How to apply and arrange laptop stickers

4 Things to look out for when putting stickers on a laptop

Putting stickers on your laptop can be a great way to show off your style and make it look unique. But if you don't know what you're doing, it can quickly become a disaster! To ensure that your laptop looks its best, there are certain things you should consider before applying any stickers.

1. Start with a clean surface

It is essential to clean the surface you want to apply your stickers to before you start.

Dust or dirt particles can get caught underneath the adhesive of your stickers an impact its adhesion. By cleaning your surface, you ensure that your stickers will adhere firmly and last without peeling or curling up.

Simply use a damp cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol or brake cleaner to remove any debris, dirt or dust.

2. Keep a steady hand

Applying stickers isn't magic. In fact, it is pretty straightforward: peel off the backing paper and position your sticker where you'd like it.

However, for the best possible result, keep a calm, steady hand. You do not want to end up with a wonky sticker. So just take your time and do not rush.

3. Sticker glue is pressure-sensitive

How do you make a sticker stick? You press down. You apply pressure. And it works because most stickers come with pressure-sensitive adhesive that is activated by pushing it onto a surface.

This means that there is a little wriggle room for repositioning your stickers, as long as you do not press them down.

4. Air bubbles can form

Once you have applied pressure, air bubbles can form. This happens when air gets caught between the adhesive and your surface.

Do not worry about that. You can use your thumb or a credit card to slowly push these bubbles outwards.

The best places to put stickers on your laptop

The best places to put stickers on your laptop are flat and smooth surfaces. This includes the top of your laptop as well as the inside underneath your keyboard.

Of course, the top of your laptop cover is the perfect place for stickers and designs you want the world to see.

The inside of your laptop might be better suited for motivational stickers or reminders, just for yourself. Check out these images for some inspiration.

Where you should not put your laptop stickers

For obvious reasons, the screen of your laptop and any touch-sensitive areas should remain sticker-free.

Also beware of USB ports, vents and outlets. These should not be covered with stickers as that could impact the functionality of your laptop.

How to arrange laptop stickers

If you want to sticker bomb your laptop or simply apply more than just a few stickers to your laptop, you need to think about how to arrange them to make sure you love the end product.

Test out different sticker arrangments on a flat surface before applying them. Here are some categories to keep in mind:

By colour

The colour or different materials your stickers are printed on are crucial because they determine the overall look of each sticker. This is why colour is the category you should start with.

Sort your stickers by the dominant colour they are displaying. This will avoid accidentally applying all the colourful stickers to one area, making the remaining part of your laptop look boring or out of place.

By size

If you have various different sticker sizes, be sure to also organize your stickers from large to small. Start with your larger stickers. They can form the background for your overall arrangement.

Apply them first to avoid covering your smaller designs with them. You can use your small stickers to fill the remaining spaces and create visual highlights.

By shape

Custom shapes like die-cut stickers are here to steal the show, for good reasons. Apply smaller stickers with a custom shape last to show them off and make them stand out.

Such custom shapes are also perfect to fill oddly-shaped gaps that might form between your larger standard stickers.

Top tip

Do you have a few stickers that you really, really love? Then keep them until last. We might be tempted to apply the ones we like best immediately. But this often means that they will get covered by other stickers.

To avoid this, apply your most cherished stickers at the end and give them the prime spot they deserve.

Which way should laptop stickers face?

That is up to you. You can apply them so that other people can see them the right way around, or you can apply them to face you.

Imagine your laptop shut, the opening pointing towards you. If you apply your stickers to face you the right way around, it means that they will be upside down when you open your laptop.

If you want people to read your quotes and see your designs the right way, apply your laptop stickers facing away for you.

You can find more guidance on whether putting stickers on your laptop is okay here.

Applying stickers to your laptop can be a fun way to express yourself and personalize the look of your device. By organizing them by colour, size, and shape and considering which ones you want on display for others or just for yourself, you will create an eye-catching arrangement that fits perfectly with your style.

With these tips in mind, get creative and start decorating your laptop today!