So you decided to jump on the wallpaper trend, but turns out it's just not for you.
Well, if your new wallpaper is Sure Strip, that's not a problem.
I removed mine in about an hour with soap and water and almost no damage to my wall.
Ok, so here's a post I never expected to write.
You see, when I decided to wallpaper the family room, about two years ago, my husband was not excited about it.
The guy who has no problem with all the crazy DIYs I dream up said, We've taken wallpaper down before and I'm not doing that again.
I didn't blame him, it was a nightmare.
But. I knew - without a doubt - that I would never, ever want to remove those gorgeous flowers. So I was safe.
Until I wasn't.
I tried to love that paper, I really, truly did, but no matter how many times I changed things up in effort to find a way to make it work, it just never sat right with me.
So a few weekends ago, I woke up at 6:30am and took it down. In one hour, the deed was done. Yup...60 short minutes later, that room was ready for its new look.
How'd I do it? What was my secret? Well, I'll tell you, it was something called Sure Strip and I didn't even know I had it. I just got lucky.
Apparently, it's a special adhesive on York brand wallcoverings that is made to release easily. Magnolia Home and my beloved floral pattern were part of the Sure Strip collection.
And when they say it was easy to remove, they weren't kidding.
Here's How I Removed My Sure Strip Wallpaper
Before I start, I'll repeat that I had no idea this was the product I had purchased. I only realized it, when I got the bee in my bonnet to remove the paper and wanted to read what the manufacturer recommended.
So before you think it's not on your walls, I'd investigate. Apparently, it's been around since at least 2013, so it's very possible you might be lucky, too.
Honestly, though even at that point, I was skeptical. As I said, I've been down this road before with many products.
Peel and stick wallpaper, like the one in my pantry, can damage the paint and sheetrock and trying to remove the gummy adhesive that's often left behind is impossible. As a matter of fact, many rental properties now have it in their lease agreements that peel and stick anything is prohibited.
Older wallpaper can be troublesome and come off in small pieces, requiring steamers and scraping. The same can happen with newer traditional wallpapers...and don't get me started about the glue they leave behind.
But this removal was a dream.
The Supplies:
- Gloves
- Sponges
- Bucket, water, dishwashing soap
- Towel
- Screwdriver
- Step ladder
The Step By Step:
Taking down the Sure Strip wallpaper was so easy, that I highly recommend checking out the brand if you're going to paper your walls. It went up like a dream and came down the same way and that's important, because while wallpaper is being featured everywhere right now, decor trends are cyclical.
Even if you weren't originally planning on it. 🫣
Plus, it definitely makes me more willing to try wallpaper again, knowing it's this easy to change to my mind...but let's just keep that information between us for now, shall we?
1. Remove Light Covers, Etc.
I did this as I went along, but it's much easier to do it first and all at once before your hands get wet and sticky.
2. Grab A Corner
As per the instructions, to get started, I used my nail to peel up one corner of the paper.
I have to say I was amazed, because that paper was on tight. The seams were flawless and it was stuck to the wall like nobody's business.
I didn't need to steam it or spray it or scrape it.
3. Peel In Full Sheets
I repeated the process, working slowly so the paper didn't tear or rip.
However, that only happened once or twice.
4. Wash The Adhesive Away With Water
At this point the room looked dreadful.
I used a damp sponge and simply wiped it away.
Hint: Having more than one sponge is helpful. They soaked up the glue and without a ton of rinsing, the glue would just get deposited on the wall again.
5. Rinse And Dry
Since I did use the soap, on part of the wall, I decided to give the entire surface one last quick rinse with a fresh sponge and plain water.
Then I used an old cotton towel to dry it...and I was done.
6. Touch Up Paint
Well, nearly.
You see, we'd painted the entire room before we put the paper up, and miraculously, the wallpaper removal didn't damage any of the sheetrock.
There were, however, two spots where the paint came off with the paper and they needed to be touched up. Both were areas where we'd put hooks in the wall to hang things.
I believe that those nail holes cracked or chipped the paint and when I pulled the wallpaper off, the damaged paint came with it. It was minor, but something to keep in mind.
