Asked on Sep 28, 2014

Not allowed to mount or paint textured walls

Debbie D.
by Debbie D.
The powder room is 8.25' (L) X 3.25'(W) X 9.25' (H). My problem, I can not mount anything to the walls because the framing of house is steel or paint the blasé white textured walls.
I want to optimize this room with sports bar finesse because it is off our entertainment (tropical biker sports bar lounge) room off the kitchen/den and spills out to the patio. My idea for the sink was a wrap around cabinet. clearance on either side of sink is 10.25". I also thought a bamboo (we're in the tropics) over toilet étagère.
  53 answers
  • Trisha Lathrop Gutierrez Trisha Lathrop Gutierrez on Sep 29, 2014
    check out simplysaid.com you can order custom graphics that are decals that post on the wall can be removed and there is not wall damage.
    • Debbie D. Debbie D. on Sep 29, 2014
      @Trisha Lathrop Gutierrez Thank you Trisha. I will take a peek at simply said.
  • If the issue is the metal studs and your not able to fasten to them, Use metal screws instead of nails. In fact its easier to fasten to the metal studs then the wood as you can find them with a strong magnet or using a stud finder as the metal shows up even easier. If your looking to hang heavy objects on the walls, there is special picture hanging nails that will hold a lot of weight in normal dry wall walls.
    • Debbie D. Debbie D. on Sep 29, 2014
      @Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com Thank you, I will check into the special drywall nails for heavy objects. The nails don't leave large holes, if they are the fishhook type you insert and rotate.
  • Dawn Dawn on Sep 30, 2014
    How about 3M hooks. They hold a lot. Maybe across the wall behind the toilet an expansion rod. You can put hooks or cup hooks on your pix n hang them from that.
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Sep 30, 2014
    Bamboo or wicker stand alone toilet shelf. The prefab kits usually have 3 shelves and a cabinet section, or you can build your own free standing unit that stands along each side of the tank and above the toilet wall space. Just remember to leave enough space between the toilet tank and 1st shelf space or you won't be able to get the tank lid off when needed. Decorate with your sports memorabilia or paint your team's colors. Stickie tabs will hold a substantial amount for hanging picture frames or other decorations on the wall. They're easily easily removed, leaving no marks on the wall.
  • Laura DeSmith Laura DeSmith on Sep 30, 2014
    Fabric with liquid starch! Use a paint roller , the ideas are endless
  • Marisa Stewart Marisa Stewart on Sep 30, 2014
    Hi! @Debbie D. Command ( I believe is the name) has some fantastic hooks and hangers that would be great for you. Some of them can hold a lot of weight!! Just check and make sure what they're used for. The beauty of these hangers are they can be removed without leaving any marks or holes on the wall and doors. I've seen them hang baskets on the wall.
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Sep 30, 2014
    A toilet shelf for above the toilet would give you space to put towels and accessories.
  • Crystal Stagner Martin Crystal Stagner Martin on Sep 30, 2014
    Freestanding over the toilet shelf with an out of the box repurpose for the shelf, pallets possibly. Then baskets, a nice large photo leaned on top. A few knick knacks like lantern, shells, plants...the possibilities are endless. Decor would of course go with your style. For other wall use 3m hooks to hang some wall art. Maybe freestanding cabinet purchased at local hardware store for storage. With 3 tiered basket to put wash cloths, hand towels, soaps, loafas, etc.
  • Crystal Stagner Martin Crystal Stagner Martin on Sep 30, 2014
    For top of shelf put small strip of wood to secure art. Just saw your decor ideas, you could stain the shelf unit black or dark brown and add themed items on it. Motorcyle theme for knick knacks, guitar stuff, etc.
  • Alice Shockley Alice Shockley on Sep 30, 2014
    When I was a renter, we hung artwork, etc. with straight pins. They'll hold a surprising amount of weight when you tap them in at an angle in drywall and the holes are so tiny you can cover them with ivory soap! Decals also work. You can skirt the sink with stick on velcro if you need more storage.
  • Marianne Marianne on Sep 30, 2014
    Those 3M hooks are the best. I have used them for years and it leaves no marks when things are taken down and never penetrate the wall.
