If there’s one thing I hate about renting, it’s the boring and plain white/eggshell colored walls. No matter where I rent it seems to be the standard, and after 13 years of the same old walls, I’ve learned a thing or two about decorating them without using paint. Because quite frankly, when it comes time to move out, repainting the walls back to their white/eggshell color is the last thing I want to deal with. If it ever came down to re-painting the walls then you should check NYC painters. If you’re in the same situation, check out these 5 ways to decorate your walls without paint.
~I received a sample to help facilitate this post. As always, opinions are still 100% my own.~
1. Framed Art, Posters & Magazines
A fun, easy and affordable way to add some color to your walls is by framing art, posters, magazines or landscape photography. I love to display my children’s artwork in their bedroom and also in the toy room. Simply framing the artwork adds a more sleek and professional look, if that’s something you’re going for. If you’re interested in framing landscape photography for your walls, you may want to check out something like Matthew Duke Photography for more information.
The same applies to posters and magazines. I especially love framing pages from magazines. Obviously I’m not talking about ads, but you’d be surprised at what you can find that’s frame-worthy in magazines. It’s about thinking outside the box. Do you love to cook or bake? Take one of your favorite recipes from a magazine or book (which also usually include awesome food photography), frame it and place it on your kitchen wall.
2. Fabric
There are a few different cool ways to use fabric to add color and accent to plain walls. One way is by wallpapering fabric. It’s much easier and quicker than painting, and has the potential to add more pizazz than a paint job. Not to mention, this can be done on doors too. Just think of all the different options when it comes to fabric prints.
Or if you’re not wanting to go the fabric wallpaper route, try just draping fabric on the wall. This is because you’ll have to use an adhesive of some sort all over the wall, making it easier to just drape the fabric. You may not have adhesive equipment readily available, but you can Buy Sealants & Adhesives @ Low Trade Prices from places like Tradefix Direct, so you may want to check them out if you don’t have any adhesives at home. There’s no rule that says fabric and curtains have to be placed over windows. I like the idea of draping fabric behind the bed, adding the illusion there may be a window there, but also adding life to the focal point of the room.
Another idea is what I call fabric accent boards. Simply take a piece of fabric, wrap it around a piece of foam board, glue the fabric edges to the back, and voila! You have a lightweight, decorative accent piece to liven up your space. You could also use a piece of wood, but I like foam board because it’s light enough to attach to the wall using double sided adhesive strips.
3. Personal Photos
Okay, so adding personal photos to the wall may seem like a no-brainer, but there are so many directions this can be taken. Frames, foam board prints, collages, canvas prints, and the list goes on and on. I have to say I’ve personally become quite partial to canvas prints and my collection is growing constantly.
In my bedroom, I stay away from photos of my kids because it’s mine and my boyfriend’s sanctuary, and our personal space. But the rest of the home is free game, and boy are my kids taking over. My most recent photo addition is a new 20″ x 16″ canvas print from Canvas Factory, on the wall in the toy room.
The toy room houses the majority of my kids toys so it’s only fitting that their artwork and photos adorn the walls.
This isn’t the first time I’ve ordered a canvas print from Canvas Factory and it certainly won’t be the last, but I was a little more impressed with this canvas than the last one I ordered. It has nothing to do with the quality of the print, that’s always on point, but had to do with the backing.
Canvas Factory has added a flat, black backing to its canvas prints, meaning I can attach it to the wall without adding a hole. I can just use my trusty ol’ double sided adhesive strips. If you prefer to hammer in a nail and hang the canvas, that’s still an option because the hooks are still on the back, but as a renter I try to prevent holes in the wall, knowing I’ll have to fill them in later.
If a canvas print is something you’d like to explore more, keep scrolling for a Canvas Factory giveaway!
4. Removable Wall Decals
Really popular now are removable wall decals. Available you can find all kinds of themed graphics, from kids and baby rooms, to nature, laundry and bathroom themes. Yea, let’s not forget how boring laundry spaces and bathroom walls can be.
5. Shelving
Not only does shelving add storage and display space, it also adds depth to any room. Whether you choose simple floating shelves or something more intricate that scales the wall, shelving is a great choice for adding some life to a wall.
I would even suggest making shelving colorful. You don’t always have to go with a wood design, but can add some flare to the wall by going with some color. The whole point is to help the plain and unattractive walls, and a splash of color will certainly do that.
