Moving into a new apartment can be difficult, especially when the space doesn’t feel like it is reflective of your style. Thankfully, there is soo much that even renters can do to make your home feel more like you! Renter friendly wallpaper is one of my favorite ways to add personality to an apartment without having to worry about doing any damage, plus wallpaper is a fun and super easy DIY project that is mess free and can be done in a couple of hours.
In this post you’ll learn where I found the best wallpapers for my apartment as well as the tools and tricks you need to know for installation! I’ll also round up some of my favorite wallpapers to inspire you!
This post is all about renter friendly peel and stick wallpaper!
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I can absolutely say that peel and stick wallpaper transformed our apartment! When we moved in, our apartment felt very gray, and it really lacked personality. Enter: renter-friendly wallpaper. The first area I added wallpaper was our entryway. Our entry is visible from both the living room and the dining area, and adding a simple wallpaper accent wall totally transformed our whole living space. I later added more peel and stick wallpaper to my home office. In this room I went with something more bold that would be bright and welcoming each morning as I went to work.
No matter if you want an inexpensive alternative to painting, are a renter, or are a homeowner who wants a cost-effective DIY, removable wallpaper is for you!
Note: I use ‘removable wallpaper’ and ‘peel and stick wallpaper’ interchangeably.
Why You Should Try Renter Friendly Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Most apartments allow you to make changes to your apartment as long as those changes can be undone when you move out. This usually includes things like removable wallpaper, paint, and light fixtures. I personally hate painting, so when we moved into our new apartment, I immediately knew that I wanted to add wallpaper in a couple of rooms.
Wallpaper should definitely be on your apartment DIY list too! I love it for several reasons:
- Peel and stick wallpaper comes in a million options. Any print or pattern you can think of is out there!
- It is usually fairly affordable, and you can even find great options on Amazon
- Applying peel and stick wallpaper is very forgiving. If it’s crooked you can peel it off like a giant sticker and reposition it
- It is mess free! You don’t have to worry about taping any edges or paint spills
- When it does come time for the wallpaper to be removed, it only takes minutes
Best Removable Wallpapers for Renters
The best removable wallpaper has a few criteria in my mind:
- Is affordable and the vendor offers returns of unopened rolls
- Pattern is easy to match up when installing
- Has a large pattern or design
When I was searching for wallpaper for our apartment, I used the criteria above to help me narrow down my search. First, I always filtered on price. Since we will eventually move out of our apartment and will have to throw away the wallpaper, I didn’t want it to be a huge investment. Look for wallpaper rolls that are between $30-$70 for the best value! I also looked for vendors that offered the option to return unopened rolls.
When you order wallpaper, you measure the wall you want to cover and then order a certain number of rolls, and usually a little extra to be safe. It can save you a decent amount of money if you are able to return wallpaper rolls you didn’t end up needing. When you are installing, be sure to open rolls only as you are using them, so if there are any left over, you can return them!
Second, you should look for a patter that is easy to match up when installing, and will be fairly forgiving. Many apartment walls are not exactly straight or even, and you probably won’t be able to match the pattern perfectly. But a pattern that is easier to match up will make it a lot simpler and less frustrating to achieve a final look you are happy with.
Third, you should look for wallpaper that has a large pattern or design. Large scale patterns and designs will make your space feel larger, assuming your apartment isn’t huge, which is always a bonus!
My Favorite Peel and Stick Wallpaper Options
I personally love peel and stick wallpaper accent walls, but you can totally do an entire room or a hallway. Regardless of what you choose, here are a few of my favorite patterns and designs, including the wallpapers that we currently have in our apartment!
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Florals and large neutral prints and so classic and timeless, and each of these picks would be beautiful in an entryway, home office, powder bathroom, or home office!
Where to Find the Best Removable Wallpapers
With literally millions of wallpaper options online, finding the best options and sources for peel and stick wallpaper can be super overwhelming. I have learned that Home Depot and Amazon have large selections that are very affordable, and I often go to those websites first! If I am looking for a specific pattern however, I will Google characteristics of what I am looking for and go from there. For example, for the wallpaper in my office (#1 above), I did a Google searched and landed at Rifle Paper Co which also has a beautiful selection of wallpaper!
How to Make Wallpaper Application Easier
Before you even begin installation, you need to have a few tools. I recommend purchasing a wallpaper installation kit from Amazon, I will link the kit I used HERE. The kit should come with an exacto knife, a tool you can use to smooth the edges and seams of the wallpaper, and a blade for cutting the wallpaper to size. You also need a tape measure to measure the height and width of you wall.
I also highly recommend that you have someone help you. I have installed wallpaper by myself, and also installed wallpaper with my husband’s help, and having a second set of hands to help hold and position the wallpaper is so helpful. Since peel and stick wallpaper is essentially a giant sticker, it can turn into a mess quickly if the wallpaper starts to stick to itself.
Another tips for making wallpaper application easier is to always start from the top left corner of the wall and work down and to the right. By positioning the first wallpaper panel as precisely as possible, it will set up the rest of the wall and the rest of the panels nicely. Never ever start from the middle of the wall.
A final tip is to not cut all of the panels at once and then start hanging the wallpaper. Instead, cut your first panel, hang it; then cut the second panel, hang it; and so on. This is because you will have to line up the pattern of the second panel to the first panel, and it will often mean you have to cut off excess on the top of the panel so that the pattern repeats correctly.