  • Sherry Knott Sherry Knott on Sep 30, 2014
    If possible, use color. Repaint the walls, and if you're able to paint artistically you could paint a "scene" of sorts on the walls, or you could use stick-on designs or murals.
  • Cecelia Cecelia on Sep 30, 2014
    Try using a free standing shelf unit around the toilet....under the pedestal sink baskets or sports related containers, even cool vintage coolers could house towels, hair dryers etc. just have fun
  • The Chirping Frog The Chirping Frog on Sep 30, 2014
    What about the renters wallpaper that is supposed to come right off..... I know wallpaper has gotten a bad rep over the years but they really have come out with some great stuff.... if you can go crazy in any room it's a tiny bathroom.... here's a photo of the crazy paper I put in my little powder room....
    • Barbara Barbara on Sep 30, 2014
      @The Chirping Frog I like your quote about your husband and you with hot pink. Your bath looks good. Anyone that wants to try walpaper could use the renters walpaper. Good idea.
  • Pat Nolan Pat Nolan on Sep 30, 2014
    Make a free-standing metal frame that you can attach shelves to. The extra height of the room is nice.
  • Katherine Katherine on Sep 30, 2014
    A nice over the toilet shelf unit would work well and give you room for necessities and decor items. Some of them have a small cabinet area to hide toilet paper. Command hooks work good for other hanging items. Just be sure to use the ones rated for weight of your item. Paint will dramatically change the look of the room. If you have a handy man, you can make the door open out.
  • Traci Traci on Sep 30, 2014
    Put a tension rod that you use for the shower across the room over toilet you can hang pictures or whatnots with ribbon....
    • See 1 previous
    • Traci Traci on Sep 30, 2014
      @traci Use a TENSION ROD the kind that has the spring in it and you twist it out to make it bigger--no mounting or screws involved
  • SOandJO SOandJO on Sep 30, 2014
    If you really wanted to hang heavier stuff you can build a frame with 1x2's to set against your wall. Then hang shelves or whatever you want. Also, I love attaching photo frames to the fronts of shelves for dimension. Good luck and please post the finished product.
  • Bibi Sweet67 Bibi Sweet67 on Sep 30, 2014
    I also was going to say to use command hooks. Also using stencils for art would look nice.
  • Mary Mary on Sep 30, 2014
    Wall decals. They peel right off.
  • Donna Arsenault Donna Arsenault on Sep 30, 2014
    How about some tension bars over the toilet ,add baskets with s-hooks to store towels,TP etc. I have a friend who recently bought one of those prefab wood shelving units from Walmart,stained it and added baskets for more storage. Used it in her bathroom.
  • Pamelairwin Pamelairwin on Sep 30, 2014
    Go to jcp.com and look at bathroom furniture. Their shelving will give you come ideas of what you can do! Good luck!
  • Silvia Lafleur Silvia Lafleur on Sep 30, 2014
    You can get wall art stickers. There are all types of designs. look on e-bay
  • Dianna Blumricl Dianna Blumricl on Sep 30, 2014
    Also remove door, maybe with a folding door.
  • Maxine Maxine on Sep 30, 2014
    Command Strips r good for hanging pictures!
  • Debi McCoy Debi McCoy on Sep 30, 2014
    Definitely Command Strips!!!
  • Ana Ana on Sep 30, 2014
    Use those decorative ladders....
  • Cynthia Lesh Cynthia Lesh on Sep 30, 2014
    When I was in Japan I saw the most fantastic bathroom. A small sink is adapted to the top of the toilet so that when you flush the toilet the water that is used to fill it can also be used to wash your hands. If that idea ever gets to the states it could really make money.
  • Sports Bar Biker Decor would be a great look for what your thinking. First thing that comes to my mind is a type of David Mann (Easy Riders Mag) mural. Using trompe loeil techniques you could open up the feel of the room by painting an open window or doorway to the outside tropical beaches or whatever you wanted. I love painting murals like that. Leather jacket hanging on a hook would be cool. Here's a couple photos.
