How to install your story wall
A step-by-step guide
You've got the mural. Here's everything you need to get it on the wall and love it.
The install
Step 1. Let it breathe
Take the mural out of the tube and let it lie flat for a few minutes while you prep the wall. Leave the backing on.
Step 2. Wipe the wall
A damp, lint-free cloth. You're clearing dust and fingerprints, not deep-cleaning. Let the wall dry before you peel anything. Five to ten minutes is fine.
Step 3. Place it first
Not sure exactly where you want it? Tape the mural to the wall with painters' tape and step back. Live with it for a minute. Once you're happy with the placement, you're ready to peel.
Step 4. Test with a bonus sticker
Every mural ships with small test stickers. Press one firmly to the wall where your mural will hang. It should feel firmly attached with no sliding and no curling at the edges. If it passes, you're good to go. If it doesn't grip well, see the tips below before touching your mural.
Step 5. Hang it
Peel back the top four inches of backing and press the mural to the wall. Work from the center out. Keep peeling in sections, always working top to bottom, smoothing as you go.
On textured walls, use your hands. Press firmly into the texture to get the adhesive into those grooves. On a very smooth wall, a soft cloth or the back of a credit card can help you get a cleaner finish.
Step 6. Smooth any bubbles
Push them toward the nearest edge with your hand. Or peel gently from the bottom and re-stick. The adhesive stays forgiving, so take your time.
That's it. Most families are done in 30 minutes or less.
Questions? We're here.
Email us at support@whaleswillows.com or book a live Zoom walkthrough. We'll talk you through it in real time.
A few things worth knowing
Wall types
Works beautifully on smooth walls & standard orange-peel texture. Not suited for brick, bare concrete, or stucco.
Paint compatibility
We've personally tested our murals on Behr Premium Plus Interior and Benjamin Moore Regal Select, both with excellent results. Most standard acrylic latex paints behave similarly, so if yours is a regular latex that doesn't make washability claims, your bonus sticker test should confirm it.
A few paints don't play well with your mural:
Sherwin-Williams ProMar 200 & 400 Zero VOC
Any paint labeled "washable," "wipe-clean," "scrubbable," or "easy-clean" these contain additives that repel adhesive
Teflon-based paint, for the same reason
Not sure what's on your walls? The bonus sticker will tell you. If it doesn't grip, email us at support@whaleswillows.com before you do anything else.
Fresh paint
Wait 30 full days before hanging. Fresh paint off-gasses as it cures, and it can cause bubbles behind your mural. Worth the wait.
Storage & temperature
Keep your mural somewhere you'd be comfortable, not a hot garage, not a cold storage unit. Extreme heat or cold while it's rolled can affect how it hangs. Once it's on the wall, it's built for real life.
Bubbles that reappear
If a bubble shows up a day or two after install, press and smooth it out with your fingers. If it keeps coming back, there may be something on that patch of wall (dust, residue, paint that wasn't fully cured). Try moving the mural a few inches and re-sticking.
Changed your mind?
Keep the backing & shipping tube. Returns are free, no questions asked.