Wallpapering an RV Interior: Complete Guide + Expert Tips
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Wallpapering an RV is one of the easiest ways to personalize your camper and add color to an otherwise plain RV interior.
If you’re planning to renovate your RV, hanging wallpaper can also add interest to your RV interior, and can allow you to incorporate a trendy pattern or color palette in your design that can later be changed if you get tired of the look.
In this article, I’ll share some tips from RV owners who learned the hard way about the pros and cons of hanging wallpaper in an RV. I’ll also tell you which brand multiple RVers consider to be the best peel and stick wallpaper for an RV, and of course I’ll share lots of photo inspiration along the way!
RV Wallpaper vs. RV Wall Paneling
Before we get too much farther, I want to clarify that wallpaper, whether it’s peel-and-stick or the traditional kind hung using wallpaper paste, is NOT the same as what’s already on your RV walls.
The “wallpaper” that comes already installed on RV walls is actually part of the wall itself.
RV wall paneling is made from luan (plywood) with a sheet of vinyl bonded to it during the manufacturing process using industrial-grade adhesive. That bond is intended to be permanent, so removing it is very difficult. Don’t worry—it’s not necessary to remove it before painting or installing decorative wallpaper.
Things to Consider Before Wallpapering an RV
While wallpaper can look great in an RV, there are some potential drawbacks to hanging wallpaper in an RV that you should be aware of before beginning your project to avoid extra work and potential disappointment.
Potential Problem #1: Extreme temperatures can cause wallpaper to peel off the walls.
The problem most frequently encountered by RV owners who decorate with wallpaper is wallpaper peeling off the walls—especially after the RV has been in storage in a cold or humid climate.
Temperatures below freezing as well as humidity in warm climates can cause wallpaper adhesive to fail. This is something you’ll want to consider if your RV ever gets very hot or cold inside.
Later in this article, I’ll share tips for preventing wallpaper from coming down, no matter the weather!
Potential Problem #2: Wallpapering an RV could negatively impact the camper’s value.
Something else you may want to consider before wallpapering inside your RV is how your design choices may affect your RV’s trade-in or resale value.
Even if you have no immediate plans to sell your RV, you never know when your plans might change!
It may be difficult to get the price you want for your RV if you choose a wallpaper that:
- Is a bold or colorful pattern
- Appeals to very specific tastes
- Follows a trend that may soon be dated
- Or clashes with the rest of the RV.
In those cases, you may consider removing the wallpaper or painting over it before selling.
On the other hand, if you choose a wallpaper that complements the cabinets, flooring, and decor, it’s more likely that others will view the wallpaper as a nice addition.
The quality of your wallpaper installation job is another factor that can impact the value of your RV. Sloppy workmanship will almost certainly decrease your RV’s value whether you trade in your RV or sell it privately. It’s important to work slowly and carefully and give attention to detail when hanging wallpaper in your RV in order to avoid crooked or upside-down patterns, unmatched seams, uneven edges, and other mistakes.
Preparing Your RV Walls for Wallpaper
Before wallpapering an RV, first make sure the walls are clean, smooth, and free of damage. Read our article about how to fix RV walls if you need tips for filling holes and repairing damaged wall paneling.
Next, before applying wallpaper you’ll want to make sure your walls are clean, as dust and grime can prevent wallpaper from sticking to the walls. Dirt and grease may also cause bumps under the wallpaper.
A cloth rag damp with water should be enough to clean the walls in most RVs, but if you have any areas which are particularly grimy (for example, next to the stove) you might add some dish soap to warm water and use it to scrub before wiping all soap residue off of the walls.
Can You Use Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper in an RV?
Yes, you can use peel-and-stick wallpaper in an RV, but there are few things you need to do to make sure it doesn’t end up peeling of the walls in high humidity or when your RV is in storage for the winter. Read on to learn how to prevent wallpaper from peeling off RV walls.
What’s the Best RV Wallpaper Type?
You have three basic choices when it comes to wallpaper:
1. Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
This wallpaper is sticky on the back, like a sticker. To hang it, you peel off the backing before sticking it to the wall.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is popular not only because it’s less messy to apply, but because it is also often advertised as being removable. However, it’s also the type of wallpaper most likely to peel off when you don’t want it to.
2. Pre-Pasted Wallpaper
This type of wallpaper has a water-activated adhesive on the back. It’s not sticky until you moisten it with water, kind of like licking an envelope.
It is also designed to be removable. All you have to do is get the wallpaper wet again and the wallpaper can be peeled off the wall.
3. Traditional Wallpaper
This wallpaper doesn’t have any adhesive on the back. To hang it on the wall, you first have to paint the back of the wallpaper with wallpaper paste. (Some people instead paint the adhesive onto the wall directly. You can try both ways and see which one you think is easiest—the result will be the same!)
The best way to remove traditional wallpaper is to get it wet (a spray bottle is often used for this task). The paper will absorb the water and the wallpaper paste will become tacky, allowing you to peel the paper off the wall.
Which type of wallpaper should you use in your RV?
The choice is really up to you, but if you decide to use peel-and-stick wallpaper, you may end up needing to reinforce the adhesive. I’ll explain your best options for reinforcement in the next section.
On the other hand, if you use vinyl peel-and-stick wallpaper and end up using additional adhesive to get it to stay stuck to your RV walls, you may have a difficult time if you decide to remove it later.
