You just signed the lease on your new apartment and can't wait to decorate it. You have so many great ideas for how you want to add character to your new home. You've even made a wish list of what you want to buy, including picking out some paint chips from your local hardware store.
Doing your due diligence, you're checking the language in your rental agreement for any restrictions that might impact your plans for how to decorate a wall. As you're reading, you realize you're not permitted to paint the apartment walls. A little panic sets in as you keep reading. Then, relief.
Even if you can't paint there are other ways you're allowed to decorate your walls. You can use nails to put items on the walls, as long as you fill them in before moving out. You can come up with a few ideas for temporary wall coverings. There's still hope for how you envisioned your apartment looking. Now, to find the best way to make your apartment décor pop without paint.
There are so many different elements when it comes to the interior design of your home. The furniture, accessories and walls all need to work together to make a space that you absolutely love. So, when you're purchasing throw pillows, rugs, small display items or considering your wall décor, consider the overall aesthetic of the room.
Keeping color in mind when deciding what to put up on your walls can help unify a room. Even if you can't paint, the color of whatever decorative elements you pick is important. If you decide to go light and bright, use bolder colors in your décor. If you go bold, keep it monochromatic. And never underestimate the power of an accent wall.
Don't stress too much if you can't paint your walls. There are so many other good ideas that you can choose from to make a boring wall really pop. Ready to decorate those bare walls? Here are a few temporary wall covering ideas — without using a paintbrush.
Removable wallpaper is just one of many awesome ideas to consider if you can't use paint. Julie Pennell from Today says, “If you live in a rental and need a temporary fix to cover boring beige walls, or you're looking for an inexpensive and easy way to experiment with a splash of color, peel-and-stick wallpaper may be the answer."
If temporary wallpaper is the way you want to go, there are some things you should know. It works best on smooth surfaces and you should move slowly when applying the removable wallpaper. Don't remove the backing all at once, but take a gradual approach to protect the bottom from sticking to itself while you're working at the top of a strip.
Because peel and stick wallpaper is usually a slow process, consider doing a small space such as an accent wall or one feature wall in a larger space rather than an entire room.
You can buy temporary wallpaper at big-box home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot, paint stores like Sherwin-Williams or online. Average costs are around $60-90 per roll, and it's best to buy two rolls whether you use both or not. Even if you end up returning the second roll, it's better to have it when you need it than need it and not be able to find the same pattern or color.
If you have a tile wall in a bathroom or laundry room that's in desperate need of a change, here are some options for how to fix the wall space. Since you can't replace the tiles or paint designs onto them, look for tile decals.
Similar to peel-and-stick wallpaper, these peel-and-stick decorations can transform the color of your backsplash or enable you to create a unique design. All you have to do is purchase, peel and you're on your way. Sticker every tile or just a few to achieve the look you want and give your kitchen and bathroom a little more personality.
Maybe you're looking to add a tile accent wall, but you can't use real tile. Worry not because there's a fix for you. Similar to temporary wallpaper, there are peel and stick tiles, which is a perfect solution to your tile problem.
Prices vary and you usually have the option to buy single decals or a small pack. The more intricate the design, the higher the cost per tile, maxing out at around $15 on average. Amazon, Etsy and Wayfair are all good places to search for a wide assortment of design choices.
If you're not ready to commit to wallpapering the whole room, then this temporary wall covering idea is for you. The sheer variety of vinyl decals makes them a versatile piece for decorating any sized wall in any room. When it comes to wall decals, there are so many different options available, such as fine art pieces, inspirational quotes, movies, TV or video game characters, simple patterns or almost any design you could want.
Size and price vary, too, but they're a good idea if you're working on a tiny budget. You shouldn't have a problem finding something you like that matches your color scheme, decorating style and personality.
Apply these carefully and slowly, like with the wallpaper, especially if your decal is big. Work to smooth out any air bubbles. They'll stick tight.
Should you run into any issues removing the decal, dengarden.com advises you enlist the help of a common household item. “If the sticker is firmly stuck, use a hairdryer (on a warm setting) to slowly heat the corner. Once that corner starts getting easier to peel, apply heat to the next area as you slowly remove the sticker." You can also find a great tutorial online or on YouTube that can help make this process super easy.
Available in home goods, home improvement and furniture stores, you may have better luck browsing for the perfect decal online, but make sure you check sticker dimensions and measure your wall. You don't want to end up with something too big or too small.
Fabric wallpaper is another fun way to add some personality to your home. Take yourself to the nearest fabric store and go wild. There are so many fun fabric patterns that your possibilities are endless. One fun thing you can do if you're into DIY projects is to use wall stencils on the fabric. Stencil any design you want and you're good to go. You might be wondering how to go about hanging fabric wallpaper, so here are some tips to help you out. You can approach this medium in one of two ways:
The first way you can go about hanging fabric wallpaper is to nail it directly to the wall. Buy a large section of fabric from a fabric store, stretch tightly across your wall and secure it with small nails or thumbtacks, almost like you're using wallpaper.
The other way you can put up fabric wallpaper is to wrap the fabric around large, foam boards that are as tall as your walls, creating panels you can attach for a more artistic effect. This is also one of the more easily removable temporary wallpaper ideas.
