Before You Start
If you have recently painted your nursery, try to wait at least a month before adding decals- letting the pain set fully will reduce the chance of the nursery decals pulling away patches later. Also, keep in mind that water-based paint provides the best surface for nursery wall decals. Bold colors may show through or interfere with complex patterns, so it's advisable to stay with light pastels.
Plan as much of the desired layout as possible, ahead of time. Check to see that nothing will obscure the decorations. Pay attention to the location of humidifiers or radiators, as damp and heat will affect the permanence of your nursery wall decals. Likewise, direct sunlight from skylights or windows can fade your decals and cause them to lose their adhesive properties.
Application
The first step in applying nursery decals is to make sure that the surfaces you're using are clean and dry. Remove any dust from the walls (or furniture) and wash thoroughly with a damp cloth, using a mild detergent solution. A quick swipe with rubbing alcohol before applying the decals will help remove any remaining oils, adhesive residue, or other substances. Also, be sure to test an out-of-the-way spot before applying cleaning solutions to reduce the risk of discoloration or damage.
Next, use masking or painter's tape to position the nursery decals. Painter's tape is highly recommended as it is designed to be surface-friendly. A level or ruler can assist your layout.
When you have your decals placed and aligned the way you want, lightly mark the transfer paper of each decal at the top edges, and place tape on the wall above them.
Turn a decal over and place it against a flat surface such as the wall or a table. Pull slowly from one corner to remove the backing paper. If the decal sticks to the backing paper, push the layers back together and press firmly, then try again.
Remove the transfer paper by rolling it slowly down over itself- do not pull it directly away from the wall, as this can cause the decal to separate from the wall.
