ORC Fall ‘21 Part Two: Renter Friendly DIY Wallpaper

You can catch up on my previous ORC posts here and you can also watch the whole ORC process on my Instagram highlight. Don’t forget to check out the 20 Featured Designers and the rest of the Guest Participants!

This week I’m going to show you how to make any kind of wallpaper renter-friendly.

Let me tell you the story behind this hack.

It all started with a bad landlord in Brooklyn. When I first moved into my apartment, I noticed it was missing a few things: screens and cranks to open the 10 windows, working locks on the bedroom door but the most notable thing missing? A mirror in the bathroom. While the mirror didn’t sound like too big of a deal using my phone camera to put my contacts in every morning was. When I flagged this issue for my landlord, his solution was for me to purchase the mirror, deduct it from my rent, and then he would have the super install the mirror. I did not do this for two reasons: 1. the space for the mirror was 3x5 feet. It was a large mirror that you had to buy from a commercial place where all sales were final. 2. I spoke with another tenant in the building, the landlord had tried the same thing with them. The super never installed the mirror and they were not fully reimbursed for the purchase.

No, thank you.

But I couldn’t just leave this gaping unfinished gap in my bathroom and I still wore contacts. Thankfully, I had this gold circular mirror from Target that I could install simply with a single nail. But the bathroom still looked incomplete. So, I thought wallpaper would be a fun addition to add some personality to the space and distract from the faint smell of mildew. Seriously, this place was my least favorite apartment I have ever lived in.

As a renter, however, I could not just install wallpaper. At least not without losing my security deposit. So I found a way to temporarily install the wallpaper without damaging my walls. Here’s a before and after:

Much better, right? This project was so easy and made such a big impact, that I decided to do it again during my Fall ORC. I am using this gorgeous wallpaper from the Emma J Shipley Animalia Wallpaper Collection to add some brass accents to the room. Here’s how I did it!

How to Make Any Wallpaper Removable

Directions

  1. Outline the wall you are covering with the painter’s tape. Almost as if you were protecting the wall from paint.

  2. Create a grid by creating evenly spaced lines with your painter’s tape. Do not put the lines more than 1 foot apart from each other.

  3. Press firmly down on the painter’s tape to make sure it is secure.

  4. Cut the pieces of the double-sided sticky tape. Make sure you use the kind of double-sided sticky tape that comes with one side covered. Without peeling the second side of the tape place the sticky exposed side of the tape directly onto the painter’s tape. Place the pieces of the double-sided sticky tape at even intervals and make sure to put one wherever two pieces of painter’s tape intersect.

  5. Measure the first strip of wallpaper. Using a straight edge like a ruler or a heavy hardback book to guide you, cut the strip.

  6. Starting at the top of your wall, peel off the protective back on the first row of the double-sided sticky tape but only in the section that fits your strip.

  7. Attach the wallpaper to these newly exposed sticky pieces and press down to secure it. Gently smooth any wrinkles.

  8. Repeat this while slowly working your way down. Take off the back on the double-sided sticky tape, secure and smooth. Take off, secure, smooth.

  9. Once you reach the end of your strip, take your Exacto knife and use it to cut any excess pieces.

  10. Repeat steps 5-9 until your entire wall is covered.

  11. For extra security, you can add extra pieces of tape along where the seams of two wallpaper sections meet

To- Do List

1. Paint

2. Hang Wallpaper

3. Build and Organize Storage

4. Hang Curtains

5. Refurbish chairs

6. Source or Create Wall Art

Next Week

  1. Create organization solution

  2. Hang curtains

Resources

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