My husband also drew a guideline on the wall, during installation, which had to go, as well.
I waited several hours until I was sure the walls were fully dry and touched up those spots.
And then I was done.
Like I said, quick and easy.
No DIY guy.
No hired help.
And now, no flowers.
Well, not on the wall anyway.
😉
How do you feel about wallpaper?
Happy DIYing, Friends!
I'm on the no wallpaper bandwagon simply because of horrors we had getting it down, at which time I promised Bob it would never happen again! But I do like the look of it and now reading this... hmmmm!
ReplyDeleteMari, I have to say, I was shocked!! It was so easy to remove. It almost makes me want to wallpaper again. Almost. Haha!!
DeleteI have never been a fan....it's too busy! I'm certainly glad yours was easy to remove!! Can't wait to see what you do next! :-) Blessings, J
ReplyDeleteSo easy, J!! It's funny, I love mixing and matching patterns, but this one just didn't work for me. Perhaps if it were a tone on tone pattern, it would've been better, but for now, I'm all about paint...and the freedom to accessorize on a blank wall!! ❤️
DeleteKim, I am sorry to hear that you took down the wallpaper. At least it wasn't a hassle and you were able to do it yourself. I hope you are happy with the room now with the wallpaper off the wall.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie. It was very pretty in theory, but it reality, it just didn’t feel right. I am very happy with the room now…and even happier that it only took me an hour to get the paper off the wall!!
DeleteI loved that wallpaper. :-(
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat. It really was pretty, but honestly in person, it did not look great. In photos I could crop the pictures to show a good angle of the room, but in reality and on the whole the room just wasn't right. Perhaps if the flowers were larger or the gingham was smaller it might've been better? Or if the walls weren't green, the flowers wouldn't have looked as orange as they did from a distance. Either way, I did enjoy the look for 2 years and now I get to try something new...and I still have 2 rolls of that wallpaper left, so you never know where it may pop up next. Haha!!
DeleteOh no Kim. What happens now? I had grown quite fond of that wallpaper. But then again I don't live in your house. Are you going to choose another wallpaper? Change the color of the walls? Only time will tell. Can't wait to see what you do next.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, thanks...it was very lovely, just not right for me. It's actually very funny, my sister and a few close friends who all said they liked it, came by after it was ripped off and all had the same response which was..."don't be mad, but it was not right"...to which I said, well, I wish you would've told me that sooner, because I could feel it, but everyone around me was like no, it's beautiful...especially my husband who wanted nothing to do with it coming down! 🤣 Anyway, so far I'm still in decorating mode, but it's just green and staying that way...and I adore it!
DeleteI think you're going to be much happier without the wallpaper. It was lovely, but in the pictures you showed of the entire room I could clearly see your dilemma. Those flowers did look orange and there was not anchor in the room.
ReplyDeleteYes, exactly. That's what I thought all along and no matter what kind of curtains and/ or throw I put on the back of the couch it just didn't make me feel any better about it.
DeleteIt was way too busy. Also two years is too long to not like the look. Sounds like you waited it out long enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes, most of the rooms in my home have looked the same for 20 years. When I love something I stick...clearly this was not love.
DeleteThe room looks good! I have a love/hate with wallpaper. I would love to have it removed out of my kitchen permanently. Maybe some day...
ReplyDeleteLove/ hate here too, Gina…but that Sure Strip makes me love it a little bit more. Haha!
DeleteThat Sure Strip has got to be the greatest since sliced bread. I can't tell you how much I've hated removing all the wallpaper in the various houses I've owned. I swore I'd never put up wallpaper in any house I owned..... but now that it's so easy to remove? Well, that might just be a game changer lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing stuff, Sara, that is for sure. I have to say, I won't be afraid to put wallpaper up again if it's Sure Strip. Of course, right now, I'm sticking with paint!
DeleteI loved that wallpaper and I love wallpaper. That being said, as much as I like wallpaper I would not put it up even if I thought I could. I like to decorate seasonally, and unless the wallpaper was a neutralish color and pattern, like green damask, I would never do it because I like to decorate seasonally and it would probably clash at some point, especially a floral. I like a neutral back drop because I love color, especially yellow and red, but I want to go more orange and rust in the fall, red in the winter, pastel in the spring and red, yellow, blue and green in summer.
