Wallpapering a child's room without paste: How self-adhesive wallpaper makes it easy

Do you want to spruce up the nursery, but paste, brushes, and hours of soaking just aren't your thing? We get it. The good news: self-adhesive wallpapers make wallpapering so easy that you can finish it in an afternoon – even if you have never put up wallpaper before.

In this article, we explain how self-adhesive wallpapers work, why they are perfect for the nursery, and what you should look out for when choosing them.

How does it work without paste?

The principle is simple: the wallpaper has an adhesive layer on the back covered by a protective film. You peel off the film, press the wallpaper onto the wall – and you're done. No mixing paste, no soaking, no dripping wallpapering table in your living room.

What many don't know: our wallpapers are repositionable. If you don't get it quite right on the first try, you can simply pull it off and start over. This takes the pressure off, especially if you are doing it for the first time.

Why specifically for the nursery?

Nurseries are redecorated more often than any other room. What is a pastel cloud sky at age two should be a jungle at age six and something "cooler" by age ten. With self-adhesive wallpaper, that’s no problem: peel it off, stick on a new one, done. No wall damage, no need to call a professional painter.

Then there is the issue of materials. You don't want harmful substances in the room where your child sleeps and plays. Our wallpapers are PVC-free and printed with GREENGUARD Gold certified inks – meaning the inks do not release any harmful substances into the indoor air. No chemical smell, no uneasy feeling.

Finding the right wallpaper for the nursery

Three things play a role in your choice: the age of your child, the size of the room, and – from a certain age – your child's own taste.

For babies and toddlers, soft motifs work best. Pastel colors, clouds, delicate animal illustrations. The room should be calming, not overstimulating. From preschool age, it can be livelier: jungle, underwater world, outer space. And starting in elementary school, you should let your child have a say – children at that age know exactly what they like.

Our tip: Stick to an accent wall. A bold motif on one wall looks better than wallpapering all four, especially in small rooms. The wall behind the bed or opposite the door are the best positions.

In our nursery collection, you will find designs for every age – from soft cloud landscapes to colorful jungle worlds. And for creative patterns, check out our patterned wallpaper collection.

How to apply the wallpaper

The process is always the same, whether for a nursery or a living room:

First, clean the wall – remove dust and fingerprints, then let it dry. Next, measure the wall area and cut the wallpaper, leaving a little excess at the top and bottom. Peel back a piece of the protective film at the top, align the wallpaper, and press it on. Then pull the film off bit by bit while smoothing it out from the center outward using a squeegee or cloth.

That's all there is to it. For an accent wall, you'll need about two to three hours. You can find detailed instructions with all our tips in our step-by-step guide.

Maintenance in everyday nursery life

Children draw on walls, stick stickers on them, and touch them with chocolatey fingers. It’s part of growing up. Our wallpapers can be wiped down with a damp cloth – that's perfectly sufficient for everyday life. Please do not use aggressive cleaners or steam cleaners, as they can damage the material.

And if the corners should ever start to peel (rare, but it can happen): simply press them back down. The material is 170 g/m² thick and robust enough for daily life in the nursery.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the wallpaper last?
On a clean surface and with normal use, for several years. The inks are lightfast and will not fade.

Can I apply the wallpaper to uneven walls?
It works best on smooth, painted plaster. It is more difficult on woodchip wallpaper – the coarser the structure, the less adhesion you'll have. When in doubt, test a small piece first.

Does it leave any residue when I peel the wallpaper off?
No. The material is designed to be removed without residue. Peel it off slowly and at a shallow angle – that keeps the wall clean.

Find the perfect wallpaper for your nursery in our nursery collection.