somewhat permanent like traditional wallpaper, peel and stick is easily removable and DIY friendly,” says Jennifer Hunter, an interior designer in New York City.
I spoke to interior design experts like Hunter about how long peel-and-stick wallpaper lasts and what you need to prepare your walls before applying it. I also rounded up the best peel-and-stick wallpapers and tiles based on my experts’ guidance and NBC Select editor favorites.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best peel-and-stick wallpapers | Best peel-and-stick wallpaper | Best peel-and-stick tiles | How to shop for peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles | How to prepare your walls | How durable are peel-and-stick wallpapers and backsplashes? | Why trust NBC Select?
How I picked the best peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles
When shopping for peel-and-stick wallpapers, the interior designers and DIY experts I spoke to recommended keeping the following factors in mind:
Type: There are two main peel-and-stick options: wallpaper and tiles (also known as backsplashes). Tiles are more suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, while wallpaper is specifically designed for spaces like your living and bedroom. I included both wallpapers and tiles below, and separated them by type.
Design: Depending on the style of your space and your personal aesthetic, you might want a solid-colored option or a funky geometric or floral print. We made sure to include a variety of options and recommend brands that sell different colors and prints.
Material: Most peel-and-stick wallpaper is made from vinyl, according to experts. Some are also made from other recyclable materials like paper. Tile or backsplash peel and stick, on the other hand, can be made from vinyl, glass or metal. (We explain the different materials below.)
The best peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles
To help you narrow down your options, we rounded up expert-recommended and highly rated peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles to consider, as well as NBC Select staff favorites they use in their own homes.
Best peel-and-stick wallpaper
Best wallpaper overall: Spoonflower Danicka Herrick Wallpaper
- Multiple sizes and colors
- Made to order
- Swatches available
- Patterned
This wallpaper comes recommended by Hunter because it is easy to both install and remove, she says. The self-adhesive wallpaper is available in more than a dozen patterns and sizes, plus it’s washable with mild soap and water, says Hunter. Each roll is made to order, and for only $9, you can purchase a swatch first to see if it’s the right fit for your walls. It works best on flat, untextured surfaces, has a matte finish and comes in rolls that are all 24 inches wide with different lengths.
Size options: 5 | Color options: 24 | Material: linen textured
Best pastel wallpaper: ColoRay Wallpaper Pastel Art
- Colorful
- Samples available
- Only two sizes
This is a favorite of NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown, who has had it on her walls for around four years. Brown was able to install it herself, but recommends getting a friend’s help. “I think peel-and-stick installation should always be a two-person job, even if the wall space is small, because it decreases the possibility of air bubbles,” she says. In the years she installed it, she’s seen no major wear and tear, except for a few air bubbles. The wallpaper, which is made of the brand’s proprietary self-adhesive material, is humidity-resistant, so you can hang it in kitchens or bathrooms, according to the brand (Brown has it in her living room). If you’re in doubt about the design, you can order a swatch first to test it on your walls.
Size options: 2 | Color options: 1 | Material: self-adhesive
Best solid wallpaper: Safiyya Waterproof peel-and-stick Wallpaper and Contact Paper
- Versatile
- Multiple sizes and colors
- No sticky residue
- No pattern
This wallpaper, which has a 4.1-star average rating from 4,140 reviews on Amazon, is great if you want a solid color option rather than a patterned or textured one. It serves as both wallpaper and contact paper, which means you can use it to cover a countertop or cabinets. You can choose from eight different dimensions, depending on the size of the space you’re decorating, so you don’t have to get more than you need. You can install it using the adhesive side of the paper without needing a separate glue, according to the brand. When you’re ready to take it down, it’s easy to pull back and does not leave a residue, according to the brand.
Size options: 8 | Color options: 14 | Material: vinyl
Best budget: Gracie Oaks Aaliya Peel-and-Stick Floral Roll
- Affordable
- Water-resistant
- No sticky residue
- One colorway
This floral peel-and-stick wallpaper not only comes in a range of shades, but at $1.11 per square feet of space, it’s also more affordable than other options on this list. It has a white base with a gray watercolor pattern that makes it a great option for brightening up a bathroom or small laundry room. It’s easy to apply and get rid of air pockets using a smoothing tool, and you can pull it back to remove it without adhesive residue sticking behind, according to the brand. It has a 4.5-star average rating from 350 reviews at Wayfair.
Size options: 1 | Color options: 1 | Material: vinyl
Best floral: Garden Floral peel-and-stick Wallpaper
- Durable vinyl
- Works in high-moisture areas
- Only one colorway
Tempaper and Co. makes high-quality, durable wallpaper in a variety of textures and patterns and comes recommended by Melissa Fields, founder and CEO of Shades of Gray Design Studio, based in San Antonio, Texas. This floral option is made from tear- and mold-resistant vinyl, which means you can install it in bathrooms or other areas with high moisture, experts say. To clean, you can wipe it down using a damp cloth.
Size options: 1 | Color options: 1 | Material: vinyl
Best nature-inspired: Scenic Tree Toile Removable Wallpaper
- Comes in two sizes
- Easy to clean
- Only one colorway
This option looks like real wallpaper once you install it, says Hattie Kolp, a NYC-based home design expert. The wallpaper comes in two sizes, and it’s made of durable polyester fabric that you can wipe clean with a damp cloth, according to the brand.