ReplyDeleteI consider yellow walls a neutral as long as they are buttery. I love red as much as you do but would never paint a wall red because it wouldn't look good in fall with the oranges, rusts, etc. Yellow, white and green go with everything. So I get it. Your house looks beautiful, no matter what you do!
Pat, you nailed it. I adored that paper, I really, really did, but it was dramatic on its own. It was very difficult to accessorize around it. I couldn't hang anything super colorful on the wall or mix it up with patterned drapes, or decorative pillows. In hindsight I think I would've been happier with a tone on tone paper - and I still haven't ruled it out, since the take down was so easy, but for now, I'm enjoying the painted look...and thank you for your kind words about my house.
DeleteI am amazed! No one gets wallpaper off the walls that easily - except you, Kim. I've only used wallpaper once, many years ago, and never had to take if off the walls (we sold the house)! I can't wait to see what you do next in this room....
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann! I was shocked by how simple it was to do. Trust me, we've done it before and it was a literal nightmare. Lucky you sold the house! Haha!
DeleteI did love the wallpaper and I am sorry it wasn't right though. I always thought it looked pretty and cottagy but seeing it through the lens of camera and in person are two different things. There is no rush to do anything right away. Take a rest and just enjoy the serenity of 'nothing' for a while. You will know when it's time to do something 'new'. Happy Upcoming Labor Day weekend. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana. I think that’s the key…in pictures I was able to crop just the part of the room that looked pretty and catch it in the right light. Unfortunately, in person it was very different. I was so nervous when I pulled that first sheet down, wondering if I was making a huge mistake. However, once it was off the wall, I felt like I could breathe again. Odd, I know, but your words describe it exactly…the serenity of nothing. Fabulous. I hope you have a lovely long weekend, too…
DeleteKim I am so happy the wallpaper came down easily. I am glad you talked about the peel and stick being a pain. There is so much of it now and it seems to be so popular. I was looking for wallpaper for the new place. I was wondering about peel and stick and how easy it would be to hang and then if you change your mind how hard it would be to take it down. I got the paper for the bedroom and it is pre pasted. I want to find paper for my new laundry room so I think I will stay with traditional wallpaper and not the peel and stick. I loved the wallpaper but I totally get that you just could not make peace with it. We live in our homes and need to be happy with our choices. Wallpaper is a big commitment for sure. Have a great holiday weekend. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteLike I said in my email....I'm shocked! But then again I'm a wallpaper girl. My husband? Not so much. So I only have one wall and a powder room wallpapered in our home *haha*
ReplyDeleteHowever I do LOVE a beautifully painted room. I actually repainted our basement bonus room a couple of weeks ago! What color are you planning on painting your walls?
Hi Kim, I am surprised.... but I do understand at the same time. If it bugged you, it just is not going to work out.
ReplyDeleteJeremy has given me the hard NO on wallpaper. I wanted to add some to our bedroom, but just cannot convince him. We did have to strip old wallpaper off plaster walls when we moved in.. so that may have exhausted him for life. Hee Hee!
I have avoided wallpaper because of the nightmare we had removing partially peeled paper from our bathroom when we bought our home. I love the look of some of it, I see people just put it up and its great, but in the back of my mind...Now however you have me wondering.
ReplyDeleteNot sure my husband will thank you! LOL!
Deanna Rabe
Oh Kim, I was so sad to see this wallpaper come down, I loved it! When we bought our home, the entire house was covered in wallpaper. We had one room that really gave us a run for our money, and my husband said never again. Now, that is not to say, I haven't gotten him to wallpaper a few closests around here... I love opening the door and being greeted with wallpaper. I am glad yours wasn't difficult to remove, it looks great.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that I have not been by sooner but THANK YOU so much for all your visits and kind words....I finally finished my Fall/Halloween decorating and I took my good ole time this year and really thought about what I was doing and changed up things a bit...I hope you are well....I have to take down a border in the upstairs hallway and I have been putting it off....Thanks for sharing!!
Hugs,
Deb
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