Installation Guide
Step-by-step installation instructions for every Designawall material type — with illustrations for each key technique.
Panels arrive pre-numbered. Always work in panel order — Panel 1 at the top-left corner, working across and down the wall.
Before You Order: Measuring Your Wall
- Measure the total width of your wall from corner to corner in millimetres.
- Measure the full height from floor to ceiling (or your desired coverage height).
- Include windows and doors in your total width and height — you trim around these on-site after hanging.
- Add a note at checkout if your wall has unusual features (alcoves, built-ins, sloped ceilings).
If in doubt, round up by 50–100 mm. A little excess is easier to trim than a short panel.
Measure total width and height in millimetres — include windows and doors
Surface Preparation (All Materials)
- Clean the wall thoroughly — remove dust, grease, and any existing wallpaper residue
- Fill cracks and holes with filler; sand smooth and prime bare plaster
- Make sure the surface is completely dry before hanging
- For new plaster, allow to cure fully (typically 4–6 weeks) before applying wallpaper
- Remove switch plates and outlet covers for a cleaner finish
Apply wallpaper paste to the wall in one panel-width section at a time, then hang the dry panel onto the wet wall. This is the paste-the-wall method — never apply paste to the back of the wallpaper.
Standard Non-Woven — Paste the Wall
Tools You'll Need
- Wallpaper paste (heavy-duty non-woven formula)
- Paste brush or paint roller
- Wide plastic smoother or wallpaper brush
- Plumb line or spirit level
- Sharp craft knife or scissors
- Damp sponge and clean cloth
- Seam roller
- Mark a vertical plumb line from the top of the wall to the floor using a spirit level or plumb bob.
- Mix wallpaper paste according to packet instructions and apply to the wall (not the paper) in a single panel-width section.
- Starting with Panel 1 at the top-left, align the panel edge to your plumb line. Allow a small overlap at the ceiling for trimming.
- Smooth the panel from the centre outward using a wide smoother, working out air bubbles as you go.
- Butt-join each subsequent panel edge-to-edge — no overlap.
- Use a sharp blade and metal straight edge to trim excess at ceiling, skirting, and corners.
- Wipe off excess paste immediately with a clean damp sponge — do not let it dry on the face.
- Run a seam roller along each join after 10–15 minutes.
Start at the top corner. Peel a few centimetres of backing, align to your plumb line, press down firmly, then continue peeling and pressing as you work downward. Never rush the peel — it causes misalignment.
Peel & Stick — Self-Adhesive
Tools You'll Need
- Flat squeegee, credit card, or smoothing tool
- Sharp craft knife or scissors
- Spirit level or plumb line
- Microfibre cloth (to clean wall before installing)
- Clean your wall thoroughly and let it dry completely. Even small amounts of dust reduce adhesion.
- Mark a vertical plumb line from top to bottom using a spirit level.
- Peel the backing a few centimetres from the top of Panel 1. Align to your plumb line.
- Slowly peel the backing downward while pressing the panel onto the wall, smoothing as you go.
- Use a flat squeegee to smooth outward from the centre, working out any air bubbles.
- If a bubble appears, lift the panel back gently and reapply — the material is repositionable.
- Butt-join each panel edge-to-edge and smooth firmly along the seam.
- Trim excess at ceiling and skirting with a sharp blade against a metal straight edge.
Peel & Stick adheres best to smooth, painted plaster. Test a corner first on textured or porous walls.
The woven fabric face scratches easily. Press gently with a soft natural-bristle wallpaper brush, working from top to bottom and centre outward. A hard plastic smoother will leave permanent marks on the face.
Premium Fabric — Paste the Wall
Tools You'll Need
- Heavy-duty wallpaper paste
- Paste brush or roller
- Soft wallpaper brush (not plastic — fabric can scratch)
- Spirit level
- Sharp scissors or knife
- Clean soft cloth for any excess paste
- Mark a plumb vertical line as your starting guide.
- Apply paste to the wall (paste-the-wall method). Do not apply paste directly to the fabric face.
- Hang Panel 1 from the top, aligning to your vertical guide.
- Use a soft wallpaper brush — not a plastic smoother — to press the fabric gently into the paste.
- Work from top to bottom and centre outward.
- Butt-join panels edge to edge. Do not overlap.
- Trim at ceiling and floor using sharp scissors rather than a blade to avoid fraying.
- Wipe any paste from the face immediately with a damp clean cloth.
- Allow to dry undisturbed for 24 hours. Avoid direct heat or airflow while drying.
Vinyl requires firm, even pressure to bond correctly — a soft sponge or brush won't do it. A hard rubber roller presses out air and ensures the adhesive makes full contact with the wall surface.
Commercial Vinyl — Adhesive
Tools You'll Need
- Vinyl adhesive or heavy-duty wallpaper paste
- Paste brush or roller
- Hard rubber roller or squeegee
- Spirit level
- Sharp craft knife
- Metal straight edge for trimming
- Surface must be clean, dry, primed, and free of any residue.
- Apply vinyl adhesive to the wall in one panel-width section at a time.
- Align Panel 1 to a plumb vertical guide. Press firmly from top to bottom.
- Bond firmly using a hard rubber roller, working from the centre outward to eliminate air.
- Butt-join all panels edge-to-edge — do not overlap.
- Trim edges with a sharp blade and metal straight edge for a clean finish.
- Roll all seams firmly. Vinyl seams require extra care on alignment.
For large commercial fitouts we recommend engaging a professional installer. Contact us to discuss project support.
Finishing: Joining Panels & Trimming Edges
Joining Panels Edge-to-Edge
Butt-join every panel edge-to-edge — never overlap. The design is printed to match exactly at the seam. After 10–15 minutes, run a seam roller along each join to ensure a firm bond.
Trimming at Ceiling, Skirting & Corners
Leave a small overlap at ceiling and floor when hanging, then trim with a sharp blade against a metal straight edge. Replace your blade frequently — a dull blade tears rather than cuts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Walls are rarely perfectly square. Always set a vertical guide and start from it — not from the corner.
Grease, dust, or old paste residue will cause panels to lift. Clean and prime properly before hanging.
Panels are printed to match across their shared edges in the numbered sequence. Starting from the wrong panel causes visible mismatches.
Paste dries clear but can leave streaks on the print. Wipe it off immediately with a clean damp sponge.
Still have questions?
Our team is happy to advise on installation for your specific wall and material choice.
Contact Us