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Renter-Friendly DIY: How to Customize Your Own Removable Wallpaper

by on Mar 1, 2021

Living in a rental is not my ideal situation, but I’ve learned to make the best of the space that I have and still make the customizations that I want. One of the best ways to customize a space is with a fun accent wall, and for renters who cannot paint or apply wallpaper, removable wallpaper is king! I wanted to create a completely customized accent wall without painting it, so instead, I created customized removable wallpaper using a form of solid-colored contact paper.

With this technique, you have complete control over the pattern and paint colors but can easily peel the panels of the wall when you move, so you don’t have to worry about your deposit or angering your landlord.

This project is all about this totally awesome, pseudo magical, no-longer-a-secret supply: TemPaint Peel-and-Stick Paint! It works  a lot like contact paper and is available in a variety of colors. Because it’s made for walls, it has the ideal texture and look. It’s a wall in a roll! Awesome stuff. 

Customized Removable Wallpaper

Materials:

  • TemPaint Peel-and-Stick Paint (similar to contact paper)
  • Wallpaper smoothing tool
  • Paint
  • Medium-sized paintbrushes
  • Stencil (optional)
  • X-Acto knife or craft knife
  • Measuring tape
  • Ladder/step stool

Step

First, wipe down walls with a damp towel to clean. 

Step

Measure the height of the wall and cut length of paper, adding 1-2 inches extra and taking base boards and molding into account.

For example, my wall is about 7 1/2 feet tall, so I measured 7 feet, 8 inches of paper because I cut off the extra paper where it reaches the base board.

Customized Removable Wallpaper

Step

Peel off the backing of the paper and, starting at the top corner, press in place and smooth with the smoothing tool all the way down the wall.

Customized Removable Wallpaper

Step

Use the X-Acto knife to cut where the paper meets your baseboard or flooring. Repeat with as many panels as needed to cover your space.

Customized Removable Wallpaper

Step

Once all of the paper is applied, you can paint it. In this case, use a ruler to measure even 4-inch lines across the wall and mark with a pencil. Mark perpendicular lines on each to create Xs.

Customized Removable Wallpaper

Step

Paint over the Xes to create a hand drawn-looking pattern and let dry. If you don’t trust your freehanding skills, you can also paint a pattern using stencils or tape if you’d like. As long as it stays on the paper, you’re safe.

Have fun with whatever patterns you want!

Let the paint dry and add additional coats as needed.

 

Customized Removable Wallpaper

To remove the wallpaper, simply pull at a corner and peel back. If it’s difficult to remove, try using a blow dryer on low heat to lighten the adhesive. Then I would recommend wiping your walls down once again. 

A few notes about removing: there is no guarantee that using contact paper on your walls will not cause damage them when removed, so use with caution. You may want to test it on a secret area, like a closet, first. Also, once applied, you might not be able to remove and reapply it elsewhere as it may tear upon removal from the wall, specifically if you have smoother walls. These aren’t dealbreakers, it’s just important to understand the product. 

 

Have fun with creating an accent wall, knowing that it’s not permanent!

 

 

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