Size options: 2 | Color options: 1 | Material: polyester
Best peel-and-stick tiles
Best tiles overall: Smart Tiles Blok Chevron
- Great for kitchen
- Looks realistic
- Only one colorway
- Takes time to install
These chevron-style peel-and-stick tiles “changed the entire look of my kitchen, and it was the best design decision I could have made,” says Zoe Malin, NBC Select associate updates editor. “Everyone assumes it’s real when they first see it.” Installation was time-consuming, but the brand’s instructions are straightforward, she says. Malin has had the tiles up for a year and a half and says they are still in perfect condition. There’s a calculator on the brand’s website where you can input your space’s measurements and it tells you exactly how many packs of tile to buy, says Malin.
Size options: 1 | Color options: 1 | Material: gel component
Best tile for floors: FloorPops Medina Peel & Stick Floor Tiles
- Water-resistant
- Good for bathroom
- May take time to install
These tiles work similarly to peel-and-stick wallpaper, except they come in small squares that you apply over your floor without needing any grout tools, according to the brand. Plus, the tiles are water-resistant, which means they are great for renovating your bathroom floor without worrying about damage from the humidity. Malin installed these peel-and-stick tiles to decorate her bathroom floor. “I actually can’t believe how great the quality is. It has not started to unstick at all, even though I splash water all over it after I shower,” she says. “It’s very easy to vacuum and clean, and unless I tell people it’s peel and stick, they have no idea.”
Size options: 1 | Color options: 2 | Material: vinyl
Best geometric tile: Smart Tiles Hexago
- Durable
- Easy to install
- Samples available
- Only one colorway
These hexagonal tiles are a favorite of NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson because they are extremely durable — her landlord even asked her to leave them up after she moved out, and then they listed the apartment as recently renovated. “Putting up the backsplash makes the after-cooking clean-up much easier; if you’ve ever tried scrubbing tomato sauce off a painted wall, you know what I mean,” says Swanson. The tiles are easy to install and you can use them in your kitchen or bathroom, says Swanson. You can also order a sample for $3.99 if you want to see how it looks on your walls first.
Size options: 1 | Color options: 1 | Material: Gel component
How to shop for peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles
If you’re looking to redecorate your apartment, our experts recommend keeping the following in mind while shopping for peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles:
Wall size: The size of your walls will determine how much peel-and-stick wallpaper you actually need. My experts recommend measuring your room or space and always buying a little bit extra in case of errors or measurement mistakes.
Material: Peel-and-stick wallpaper is usually made from vinyl or may have a vinyl backing. Vinyl is durable, versatile and easy to clean, says Fields. “It’s typically installed in wet and humid spaces such as bathrooms and laundry rooms because it will endure those wet conditions,” she says. Peel-and-stick tiles can be made from vinyl, glass, metal or stone, experts say. No one material is better than the other, and which style you choose depends on the kind of finish you want for your space, says Fields.
Style and design: There are many patterns and styles for both backsplash tiles and wallpaper, and choosing one is also a matter of personal preference. “Rather than being somewhat permanent like traditional wallpaper, peel and stick is easily removable,” says Hunter. Because of this, you can easily change your wallpaper if you decide you don’t like it or if your aesthetic changes. Most brands will allow you to order swatches for a small fee if you want to see how the wallpaper or tile looks in your space first.
How to install peel-and-stick wallpaper
Below are a few expert-recommended tips to apply peel-and-stick wallpaper and tiles:
- Before installation, you’ll want to measure the space and order a little extra in case of installation mistakes or mismeasurements. You’ll also want to make sure your walls are non-textured because it can be hard to get peel-and-stick wallpaper or tiles to stick on those surfaces, according to Hunter. “If the walls have a lot of wear and tear, this may not be the best idea for you, as it will not apply smoothly,” she says.
- Next, prep your walls. Start by wiping them down: “Remove any old adhesive or protrusions like lumpy grout that may prevent the new tile from lying completely flat, then clean the wall or floor using a degreaser to ensure there is no greasy residue present,” says Fields.
- Use a leveling tool to help you ensure that the panels are straight, experts say.
- Work in small sections, experts say. For wallpaper specifically, stretch it tightly to avoid any air bubbles, says Kolp.
- Once you’ve put the wallpaper on, use a squeegee or a credit card to smooth out any remaining air bubbles.
How durable are peel-and-stick wallpapers and backsplashes?
“As long as they are installed properly and maintained well, peel-and-stick wallpaper can last anywhere from three to five years and sometimes longer,” says Fields. The most common problem with peel-and-stick wallpaper is that the corners will start peeling off the wall after a few years of exposure to heat or humidity, says Kolp.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Jennifer Hunter is an interior designer and owner of Jennifer Hunter Designs, a boutique firm based in New York City, NY. Hunter is not affiliated with any of the brands she recommends.
- Melissa Fields is the founder and CEO of Shades of Gray Design Studio, based in San Antonio, Texas. Fields is not affiliated with any of the brands she recommends.
- Hattie Kolp is an NYC-based home design expert, DIY pro and content creator who rose to social media fame after going viral for renovating her childhood apartment in NYC. Kolp is not affiliated with any of the brands she recommends in this piece.
Why trust NBC Select?
Nishka Dhawan is a former associate commerce editor at NBC Select. For this article, she spoke to NBC Select staff about their favorite peel-and-stick wallpaper and tile options and also interviewed interior designers about what to keep in mind while shopping.
Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he writes about home and kitchen related content. He updated this story.
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