Written by: Jacob JLast updated: 5/20/2025Est. time to read: 5 mins

Can I Put Wallpaper in my RV?

When you spend as much time in your RV as you do, it can become your second home (heck for some of us full timers it's our first home). But like your home, it can look a bit dated over time. Maybe your current wallpaper has begun to sag or peel, maybe you're doing other updates in your RV and want to include a new look, or maybe you're just stuck paying the price for interior design-related mistakes you made years ago–but no matter the reason, your RV is overdue for a bit of love in the aesthetic department. With the camping season upon us, you don't have time to redo the walls of your RV right? Well, this isn't exactly the case. While you could spend weeks tearing out and replacing the walls, peel-and-stick RV wallpaper is a great option for a quick update to your RV's looks.

Do I Really Need RV-rated Wallpaper?

This is the first question we get whenever we speak to someone about adding wallpaper to their RV. While our answer is always an enthusiastic yes, it's also important to know why this is the case. Residential wallpaper usually has it pretty easy. The walls of your home are generally somewhat stationary (big surprise there), and they rarely have to deal with drastic fluctuations in humidity or temperature. On average, temperatures inside the home range from approximately 65° to 75°F (18°-24°C), and humidity ranges between 30% and 50%. This is a pretty small window, and residential wallpaper is designed to handle everything within that range. The walls of your RV have no such protection. The interior of an RV can reach temperatures as low as 32°F (0°C) and as staggeringly high as 120°F (49°C), and humidity that climbs all the way to 80% or higher. This is saying nothing about the vibrations and movement that your RV experiences as you travel down the highway either. Needless to say the adhesive that holds on your residential wallpaper is not equipped to handle everything that your RV will throw at it.

What makes RV Wallpaper Different?

Residential wallpaper is generally held in place with a water-based adhesive. This is fine if the air is not too humid, but significant amounts of water in the air can "reactivate" the adhesive and cause it to lose some of its hold (this is why you generally see residential wallpaper peel in bathrooms or kitchens, as they're notoriously humid due to the presence of hot water). RV wallpaper solves this issue by using adhesive that is generally solvent-based. This adds a bit to the cost (water is pretty cheap after all), but it makes the adhesive much more capable against the humidity and heat that an RV will experience. The wallpaper itself is also much more flexible, which allows it to handle the movement and vibrations of your RV much better than residential wallpaper.

The adhesive on RV-grade wallpaper handles heat and humidity significantly better than residential wallpaper, and the paper itself is much more durable

Is it Difficult to put Wallpaper in my RV?

So you've decided that your RV needs a makeover, and you understand the importance of using RV-rated wallpaper–now just time for the hard part right? Thankfully, the installation is pretty simple too, and you can be completely finished with the interior of your RV in as little as a weekend (or less if you're a fast worker) with a RV wallpaper kit.

Just follow the provided instructions (or the steps to the side), and you should be well on your way. When you're all finished, slide your furniture back where it was if you haven't already (now would be a perfect time to rearrange your furniture too!), and just like that, your RV looks just like new–and with plenty of time to get down to the campsite!

Shop RV Wallpaper Kits

How to Install RV Wallpaper

• Slide your furniture and other personal items away from the walls of your RV
• Briefly sand smooth walls with a fine sandpaper (the manual suggests 220 grit) Note: This is to give the adhesive a textured surface to "grip"
• Use a spray bottle to moisten the wall slightly to allow for minor adjustments
• Apply from the top down, making sure to flatten out any folds or air bubbles as you go
• Once your wallpaper is applied, trim the edges as needed, and you're good to go!

About Jacob JTo say that my path to etrailer was complicated would be an understatement. I have always had a passion for helping others, and throughout my education and career as a social worker or community liaison, I have loved writing as a hobby. When I found etrailer and was given the opportunity to turn something I enjoyed doing into a career that helped people access information and products they need to live the best life they possibly could, I was instantly interested.I am a lover of the outdoors, I have been loading and unloading trailers since before I was old enough to drive them, and have spent my recent years working in and around the automotive industry. And I am excited to share all of the things I have learned (more often than not the hard way).I consider myself a perpetual student, and etrailer gives me the opportunity to learn something new every day and share my findings with others. Which is something I am extremely grateful for. I look forward to continuing to help people find the answers they need to make memories for a lifetime.