Decorating
Rented Homes: Landlord-friendly Wall Displays to Personalise Your Space
Innovate display ideas that will make a big impact without leaving a mark
Many renters feel baffled by how to decorate the walls of their home-for-now, especially if their rental clause prohibits hanging artwork. With a little lateral thinking, however, there are many ways to add art, pattern and design to walls without breaking the rules. Browse these images for inspiration: with ideas for even the tiniest budget, many would suit indecisive homeowners, too.
Clip it up
The humble clipboard can also work well as an impromptu art holder, and is lightweight enough to be supported by a single nail or removable poster strips. Its informal look is perfect for craft rooms or for displaying pretty postcards.
See more ways to show off favourite finds and cool collections
The humble clipboard can also work well as an impromptu art holder, and is lightweight enough to be supported by a single nail or removable poster strips. Its informal look is perfect for craft rooms or for displaying pretty postcards.
See more ways to show off favourite finds and cool collections
Wow with a mural
Supersized wall murals make a big decorative impact on any space, but they needn’t be solely for homeowners. Look out for companies that offer a removable finish option, such as Tempaper or Surface View, in order to get the look without the commitment.
Supersized wall murals make a big decorative impact on any space, but they needn’t be solely for homeowners. Look out for companies that offer a removable finish option, such as Tempaper or Surface View, in order to get the look without the commitment.
Pop up some pegboard
More commonly used in retail units than the home, pegboard is a much underrated material and can be the renter’s best friend. Splash out on a sheet and go to town hanging prints or decorative items from pegs in its holes, safe in the knowledge you can easily move things around as your collection grows and changes.
Discover 8 inventive ways to use pegboard
More commonly used in retail units than the home, pegboard is a much underrated material and can be the renter’s best friend. Splash out on a sheet and go to town hanging prints or decorative items from pegs in its holes, safe in the knowledge you can easily move things around as your collection grows and changes.
Discover 8 inventive ways to use pegboard
Prop on a picture ledge
Super versatile, the picture ledge provides a slim space for displaying framed artworks that can be switched around without damaging walls. While most require a couple of drilled holes to attach them, your landlord may be happier for you to do this (and leave them once you move out) than make holes for your own personal pictures.
Super versatile, the picture ledge provides a slim space for displaying framed artworks that can be switched around without damaging walls. While most require a couple of drilled holes to attach them, your landlord may be happier for you to do this (and leave them once you move out) than make holes for your own personal pictures.
Decorative boards
Attaching an oversized print – or even a length of wallpaper – to a sheet of MDF can create an instant focal point in a room. Go for an extra-large sheet of MDF that you can simply lean up against a wall to avoid making any holes. You could even create a feature wall in this way, by pasting on a few wallpaper drops and supporting it behind your sofa or bed.
Attaching an oversized print – or even a length of wallpaper – to a sheet of MDF can create an instant focal point in a room. Go for an extra-large sheet of MDF that you can simply lean up against a wall to avoid making any holes. You could even create a feature wall in this way, by pasting on a few wallpaper drops and supporting it behind your sofa or bed.
Get creative with recycling
There are alternatives to full-on wallpaper. Here, an entire wall has been customised with cut-out fronts from Clipper tea packets, collected over a number of months and simply attached to the wall with Blu-Tack. For a more ad hoc look, the same approach could be applied to a wall of postcards: the key is to go bold to stop the look feeling half-hearted.
There are alternatives to full-on wallpaper. Here, an entire wall has been customised with cut-out fronts from Clipper tea packets, collected over a number of months and simply attached to the wall with Blu-Tack. For a more ad hoc look, the same approach could be applied to a wall of postcards: the key is to go bold to stop the look feeling half-hearted.
Corral a collection
If you have a passion for collecting, see whether you can incorporate this into your room design. This tie collection, for example, makes for an unusual and decorative wall display, as well as being easy to view and access when required. The added bonus of being lightweight means the ties can simply be draped over a piece of doweling held in place with a few small hooks.
Check out how to colour theme your collections for a classy display
If you have a passion for collecting, see whether you can incorporate this into your room design. This tie collection, for example, makes for an unusual and decorative wall display, as well as being easy to view and access when required. The added bonus of being lightweight means the ties can simply be draped over a piece of doweling held in place with a few small hooks.
Check out how to colour theme your collections for a classy display
Create a cameo
Walls needn’t be teeming with prints to make an impact. A couple of simple cameo designs can add a striking slice of pattern to walls, and small artworks might be light enough to be held in place with a blob of Blu-Tack. For heavier works, use removable picture hooks.
TELL US…
Have you added decoration in an innovative way? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Great solutions for rented homes
Inventive ideas for small space living
Walls needn’t be teeming with prints to make an impact. A couple of simple cameo designs can add a striking slice of pattern to walls, and small artworks might be light enough to be held in place with a blob of Blu-Tack. For heavier works, use removable picture hooks.
TELL US…
Have you added decoration in an innovative way? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Great solutions for rented homes
Inventive ideas for small space living
Wallpapering probably isn’t an option for most renters, but a patchwork wall might require less commitment. Wallpaper samples can be relatively easy to come by in large DIY stores, or alternatively ask around friends and family for any leftovers. To keep the patchwork removable, stick onto walls with double-sided tape (do a patch test first) or hold in place with decorative washi tape.