Asked on Aug 01, 2012

How to decorate around wallpaper in a rental

Ashley Thurman
by Ashley Thurman
I'm about to move into a rental with SUPER ugly wallpaper that I can't take down.... anyone have any creative ideas how to cover it up without damaging it?
  13 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Aug 01, 2012
    You could pick up some 4 x 8 foot sheets of foam core "matboard" and attach it with those double sided foam adhesive squares. From there you could paint or do just about anything. a fabric tapestry is another idea
  • Kathy R Kathy R on Aug 01, 2012
    Long curtains all down the wall.
  • Lois R Lois R on Aug 01, 2012
    yards of fabric and fabric softner. you paint the wall with the softner and the fabric will adhere to it and it will not cause any damage to the wallpaper.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Aug 02, 2012
    Best advice is do not rent this space!
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Aug 02, 2012
    PS...if you have already rented it, keep everything else in the room white or some other neutral color! A photo of the paper would be helpful with ideas from the HT followers!
  • Ashley Thurman Ashley Thurman on Aug 02, 2012
    Thanks ladies! I'm thinking about doing a burlap wall. The main area with the wallpaper is in the dining room, so I think I can cover it with burlap and have it be an accent wall. At least it will greatly improve the area and give me something to decorate around : ) Now I just have to figure out how to hide the border in the living room that is about 1/3 or the way down the wall... not sure what these people were thinking, lol!
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Aug 03, 2012
    Keep in mind that if you do not have permission to remove the wallpaper, you certainly do not have permission to paint it or "attach" things to it...??? Glue, tacking, etc. can cause damage!
  • Cherished B. If you decide to go that burlap route. I would suggest that you make frames that you can attach the burlap to. Then simply using tiny nails or even Velcro tape attach the panels to the existing walls.
  • Ashley Thurman Ashley Thurman on Aug 06, 2012
    Thanks Woodbridge! That's what I was thinking : ) I want it to appear to be wallpaper so I definitely want to pull it tight : )
  • Betha Betha on Apr 19, 2015
    The wallpaper is easily removed by spraying it with fleecy fabric softener spray and gently use a tool to lift it off if lucky you could paste it on before you move out you would have to be really lucky though😀
  • Betha Betha on Apr 19, 2015
    I was talking about the border wallpaper not the wall in dining room I think you have found your answer to that that problem. A piece of foam baseboard could cover over the border wallpaper and be removed easily later
  • Judi Judi on Sep 23, 2015
    you might think about stapling fabric over it. Or install curtain rods and drape it.
  • Craftyfox Craftyfox on Oct 31, 2015
    iron fabric over it easy to remove when you move just spray with spray starch and iron it on