Wallpaper is a popular design medium that helps homeowners transform their rooms without the hassle of painting. While paint provides plenty of creative opportunities, wallpapers come in various textures, styles, and designs that are difficult to accomplish with flat paint. However, renters do not have the ability to redo their spaces without explicit approval from their landlord. Even worse, most property owners forbid painting and permanent wallpaper and do not let tenants redo their homes. Luckily, renters still have options to decorate their apartments. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a creative alternative that tenants can use.
At the end of their lease, the wallpaper easily comes off the walls, helping renters reclaim their security deposits. Those looking to use apartment-safe wallpaper should consider the pros and cons of the medium and read up on the following tips to ensure a seamless application and removal process.
Why Don’t Landlords Like Traditional Wallpaper?
Landlords forbid traditional wallpapering for various reasons; the installation and removal process can be time-consuming and expensive, while painting over it can be impossible, depending on the material. Additionally, older wallpaper can become unsanitary and difficult to renovate, especially depending on the location and history of the home. In some cases, light exposure and moisture can cause traditional wallpaper to fade or wrinkle, causing unsightly patches that can’t be easily replaced. Landlords in humid climates that are susceptible to mold may not favor wallpaper because it provides an additional breeding ground for the bacteria.
Is Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Renter Friendly?
Peel-and-stick wallpaper differs from traditional wallpaper in several key ways that make it infinitely more accessible for renters with even the strictest of leases. There is no separate paste or adhesive; the curing time is immediate, and, most importantly, it can be removed easily with little to no damage to the wall beneath it.
Do I Need to Get Approval from the Landlord for Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper?
Modern vinyl-based peel-and-stick wallpapers usually fall under most lease agreements around hanging objects and potential wall damage. When correctly installed, peel-and-stick wallpapers should cause no damage at all, ostensibly circumventing rules around painting and wallpapering. However, you should check in with your landlord or property manager and let them know you plan on applying temporary peel-and-stick wallpapers as renters. This can mitigate any potential problems, as each situation is case-by-case, depending on the stringency of your lease and the leniency of your property manager. Typically, though, temporary wallpapers receive a pass – with some exceptions discussed later.
Pros and Cons of Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper
Before committing to a full-scale temporary wallpaper remodel of your home, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of this stylish solution.
Pros:
Renters can have peace of mind knowing their apartment-safe wallpaper boasts the following benefits:
- Easy to apply: Most vinyl-based temporary wallpapers are easy to apply, and a typical renter shouldn’t need professional assistance. Tenants can typically install the renter-safe wallpaper in one to two days, depending on the size of their space.
- Cures immediately: No additional adhesive or glue mixing is necessary
- It can be reapplied, removed, and adjusted dozens of times over the course of several years
- Easily uninstalled and quick: Tenants do not need professional help, and they will not cause damage to walls if installed and uninstalled correctly.
- It can be applied to objects that aren’t walls: Staircases, chairs, bookcases, and dressers are just a few examples of surfaces that can use peel-and-stick wallpaper.
- Renter-friendly wallpaper comes in a myriad of patterns. Renters can create custom designs with the help of online retailers and in-person boutiques.
Cons:
Those looking to use renter-friendly wallpaper should remember the following potential pitfalls:
- Unique patterns can be very expensive, sometimes starting at $100 per roll. The costs will increase with additional customization and complexity.
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper can’t be used on textured walls or walls with certain types of scrubbable paint. This is why it can be important to check in with your property manager, as they will know the type of paint on the walls.
- This apartment wallpaper is not as effective in spaces with high humidity, such as bathrooms or saunas. Humidity can mess with the longevity of temporary wallpapers, causing unsightly peeling and curling edges in extreme cases.
- Depending on installation expertise, results can be wonky and a little bubbly.
Top Tips for Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper – Keep your Security Deposit!
When faced with a blank wall, setting to a project of applying and removing peel-and-stick wallpaper can be daunting. Follow these tips to complete your DIY wallpaper adventure successfully. These tips help ensure you receive your security deposit at the end of your lease.
Check Your Paint
It’s important to know what type of paint is on the walls you plan to apply your peel-and-stick wallpaper. Reach out to your landlord or property manager to ask about the type of paint on the walls. If you just moved into your lease, make sure they did not recently paint, as most manufacturers recommend you paint the wall at least two weeks before applying your wallpaper. Additionally, you should apply the temporary wallpaper to smooth walls that are primed with premium eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss paint.
If your property owner does not know what type of paint they have on the walls, you can try taking a small sample to your local home improvement store to get a paint match. You can also purchase a small container of that paint at this time, as it could come in handy if you need to do touch-ups at the end of your lease.
Clean Your Walls
You should thoroughly clean the walls and allow them to dry before applying temporary wallpaper. Any debris, such as hair or residue, will potentially result in bubbles and wrinkles in the vinyl. Additionally, any bumps or defects in the underlying paint will likely need to be scrubbed off or otherwise sanded down. This will ensure you get a smooth finish and clean lines. Just be sure to check in with your property manager before sanding any walls, as the lease could prohibit this activity and result in a deduction for your security deposit.
Gather Your Tools
While easy to apply, peel-and-stick wallpaper still requires a couple of specialized tools that not every renter has lying around. Among these are a straight edge and scissors for cutting, a level for balance, and a wall smoothing tool for bubbles and wrinkles. You can purchase a wall smoothing tool online, however, a credit card or spatula may also help.
Be Generous With Your Material
Order 10 to 15 percent more material than you estimate that you will need for your project. This will allow you to make multiple cuts and cover any potential mistakes. This applies when installing the temporary wallpaper as well, as you should allow for a small amount of excess material at the top edge and corners of the wall you’re wallpapering. When fitted to the wall, this excess can be precision cut with a straight edge to allow for the cleanest of finishes.
Know Your Space
Renters must apply apartment-safe wallpaper in well-ventilated, low-humidity spaces for the best results. This is especially important for bathrooms and kitchens, where you’ll want to avoid installing peel-and-stick too close to faucets and other sources of steam and water.
Apply Slowly and Smoothly
There’s no need to rush the application of the temporary wallpaper. Due to the adhesive on the other side of the panel, you can remove and reapply the wallpaper multiple times, so don’t sweat adjusting and fixing during the process. We recommend removing the adhesive backing from the fore-edge of the panel to be applied, peeling it away as you smooth the material along during installation. This ensures air bubbles that form during the process are smoothed out quickly and don’t become an issue later on.
Removing Your Temporary Wallpaper
Removing the peel-and-stick wallpaper is more straightforward than typical wallpaper. You’ll likely want a putty knife or other sharp edge you can use to pry a single corner loose. Then, like a sticker, you simply pull the panel off of the surface. Be gentle, though, especially if you hit any snags during the process. If this happens, using the sharp edge, gingerly work the material around it until loose. Don’t yank it, as that has the potential to cause damage to the underlying paint.
Experiment, Mix, and Match
Apartment-safe wallpaper is an incredibly flexible option for home decorating. Feel free to order several small sections of custom designs if you’re indecisive, applying them to a section of your area as a test, just like a paint swatch.
Conclusion
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is a great solution for renters, as its temporary nature and easy installation make it one of the most accessible methods for reinventing a space. Following this guide, you should be able to avoid any pitfalls and ensure you keep the entirety of your security deposit when your lease ends. With the adhesive flexibility of peel-and-stick wallpaper, you may even, in a sense, be able to take your walls with you.
