How to Install Wallpaper Panels: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hanging wallpaper panels is a project most people can plan carefully and finish over a weekend. The work itself is simple; what makes the difference is the preparation: the right number of panels, the right height, a wall that suits your material and a clear order to hang them in. This guide follows the job from measuring to the last trim.

Before you order

Measure the wall

Measure the full width and the full height of the wall you want to cover. Walls are rarely perfectly square, so measure at more than one point and use the largest number.

Work out the number of panels

Each panel ships 24 in (60.96 cm) wide and covers 23 in (58.42 cm) of wall, because neighboring panels overlap by 1 in (2.54 cm) at the side join. To find how many you need, divide the wall width in inches by 23 and round up. A 100 in wide wall needs 5 panels (100 ÷ 23 = 4.35, rounded up to 5).

The 1 in overlap is already included in the 23 in figure, so do not subtract it again. Quantity 1 means one panel at the height you choose, not a whole wall.

Our wallpaper panel calculator does this math for you, and also suggests a panel height and an estimated cost.

Choose a panel height with room to trim

Panels come in heights from 40 to 150 in, in 10 in steps. Pick a height taller than your wall so there is extra to trim at the top and bottom. A panel the exact height of the wall leaves nothing to trim. For example, a 100 in panel on a 96 in high wall leaves 4 in in total, which you split between the top and bottom edge. Check that this is enough for your wall; if the available heights do not fit, ask us before ordering.

Choose the material for your wall

The material decides how the panels go up:

• Smooth Vinyl: a smooth surface with a peel-and-stick backing. No separate wallpaper paste is needed.
• Peel & Stick Texture: a textured, fabric-like surface with a self-adhesive backing. No separate paste is needed.
• Traditional Texture: a textured surface without an adhesive backing. It is installed with separate wallpaper paste.

Our materials and panel guide compares the three in detail. If you are deciding between self-adhesive and pasted, see peel and stick vs traditional wallpaper.

Test a sample on the actual wall

This is the step people skip, and the one we recommend most. Wall paint, surface condition and preparation all affect how well wallpaper adheres and how it comes off later. Order a 15 × 20 in sample in the material you plan to use and try it on the wall you intend to cover. Do not assume that peel-and-stick wallpaper will suit every wall, or that it will come off without affecting the paint underneath.

When your panels arrive

• Check the order. Confirm you have the right design, material, height and number of panels.
• Check the order of the panels. Panels arrive numbered from left to right. On a mural the picture continues from one panel to the next, and on a repeating pattern the design continues as one field, so the numbers tell you the hanging order.
• Check for damage. If anything arrives damaged or defective, email hello@sophestia.com within 7 days of delivery with your order number and clear photos, before you hang it.
• Read the supplied guidance. Follow the installation guidance that comes with your order.

Prepare the wall

Apply the panels to a clean, dry, smooth wall that is prepared for your chosen material. Remove anything that is fixed to the wall where the panels will go, and fill and smooth any holes or rough patches first; bumps under the wallpaper will show through. If you are using Traditional Texture, follow the instructions of the wallpaper paste you use, including any wall preparation it asks for.

Hang the panels, step by step

1. Start with panel 1 on the left. Hang the panels in their numbered order, working from left to right across the wall.
2. Mark a vertical guide line. Before the first panel goes up, mark a true vertical line on the wall where its edge will sit. Corners and ceilings are seldom perfectly straight, so the guide line keeps every panel after it straight too.
3. Hang the first panel. Line its edge up with your guide line and leave the extra length at both the top and the bottom. With a peel-and-stick material, release the backing gradually as you go rather than all at once. With Traditional Texture, apply paste as the paste manufacturer directs.
4. Hang the next panel with a 1 in overlap. Overlap the side of the previous panel by 1 in and line up the design across the join.
5. Continue in order. Repeat for each panel, checking that the design stays aligned at every join.
6. Trim the top and bottom. Once the panels are in place, trim the extra length at the ceiling and the floor or skirting.

Take your time over the first panel. If it is straight, the rest of the wall follows.

A few common questions

Does a plaster, marble or stone design have a raised surface?

No. Plaster, marble, stone, woven and metallic-looking details are printed effects. The physical surface depends on the material you choose.

Do the two textured materials feel exactly the same?

They are both textured, but do not assume the surface or feel is identical. If you are deciding between them, order a sample in each.

Is the wallpaper cut to the size of my wall?

Standard orders use fixed-width panels and the heights listed on the product page. You choose the panel height and the number of panels from your measurements, and trim to fit on the wall.

What if my wall is taller than 150 in?

Send us the wall width and height before ordering and we will work out what is possible.

Where is the wallpaper made?

Our wallpaper is printed to order in Houston, Texas, and typically arrives 2–6 business days after dispatch.

Ready to start?

Find your design in the wallpaper and wall murals collection, order a sample first, and use our panel calculator to confirm your quantity. If anything about your wall is unusual, get in touch before you order.