Decal Removal Guide
How to take down your wall decals
Our hand-painted fabric wall decals use a removable adhesive. How they come off depends a lot on the paint underneath. Follow these steps slowly, and your wall has the best chance of staying as it was.
What you need
- A hairdryer on a low setting
- Clean hands
- About two to three minutes per decal
We strongly recommend using heat. It makes removal much gentler on the paint.
How to remove
- Lift a corner. Gently lift one corner of the decal.
- Warm it up. Hold a hairdryer on low over the decal for 30 to 60 seconds. This softens the adhesive and takes pressure off the paint.
- Peel down, not out. Peel slowly downwards, keeping the decal close to the wall. Don't pull it outwards, away from the wall. Pulling outwards puts more stress on the paint and can lift it.
Go slowly and steadily. If you feel resistance, stop and warm it again.
What to expect
On walls that were well prepared, primed and fully cured, the decals should peel away without leaving residue.
If the paint isn't firmly bonded to the wall underneath, it may lift when a decal comes off. Every home's walls, paint and prep are different, so we can't guarantee how removal will go on your wall.
What makes paint lift
Paint lifting is usually caused by:
- Paint applied without primer
- Only one coat of paint
- Old, chalky or worn paint
- Low-VOC or stain-resistant paints
- Fresh paint that hasn't cured for at least four weeks
- Walls that were already damaged or are textured
In rental homes especially, paint can weaken as it ages, even if it was applied well. Often you can't tell the paint is weak until something is removed from it. If you rent, test first and check your lease before you decorate.
Before you put them up
- Test a small piece first. Stick a small corner or offcut somewhere out of sight, leave it a few days, then peel it off using the steps above.
- Use fresh, clean paint. Decals work best on clean, sound walls that aren't chalky or dusty.
- Wait four weeks after painting before applying decals to a freshly painted wall.
- Apply within 3 months of purchase. The adhesive works best when it's fresh.
- Avoid repositioning over and over. Each lift and re-stick puts more wear on the adhesive and the paint.
Moving house?
Use the same steps: heat, then peel slowly downwards. Please know that decals that have been removed, stored for a while or moved between rooms may not stick as well a second time. We can't promise they can be reused.
Need help?
Not sure about your wall or paint? Contact us before you remove anything and we'll talk you through it.