  • You could even paint something right over the commode to make it disappear into the wall behind it. Sounds like you need a theme more than just a mural. As far as shelves go you could trompe loeil those to look real also, however if you need the real thing just use the right fastener through the drywall to the steel. Trust me it isn't that difficult to accomplish and you can have whatever you want or need.....Peace! BTW my murals can be done on canvas and shipped to be installed if you can't find anybody....Peace,,,http://art-faux.com
  • Jackie Jackie on Sep 30, 2014
    Do you "Command" strips where you are? We have them here in New Zealand. You hang pictures, paints or even light ornaments. Its. Two strip system. One strip attaches to the wall and the other to the piece your going to hang. They come in different weight sizes and you might need moe than one set of strips per item. I hope this helps.
  • Patricia Leazer Patricia Leazer on Sep 30, 2014
    Over commode storage unit (stands on floor). Freestanding shelf units with plant, decorative articles. Pictures hung with stick-on hangers that can be removed.
  • Kelley M Kelley M on Sep 30, 2014
    Don't use command strips if you plan to have them up for more than 6 months. If you leave them up for an extended period of time the pull, the gel stuff, looses its elasticity and sticks to the wall and will tear a big hole in the wall. My husband works on apts and has had to fix so many walls from the command systems it's not funny. There is a putty that is sold in Michaels and ac Moore that holds up unframed artwork that works very well for years without damaging the walls. Other options include making stands, tension rods, shelves, you can even make a stacked shelf with bricks and boards...be sure to fasten them together.
    • See 5 previous
    • Maria J. Sousa Maria J. Sousa on Oct 01, 2014
      @Kelley M I'm really sorry about your experience Kelley, but you should know this is not everyone's experience. When in NJ, I had a hook on the inside of my painted bedroom door for years and when I moved, I took it down - no problems. Here in Portugal I had a poster and pictures up with Command strips on painted walls and a year and a half later, when I took them down, I did not have any problems either - there weren't even any stains left over. I've used Command strips for years and what happened to you has never happened to me (on walls or painted wood). I'm sorry about your experience, but I love them and use them as door & wall hooks for my robe & towels in a tiled bathroom; clothes and belts on the wooden doors of my closet; and as picture and poster hangers on my painted walls. I hate putting up nails since (1) I'm always moving stuff around and (2) my house is now made of cemented brick and tile, very hard to drill into and very permanent - especially with tiles! I'm only sorry Command strips are so expensive and have a light load maximum. I would love to be able to hang my bulletin board with them - but alas it's too heavy. I've tried different brands and they are not as good - a waste of my money.
  • Meburke Meburke on Sep 30, 2014
    Nate Berkus did a twin sheet dipped in a wallpaper trough of Liquid starch ,he started @ceiling( w towels on floor to catch the liquid mess,)& squeegeed it down & allowed it to dry it's ART & when moving you just wet it & pull off wall ,wash wall w water ( not soaking it ) & dry it. He made it sound great for military,apt owners,dorms...like Star Wars sheets or Spider-Man
    • See 1 previous
    • Maria J. Sousa Maria J. Sousa on Oct 01, 2014
      @Meburke & Ann, Would this work on a wall that is not smooth? Unlike the nice smooth walls I had in the US, the walls here have a grainy wall texture. We also have humid winters.
  • Chris Chris on Sep 30, 2014
    what about vinyl decals that you can just remove when you want. There are some really cool designs out now.
  • Dave kilzer Dave kilzer on Sep 30, 2014
    Okay in Toilet area I would put an expansion rod with a curtain or a matching shower curtain and color coordinated tank set .
  • Marci N Marci N on Sep 30, 2014
    You could put a piece of plywood up and paint it or decorate it as you want then take it with you. Free standing shelving would work to hold decorations and essentials.
  • Debbie D. Debbie D. on Sep 30, 2014
    I found a teak shelf at a yard sale and it fit over the toilet and also found a pedestal sink wrap around.
  • Jenney Jenney on Sep 30, 2014
    I agree with Jackie. C o mm and strip are the way to go. I use them all the time.
  • Vicsav27 Vicsav27 on Sep 30, 2014
    Tension rods that fit the width of the area can hold baskets, hang pictures, any number of decorative or storage items. Painted the color of the wall they would almost disappear.