You can also buy a tapestry to hang. These colorful pieces of fabric usually have an eclectic, woven or printed design. You can usually find tapestries at places like Pottery Barn, Urban Outfitters or Target.
While on the subject of fabric wallpaper for décor, another fabric idea to consider is curtains. Just because there's no window behind them doesn't mean you can't add a curtain to your room. Use an ordinary curtain rod installed toward the top of the wall.
Long curtains are easy to find since they're pre-cut to fit large, picture windows. There are plenty of options to choose from, heavy and dark to thin and semi-transparent, to set the right mood for your room.
Bed Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx or any home goods store typically has a wide selection of curtains with displays so you can check texture and appearance.
If you have an artistic side begging to get set free, take this opportunity to let it go. Grab a few blank canvases in a variety of sizes, paints, brushes and any other art materials you want to use and create something original for your walls. With endless possibilities, you'll end up with an original wall that reflects you as a person.
If you're not the artistic type, you can always go with photos as they feel artsy without actually doing much work. Photos are relatively low cost and may be the most fun of all our temporary wall covering ideas. You can find a lot of great and free photos online, as well as many you can purchase. An idea to consider is to print different sizes to create a variation on your walls or use washi tape to post the photos to add some pop.
If you want to put up pictures of family and friends, consider doing a series of black and white prints for a more artistic feel. Arrange your set of photos in a unique way as you hang them for added impact.
If you don't want to stick up wallpaper or fabric, there are more great ideas. Make an art accent wall and hang all your favorite pieces. Whether it's your favorite band, movie or classic piece of art this DIY art gallery is all yours.
Hanging pre-made art is an inexpensive option with places like Ikea, Target and Walmart carrying more and more options for wall décor.
Add some texture to the wall by adding different types of art and objects and hanging methods. Maybe you've always wanted an oversized wall clock, now's your chance or hang the art with double-sided tape and skip the frame. Spend a little time browsing what's available in stores. No matter what you do this DIY feature wall will be post-worthy.
Is there one feature wall that just needs that little something? Try out a mirror. Mirrors make a fantastic and stylish wall covering, especially if you don't want to hang wallpaper.
No matter what size a mirror is, you can't help but look. But they're also a great decorative piece. They can help bring light into the room and give it a larger feel.
Hang a big mirror as a statement piece to fill up a wall, or use smaller mirrors to create a patterned wall that sparkles. You can find mirrors with decorative borders or in funky shapes, as well.
Believe it or not, this popular crafting item can create instant wall art and is one of the easier ideas for temporary wall coverings.
As you probably figured you're going to want to get a lot of tape for this idea. You can get anything from washi tape to colorful masking tape.
Once you've figured out what kind of tape you want to use, it's time to think about what you want to do with it. One of the best parts of using tape is that you can create any pattern you want on your wall. It peels off easily when it's time to take it down and gives you the creative freedom to transform any wall into a great accent piece.
Feel like your running out of ideas? This is an inexpensive DIY temporary wall covering idea, best used to create a smaller accent wall you want to highlight with a bold statement. A large roll of wrapping paper or some sheets of sturdy scrapbook paper and some double-sided tape is all you need to complete your own DIY wallpaper.
The only drawback is that they're also fragile. Putting paper on the wall in a high-traffic area increases the risk of rips, so stick to the back of your closet or the spaces between shelves on a bookcase for this decorative strategy.
Who said you can't use your snow globe collection for decorating? So, maybe it's not snow globes but you've been collecting keychains your whole life or postcards from vacations. Why not hang them on that one wall as a wall covering?
Not only is this one of the easier and more unique ideas for a temporary wall covering, but it's also a fun way to showcase your great collection. It's different from any wallpaper or wall paint you could find. This is definitely the ultimate DIY project that deserves an Insta post.
Faux brick is all the rage lately and rightfully so. These temporary wallcoverings are perfect for apartments. It adds that perfect something to the wall without adding much damage to the existing wall.
You can do faux brick a couple of ways. Places like Home Depot sell faux brick boards you can nail to the wall. Another option to achieve this look is to use faux brick wallpaper. Just like temporary wallpaper, it's an easy DIY way to make your apartment your own.
You don't have to make huge holes in your walls to hang most of the temporary covering ideas on this list. While some are self-stick, the others could be hung a bit easier and less damaging:
When it's time to move out and pull down all the stuff on your walls, you have one final step to take — hiding the holes. “Use a putty knife to fill them with Spackle or wall joint compound. Allow the area to dry, then sand lightly," says Merle Henkenius from This Old House.
The whole process takes minutes as long as you've kept the holes on the smaller side. With a neutral wall color, you may even be able to find putty to match, making it look like you never hung anything at all.
Even without the ability to paint your walls your favorite color, there are so many other great ideas to decorate your walls to suit your style. From wallpaper to wrapping paper you can make any wall post-worthy. Using any of these ideas can help give your home an individual look and feel in color-coordinated harmony.
Ashley Singleton is a writer who loves following and writing about current lifestyle, DIY and home improvement trends. You can read some of her other work on the Lady Spike Media website. In her spare time, she performs stand-up comedy in Los Angeles.