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Mostly with photos of travels.
Awesome suggestion to decorate wall. I love the creative thought.
Pictures
Painted wooden letters of my kids’ names for their rooms. Just bought a huge tapestry for my classroom (I’m a teacher)
I like to hang clocks and pictures of my kids.
Wall Decal
Wall vinyl decals
String lights!
We have a wall dedicated to our childrens’ artwork.
I decorate my walls with pictures
We have lots of our grandmothers paintings on our walls!
my walls are pretty plain but when I can I love hanging photos and wall art
I like vintage letters reclaimed and mixed together
I use posters!
we have an amazing clock as well as a cool scratch map where you scratch off the places that you have been
I have pictures everywhere. I also like to drape fabric on a blank wall and hang photos over it.
I love family photos on my wall
I would love to decorate my walls with pictures and magazine pages, such a great idea!
I like to hang pictures (if they’re light enough, you don’t have to use nails, just contact velcro stickers!)
I decorate my walls with wall decals and pictures.
I decorate my walls with photos and signs
Hanging photos mainly. Wall paper, and also stick on decor. We have mirrors and fancy shelving.
Lots of pictures
I have this idea. I have 3 coat hangers (not the same type or style) but they fit over the door…door hangers. I want to get a piece of wood (probably about 65 inches wide and 3 or 4 inches long, and 1 inch diameter). I will hang all 3 of these over the door coat racks (without a door.). The wood will be stained and mounted to my wall…I will have space for approximately 15 hanging items (again the 3 items are coat racks).
I think my idea is innovative. for hanging scarfs, hats, coats. Will be happy when the wet cold weather comes. I’ll have the space for coats, sweaters, umbrellas, and move..
I haven’t done it yet but have had an idea on my Pinterest board for a while that I’d like to try, hanging embroidery hoops of various sizes with different fabrics inside them.
With wall tapestries
Pictures, clocks, and shelves!
I’ve lived with a lot of white walls over the years. I have a fan collection and a sillouette collection that I love . With an interesting focal point, you don’t even notice the boring walls.
With a whole lot of family photos
We have photos and have shelves with collectables on them.
I have lots of pictures and kids artwork on my walls
We like to use old record albums in the kids rooms.
Photos
Framed fabrics, groups of pictures, mandalas
For renting, I like the picture frame command hooks! Since we can’t hammer nails in. From there, whatever you want. Cute clocks, framed diploma, whatever!
Canvas pictures and frames.
hanging all my square photo prints on the wall
Removable decals and some dimensional stick ons are also nice ways to decorate a wall without damage!
would love to win this
Mostly framed family photos, some framed prints and one original painting. I’d like to add something on real canvas!
I pretty well am obsessed with clocks! I have a lot of them & I think they are beautiful to decorate the walls with.
I like putting fabric into wooden embroidery hoops, that way can change things up with the seasons or events.
I like to decorate my walls with pictures.
Mostly I use framed art on the walls.
I use peel-off wallpaper.
I use a lot of photo frames and shelving!
I decorate my walls with wall decals.
I decorate my walls with pictures and quotes
I decorate with photos of my children.
we use string art and decals.
I’m a new fan of wall decals, except I’ve got this one spot that would be absolutely perfect for canvas 🙂
I like to use mirrors for decoration.
I decorate my walls with photos I have taken.
I use vinyl decals vs. paint. I also just hang up pictures or mirrors
I decorate with framed pictures.
I use photos a lot when decorating as I feel very connected to photographs. I also make my own signs that I use to decorate with.
We use wall decals.
Photos and wall hangings
Prints, paintings, mirrors, photos
We use framed photos, pictures, and mirrors. My husband also has some old framed newspaper clipping and things.
I decorate with framed and canvas prints. I also decorate with vintage décor.
I decorate with photos
i use alot of pictures of flowers and religious pictures
We have photos and decals up
I’m a big fan of photos and unique artwork on the walls.
I use comic art
I hang pictures and decorative pieces, like candle sconces.
I like putting up family photos.
I put my children’s art work up
Decorate with photos.
We put up photos to decorate.
I decorate my bedroom walls with TP wall art that I make, but pictures would be a good idea too!
We decorate with photos and art.
We have lots of pictures hung up in the house! Plus we love doing the painting classes so we have those as well!