How to Install and Care for Japandi Wallpaper: A Step-by-Step Guide

What actually happens between ordering a wallpaper and living with it, from prepping the wall to the first time you wipe it clean.

Most of the questions I get before someone orders are not about design. They are about what happens next. Will it go up easily. Will it mark. Will it still look right in two years. This post answers all three, in the order you will actually need them.

I have written it plainly enough to hand to a decorator or a client without translation, because that is usually exactly what it is used for.

1. Choose the Right Material for the Wall You Have

Every design in the shop comes in several material finishes, and the right one depends more on your wall than your taste. Peel and stick suits a rental, a wall you may want to change again, or anyone who wants no paste involved at all. It goes on and comes off cleanly, with no professional needed.

The pasted finishes, including canvas, fabric, and our textured concrete-effect option, suit a wall you intend to keep the design on for years. They sit slightly flatter and more permanently once hung, and they are the better choice for a feature wall you are treating as a long-term decision rather than a seasonal one.

If you are unsure which finish suits your wall, order a sample in two finishes before you commit to the full roll. It is the fastest way to feel the difference in your own hands.

2. Prepare the Wall Before Anything Else

The wall matters more than the wallpaper. A design will only ever look as good as the surface underneath it.

The wall should be clean, dry, and as smooth as you can reasonably make it. Fill any holes or cracks and sand them flush. Remove any flaking paint rather than papering over it. If the wall was recently painted, let it cure fully first, generally a few weeks, since fresh paint can react badly with adhesive. A freshly plastered wall needs to be fully dry and usually sealed with a primer suited to wallpaper before you begin.

This step gets skipped more than any other, and it is the one most likely to show up as a problem six months later.

3. Work Out Your Panel Order Before You Start

For a mural design in particular, the panels are numbered for a reason. Lay them out on the floor first, in order, so you can see how the design continues from one panel to the next before any adhesive is involved.

Start from the most visible point in the room, usually the centre of the wall or the point you see first when you walk in, and work outward. This keeps any small adjustment at the least noticeable edge rather than the centre of the design.

4. Hang With Patience, Not Speed

For pasted finishes, apply adhesive evenly and smooth each panel from the centre outward using a smoothing tool, working out air bubbles as you go rather than after the fact. Overlap seams very slightly rather than leaving a visible gap, and wipe away any excess adhesive immediately with a clean, damp cloth before it dries.

For peel and stick, the same logic applies without the adhesive: position the panel, smooth from the centre outward, and lift and reposition gently if something sits wrong. It is far more forgiving of a second attempt than a pasted finish, which is part of why it suits a first-time installer well.

Either way, resist the urge to rush the final panel. It is the one most people regret hurrying.

5. Let It Settle Before You Judge It

A freshly hung wallpaper can look slightly different for the first day or two as any adhesive fully cures and the material settles against the wall. Small imperfections at the seams often soften and become far less visible once this happens.

Wait a couple of days before deciding whether anything needs adjusting. What looks like a problem on day one is often invisible by day three.

Caring for It Afterwards

Once it is up, the care is straightforward. Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth when needed. For marks, a barely damp cloth is usually enough, tested first in an inconspicuous corner rather than straight onto the design. Avoid harsh cleaning products entirely, since they can affect both the finish and the adhesive beneath it.

Keep the wall away from prolonged direct sunlight where you can, since strong daily sun will fade any material over time. In a bathroom or kitchen, choose a finish suited to moisture and ensure the room is properly ventilated, since trapped humidity is harder on wallpaper than the occasional splash.

If a corner ever lifts, a small amount of matching adhesive pressed gently back into place is usually all it needs. Catching it early is always easier than leaving it.

The Part Worth Getting Right

None of this is complicated, but it rewards patience over speed at almost every step. A wall prepared properly and hung without rushing the last panel will outlast a rushed job by years, regardless of which design or finish you choose.

If you would rather see a finish in person before deciding, our wallpaper samples remain the easiest way to test before you commit a whole wall to it.