Before You Stick: Read This!
Most walls are perfect for decals, and every decal's made from a premium fabric material that is kind to walls. Installing is a breeze for some and takes a bit more care for others, either way, we've put this guide together to set you up for the best result, and our team's here to support you every step of the way.
💡 Hot Tip: Keep Your Backing Sheet
Thinking of moving house one day? Hang onto the backing sheet. It's the easiest way to safely remove and transport your decals to a new wall, and you can reposition them again and again without losing any grip.
✌️ 1. Check Your Walls
Decals stick best to smooth, painted walls. They won’t hold properly on:
- Textured, bumpy, or popcorn walls (not enough smooth surface to grip)
- Unprimed or flaking surfaces
- Freshly painted walls, give it 45 days for the paint to fully cure first
- Walls repainted without a primer coat between layers, if those layers aren't properly bonded to each other, the decal can lift along with the top coat
Wash & Wear or Low VOC paint? Most walls are totally fine, but a small number of these paints can affect how well the adhesive grips. A bonding primer from your local hardware store can help if you're at all unsure.
✌️ 2. Wipe Your Walls
This one matters more than it looks! Any dust or grime left behind can stop your decal from sticking properly and cause bubbling underneath. Give the wall a wipe with a clean, damp cloth, then let it dry completely (at least 2 hours) before you start.
✌️ 3. Watch Out for Air Bubbles
Air bubbles are the most common hiccup, but they're totally avoidable. Smooth as you go and push the air out toward the edges as you apply, rather than trying to fix it all at the end. Take it slow and you'll get a clean, bubble free finish.
✌️ 4. Installation
Important: Do not remove the entire backing paper at once! This might cause the decal to fold and stick to itself.
- Start with the giraffe
- Peel back a small section of the backing paper from the left, aligning the giraffes neck to the corner of the wall.
- Stick the exposed part onto the wall and immediately smooth it down with your hand or a soft cloth.
- Continue peeling away more of the backing paper bit by bit, working up towards the giraffes face, pressing and smoothing as you go to prevent bubbles or creases.
- If you notice a bubble, gently push it toward the nearest edge with your hand, soft cloth, or squeegee. Or lift the area off the wall and re-stick.
- Repeat the process for the Tiger.
- Repeat this process with the smaller decals (leaves, birds, butterflies, flowers) to complete your scene.
- Once all pieces are in place, check that all edges are firmly pressed down. If any area needs adjusting, lift and reposition it before giving it a final smooth-down.
Your Safari Animal Decals should now look just like the reference image – a bold, playful scene that brings your child’s space to life.