The Best Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper to Use in an RV
After experiencing difficulty with peel-and-stick wallpaper in my motorhome, I learned it’s actually much easier to hang wallpaper in an RV by first spraying the walls with a spray adhesive designed to help wallpaper stick to walls. (Read on for more details about this product.) The reason it’s easier is that you can reposition the paper more easily than you can with peel-and-stick wallpaper. If you use this spray gel or regular wallpaper paste, it really doesn’t matter what type of wallpaper you use in your RV.
But if you are sure you want to use peel-and-stick, the best way to be assured of choosing a brand that won’t peel off the walls in cold or humid weather is to read reviews from other RV owners who have had a good experience, even in extreme climates.
One brand I’ve heard nothing but good things about from RV owners who have used it is Spoonflower. Multiple RV owners have told me they used this brand and have had no issues with it peeling, even after taking their RV out of winter storage.
Spoonflower.com is actually a marketplace website where artists can sell their designs as wallpaper or fabric.
It’s a bit more expensive than some of the brands you can find on Amazon, but if the space you’re covering is small, the price difference might not end up being that much. Plus, you can buy fabric to match and make curtains or throw pillows! 🙂
For more information about the best brands of wallpaper to use in RV, read our article 8 Best Places to Buy RV Wallpaper.
How to Keep RV Wallpaper from Coming Down or Peeling Off the Walls
What can you do if the wallpaper you’ve fallen in love with is an unknown brand, or if the wallpaper you already put up starts peeling off the walls?
I asked several RV owners who decorated their RVs with wallpaper to share their tips for preventing the wallpaper from coming down, and here’s what they said:
- Be sure to clean and prep your walls according to the instructions for your particular type of wallpaper. If your wallpaper requires a specific surface texture, you may want to start by painting your walls with a pre-wallpaper primer.
- One RV owner said she ran a line of acrylic latex painter’s caulk along the edges of her wallpaper at the top and bottom of the walls to help the wallpaper she used stay in place.
- Another RVer used a dot of Gorilla glue on each corner of her peel-and-stick wallpaper to keep it from peeling.
- Elmer’s spray adhesive can be used to hang wallpaper with a permanent bond. However, I would avoid this option unless you’re 100% okay with your wallpaper never coming off the wall.
- Karla Bradley, a professional RV renovator, uses wallpaper paste to hang any type of wallpaper she uses, including peel-and-stick wallpaper. She said she used to have problems with peel-and-stick wallpaper coming down, but wallpaper paste is fool-proof.
2025 Update: Last summer when renovating my own motorhome I had the hardest time getting peel-and-stick wallpaper to stay stuck to wall paneling I replaced with plywood and smoothed over with drywall mud. I ended up finding E-Z Hang Peel & Stick Wallpaper Helper, a spray gel that’s actually made to be used with peel-and stick wallpaper!
It was super easy to use: I just sprayed it on the wall, stuck on my peel-and-stick wallpaper, and smoothed it out. I actually thought it was easier than working with peel-and-stick RV wallpaper without the spray, because using the spray made the paper easy to reposition if needed.
More RV Wallpaper Inspiration
Ready to personalize your RV with some pretty wallpaper? Take a look at these photos for ideas and inspiration!
Wallpaper Added to RV Bedrooms
Use wallpaper to create a headboard or accent wall in your RV bedroom.
See this article for more pictures of RV bedrooms!
Wallpaper in RV Bathrooms
The tiny size of an RV bathroom makes it fairly affordable to do a makeover using wallpaper.
Get more RV bathroom inspiration here!
Accent Wall Created with Wallpaper
Wallpaper can be used to create an artistic focal point in your RV, as seen below.
You can also use wallpaper to cover up those dated mirrors and glass panels found on so many RV cabinets.
For more accent wall ideas, read this article: 9 RV Wall Covering Ideas to Create a Unique Accent Wall
How to Hang Wallpaper in an RV
Hanging wallpaper in an RV is growing in popularity despite the difficulties. Bookmark this page to save the tips we’ve shared as you hang your own RV wallpaper. Share your finished remodel with us in our Facebook group.
Want more ideas for decorating your RV? Check out more RV Makeovers!
Ashley Mann founded RVinspiration.com in 2017. She handed off the website to new owners in 2022 to launch a new business as an online entrepreneur coach, but she still helps out as the blog editor. Ashley spent three years living full time in a 38-foot, 5th-wheel RV with her husband Josiah and their cat, Kitty. Her favorite thing about RV life is the challenge of finding the perfect way to organize a space, and she loves seeing all the creative and clever ways people come up with to customize their RVs.
It’s nearly impossible to find experienced people on this topic, however, you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
Thank you for this post with all of the good info. One thing I cannot find an answer to – what do you do with the trim pieces tacked in the corners? My bathroom has patterned wallboard with matching trim sealing the corner seams. Do you leave those and wallpaper over them? I am worried that the corners may rip when the RV is moving.
Thank you for any advice!
That’s a great question. If you don’t like the trim, you could remove them and replace them with a different trim. Since they are 3-dimensional, it would be harder to wallpaper over them!
There are clear or plain white corner trim pieces that can be put over the wallpaper on a corner. Helps protect the corners and covers rough areas where old trim was removed. Available at home centers.
I’m getting ready to reno an RV and I have looked at perhaps 1000’s of posts. What most people seem to do, and the option that makes to most sense to me, it to leave the trim and paper around it. Paint the trim the same color as the other walls or pick a color that ties into the wallpaper. The trim will be like seams, but installing the paper in smaller sections may actually be easier. Does this make sense? Hopefully that helps!