  • Heather Stimmel Heather Stimmel on Sep 30, 2014
    The door is 1/2 the problem, unless you remove it and hang so it will swing out instead of in. I would recommend removing it entirely, if it weren't for the privacy issue;0 Since it is a small space, focusing on storage (other than absolute necessities) is a moot point. If you have things to store, purchase some inexpensive fabric-covered cubes where the tops lift off and you can put stuff in them. Then, use them in the "game room" for extra table space, foot stools or seating. I would focus my attention on a bold color (nothing boring!) and a few, key accent pieces. You might wanna go with a sports-related theme (a fave team?), or not?! Some teams have some really FUN colors... i.e. Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, whatever;) Whatever you do, HAVE FUN with it!
  • Trish Trish on Oct 01, 2014
    I think this would solve your problem. This is my guest room. Just sketch or trace a picture you want on your wall and voila! If you mess it up just paint over it and start again.
    • See 2 previous
    • Linda Linda on Nov 19, 2014
      @Trish if you add a red bird, make a throw pillow for the bed in the same exact paint of the bird. Red is a great choice. I can see that tree with white and gray leaves to mimic the bed cover. OR put a red throw folded on the bottom of the bed. Sorry I just found wile deleting old messages.
  • Carol Carol on Oct 01, 2014
    Command strips and hooks. Wonderful and no holes
  • Is there room for a pocket door?
  • Cheryl Lord Cheryl Lord on Oct 02, 2014
    Had the no mounting problem myself . Painted the walls with magnetic primer . The the color of my choice. Adhered magnets to all edges of picture frames and flat back sconces.
  • Centrd Centrd on Oct 02, 2014
    I've always wanted to do the starched fabric wallpaper. But here's another contemporary idea using washi tape: washi tape wall art - http://jadeandfern.com/how-to-make-totally-removable-honeycomb-wall-decal/
    • See 3 previous
    • Centrd Centrd on Oct 05, 2014
      and here are some sports wall decals ( https://www.etsy.com/market/sports_wall_decal )
  • Debbie D. Debbie D. on Oct 02, 2014
    Unfortunately Cheryl, we are not allowed to paint walls. It has to stay it's neutrally bland textured self!
  • Cindy Haskell Cindy Haskell on Oct 08, 2014
    How about one of those stand alone shelves that just stand behind the toilet...and you could perhaps put a fake ficus tree on one side of the toilet to brighten it up a little? One of the catalogs (Carol Wright gifts) I think has the sink wrap arounds in cloth that would dress up the sink a little and hide the extra toilet paper or cleaning supplies?
  • Nicole MT Nicole MT on Oct 08, 2014
    Since you have a "sports bar" theme, I would say for behind the toilet to go to the fabric store and get the fake leather looking vinyl used to cover tables in a large enough piece (or pieces) to cover that back wall. Use the 3M stuff that you can pull off later to attach it to the wall. Then you get a "leather" wall that has a masculine vibe, but it's removeable! You could also do this with a wall paper that has color you would like to add to the space. Removeable decals are another fabulous choice. As someone else suggested, if you didn't want to mount it to the wall, you could make a single sheet "drape" of the fabric or wallpaper. Attach it to a small tension rod at the top of the wall and let it hang behind the toilet. With the shelf there, it won't be noticeable that it's not "attached".
  • Debbie D. Debbie D. on Oct 09, 2014
    Thank you for all the fabulous suggestions. I added a teak over the toilet shelf, original art work on the wall and a pedestal sink brushed nickel wrap around shelf . I have 5 "leather" placemats that I am mounting on batting and framing using nail head trim (palm tree design) to complete the wall art.
  • Alanna Alanna on Apr 30, 2015
    Find fabric you love or use a painters tarp and decorate in your style (paint it, stamp it or dye it) and you can adhere it to the walls with fabric starch (found in grocery stores). Use a paintbrush and wait about 5 minutes for it to get tacky to the touch. Then adhere it like wallpaper. I have done this in apartments and rooms I rented over the years. If it gets moldy, take it down and wash it in the washer and throw it back up. If you want to chage it, it takes 5 minutes to peel it off. The wall is unharmed and stays clean too. :)
  • Mary Ker Mary Ker on May 03, 2015
    Show us the final pic, Debbie!
  • Libbie B Libbie B on Jan 14, 2022

    What about peel and stick wallpaper?