How to Apply Wall Decals

Do you have a plain white wall at home that you want to decorate, but don’t want to go through the painting process of applying different layers of paint?

Well, look no further than easily installable wall decals. They involve no intensive labor and are designed for fast installations. Wall decals make redesigning, styling, and decorating rooms as simple and fast as possible.

If you want to make a space your own, then wall decals are the way forward. Additionally, if you get bored of the style and are looking to change it up, the wall decals and easily be removed and replaced.

There is still some skill needed to properly apply wall decals. The last thing you want to do is botch it and your wall is filled with creases or bumps. Don’t worry, in this article, you will learn how to apply large vinyl wall decals and how to keep your wall decals from falling off.

Preparation

Before the installation, there are a few things that need to be prepared. Chances are you already have a wall or room in mind that you want to decorate, but if you don’t make sure you select a blank wall with no strange bumps or wire running along it.

Measure your chosen wall and make sure that it can fit your chosen wall decal. If you haven’t found a decal yet or if you’re looking for custom designs that fit your aesthetic, then visit Coastal Creative.

We have a wide range of wall decals and custom vinyl wall decals designs that can be made to suit your needs. We do everything from designing and printing, all at an affordable cost and with the highest quality.

Clean the Wall Surface

Before installation, make sure that the wall surface is cleaned of all debris, dust, and oil residue. You can use a soft sponge or a lint-free cloth with a little soap to wipe down the walls.

The wall must be devoid of all dirt particles, as we do not want the decal to stick to anything else but the wall itself. The last thing you want to do is to remove the decal while it’s on because of dirt particles.

Lastly, make sure the wall is completely dry before placing your decal on it.

Placement

The placement of your decal is very important. Make sure that everything is aligned correctly and that every blank space is covered.

It’s an arduous task to have to remove a decal once it’s installed. Removing the decal after installation can lead to severe damage and the decal won’t be able to be reused.

To be safe, use tape to hold the decal in place when determining the perfect position. This allows you to make adjustments without having to remove them.

Use a level to make sure that everything is aligned and straight. Draw a faint line on the wall to guide you when applying the decal.

Once you’re happy with the placement, then we can get to the good part – installing the decal.

Decal Installation

The first thing you need to do is to slowly remove the protective backing to expose the adhesive layer. Take your time lining up the decal to the guideline you created. Try to be as accurate as possible when placing the decal onto the guideline.

Once the decal is stuck down, we need to ensure there are no air bubbles underneath. Take a squeegee and smooth out the decal towards the edges. This ensures that all the air bubbles are properly removed.

Always squeegee from the middle of the decal outwards in uniform strokes. Make sure that you overlap your strokes to ensure that it’s properly stuck.

Remove Protective Barrier

Once you have your decal stuck firmly to the wall, you can remove the paper backing that covers the face of your decal.

Remove the paper backing slowly and carefully to ensure that you don’t accidentally rip off the decal.

If you’re struggling to remove the protective layer, get a damp cloth and gently dab the surface of the protective layer. This should make it peel off easier.

Tape Method for Bigger Decals

Instead of taping down the corners, you can use painter tape across the middle of your decal, which makes it slightly easier to install, especially for larger decals.

For this method, peel back the backing paper from one side of the decal. It’s good practice to start from the right side and work your way to the middle.

Once you reach the middle of the decal, you can begin to slowly and carefully trim away the backing paper so that the decal can stick to the wall’s surface.

Take a squeegee and smooth out the side of the decal you have stuck to the wall. If you don’t have a squeegee, then a credit card will also do the trick just as well.

Once the right side is stuck down, you can remove the tape from the middle of your decal and perform the same process for the left part of the decal.

This method works well when applying vinyl decals to curved surfaces.

Considerations

There are only two main considerations when applying wall decals – temperature and wall texture.

Decals are best installed between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Applying vinyl decals in cold weather comes with its challenges. Extreme cold conditions can create a moisture which prevents the decal from adhering and potentially cause it to tear.

Wall texture is another big factor to consider. Decals adhere to smooth surfaces the best. Textured and bumpy walls prevent the decal from adhering correctly because these types of walls create air bubbles.

If you have a test decal, make sure to give it a go before the final installation.

Conclusion

Wall decals are an incredibly easy way to make a space your own without the hassle of having to clean up after.

As you can see there is a little bit of expertise involved in wall decal installation, but the good news is that you now have all the expertise to carry out your very own installations. These same methods can be used when applying vinyl decals to a canvas or glass.

So, let’s start decorating!

Did you enjoy reading our blog? Then consider checking other guides:

How to Apply Wall Decals