How to Choose Wall Decals for a Kids' Room

  Wall decals are one of the easiest ways to transform a child's room — but with hundreds of designs, sizes, and materials available, choosing the right ones takes a little planning. Here's what to look for before you buy.

What are wall decals and how do they work?

Wall decals are self-adhesive vinyl stickers designed to be applied directly to a painted wall. They come in sheets that you peel and press into place — no tools, no mess, no professional help needed. Most quality decals are removable, meaning you can take them down without damaging the paint underneath.

They're not to be confused with wallpaper, which is glued directly to the wall and is much harder to remove. 

 Step 1: Measure your wall first

Before you browse designs, measure the wall space you want to decorate. Note the width and height of the area — not just the full wall, but the usable space after accounting for furniture, windows, and sockets.

Most wall decal sets are designed to cover a specific area. A small set of 30 × 40 cm stickers will look lost on a large accent wall. A full scene designed for a 140 × 100 cm space will be too much for a narrow alcove.

Rule of thumb: For a statement wall in a child's room, aim for a set that covers at least 30–40% of the wall's width. For nurseries, larger compositions work especially well on the wall above the cot.

 Step 2: Match the theme to the child's age

Themes that feel magical to a two-year-old can feel babyish to a six-year-old. When choosing, think about how long you want the design to last. From our own experience with our children but also from many talks with our customers we can distinguish themes that age well and those that date quickly: 

AGE: 0–2 years:

 Themes that tend to last:  Stars, clouds, forest animals, soft geometric shapes

Themes that date quickly: Character-specific (cartoon tie-ins)

AGE: 2–5 years:

Themes that tend to last:  Dinosaurs, jungle, safari, rainbow animals

Themes that date quickly: Very gender-specific palettes 

AGE: 5–8  years:

 Themes that tend to last: Space, adventure, nature scenes, abstract botanical

Themes that date quickly: Very babyish motifs 

Timeless themes — animals, forest, jungle, space — tend to age better than licensed characters or very trend-led colour palettes.

Step 3: Check the sheet size, not just the number of stickers

Many cheaper wall decal sets boast a high sticker count but use very small sheets. Fifty tiny stickers spread across a large wall look sparse and unconvincing.

When comparing sets, look at the dimensions of the individual sheets or the total coverage area. Larger sheets create a more immersive, designed look. Igibee decals, for example, are produced on significantly larger sheets than most competitors — a difference that's immediately visible once they're on the wall.

 Step 4: Check the material and printing method

Not all wall decals are made equal. Look for:

• Self-adhesive vinyl — the standard material for removable decals. It's flexible, durable, and repositionable.
• Ecological printing — HP Latex printing technology, for instance, uses water-based inks with no harmful solvents, making it suitable for children's spaces.
• Matte finish — easier to apply and less likely to show bubbles or fingerprints than glossy finishes.

Avoid decals with a strong chemical smell — this can indicate solvent-based inks that are not ideal in a closed room.

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Step 5: Think about the wall surface

Wall decals work best on smooth, flat, painted surfaces. They can also be applied to textured walls, but very rough textures (like heavily stippled or pebble-dashed walls) can prevent the decal from adhering properly.

If your walls have a slight texture, look for decal sets that are sold with a textured wall option — some brands offer slightly thicker vinyl or a different adhesive for this purpose.

Freshly painted walls: Wait at least 3–4 weeks after painting before applying decals. Fresh paint is still curing, and applying decals too early can cause the paint to lift when you remove them.

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Step 6: Plan around the furniture layout

A common mistake is choosing a wall decal scene and then discovering it's partially hidden behind a wardrobe or bookshelf. Before ordering, do a rough sketch of where the furniture sits and mark out the clear wall space above and around it.

Wall decals work particularly well:
- Above the cot or bed (out of reach of small hands)
- On the wall opposite the door — the first thing you see when you walk in
- In an alcove or play corner to define the space

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Frequently asked questions

How many wall decals do I need for a full wall effect?

For a statement composition on a standard 3 m wide wall, you typically need a set that covers at least 100 × 80 cm. Larger sets or multiple coordinating sheets can extend across more of the wall.

Can I reposition wall decals after applying them?

Yes — most quality removable wall decals can be lifted carefully and repositioned within a short time of application. The longer they've been on the wall, the less forgiving repositioning becomes.

Are wall decals suitable for rented homes?

Yes. Removable wall decals are popular in rented homes precisely because they don't damage walls. When removed correctly, they leave no marks.

Do wall decals work on wallpaper?

Generally not recommended. The adhesive can pull at the wallpaper surface when removed, causing damage. Always apply to painted walls.

How long do wall decals last?

With quality vinyl and good wall preparation, wall decals can last 3–5 years without fading or peeling. Direct sunlight can shorten this, so rooms with strong south-facing windows may see faster fading.

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*igibee produces wall decals and custom wallpapers for children's rooms, with designs ranging from forest animals and dinosaurs to safari and rainbow themes. Decals ship from the EU to Germany, the UK, Austria, Switzerland, and Poland.*