Fed up with bubbles in wallpaper? Discover the causes and what to do to get rid of them

Hand using a blue wallpaper smoother on light patterned wallpaper
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Unwanted bubbles in wallpaper are irritating and annoying. They ruin a smooth finish and can be a tell-tale sign that the underlying surface may need attention. But getting your preparation and installation right goes a long way to making sure that bubbles won’t be an issue.

Knowing how to wallpaper is key to keeping bubbles at bay, but it’s not a guarantee. Don’t panic if bubbles do make an appearance, they are not difficult as you might think to get rid of. Here you’ll find some must-follow pointers to ensure your walls are smooth and bubble-free.

Gary Tidman, Lead Designer, Only Lifts
Gary Tidman

Gary Tidman is a seasoned home improvement and construction expert with over 35 years of hands-on experience across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. He has tackled everything from bespoke residential builds to complex retrofits in heritage and modern properties.

Eric Bramlett, Owner of Bramlett Real Estate
Eric Bramlett

Eric Bramlett is the owner of Bramlett Real Estate. He has extensive experience in real estate development and brokerage management. They have won multiple industry awards and been featured in top media outlets such as Axios, Bloomberg and Forbes.

Steve Jenkins is a freelance content creator with over two decades of experience working in digital and print and was previously the DIY content editor for Homebuilding & Renovating. 

He is a keen DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating the many homes he has lived in. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has a wide range of skills gleaned from working in the building trade for around 10 years and spending time at night school learning how to plaster and plumb.

He has fitted kitchens, tiled bathrooms and kitchens, laid many floors, built partition walls, plastered walls, plumbed in bathrooms, worked on loft conversions and much more. And when he's not sure how to tackle a DIY project he has a wide network of friends – including plumbers, gas engineers, tilers, carpenters, painters and decorators, electricians and builders – in the trade to call upon.