A stencil is one of the best tools to decorate with when living in someone else's property. Use one to decorate lengths of paper with the color and design that you want. There are plenty of large scale stencils around. A smaller design repeated many times works well too. Stencil onto fabric and block canvas to personalize spaces. Floors can be decorated with painted and varnished canvas, all of these things will add color and personality and can move home with you when you leave. The same tool can decorate furniture and fabric if you want lots of use from it.

That tape looks pretty cool--I was guessing you were going to say it was striped fabric pinned to the walls. I'd love to hear how it's holding up. Some types of masking tape can get quite brittle after time. Plus, if you leave the tape on for more than a few weeks it can be tough to pull off...just something to think about.

How long does it take to tape up all of those stripes... and how hard is it to keep them straight? 1871inCT is right...tape might be impossible to remove a few years later.

If you want a pattern/stripes on your wall, wouldn't you just use a removable wallpaper?? It'd be so much faster!

Yes, even the blue 'less tacky' masking tape is not supposed to be left up for more than a week or two.
Not to mention, when you've put up a design in a sunny room, the exposed wall is going to fade, leaving the outlines of your design when you remove it.

It's probably best to cover the whole wall (with fabric or tacked paper) if you plan to stay for a while.

The tape looks great, but if your walls aren't smooth is won't work well. Labexperiment is right, it can leave a residue. If left on too long or in Texas summer heat you will be scraping the wall and repainting - I had this happen with blue painter's tape in my workroom.

All of these ideas are spot on and AWESOME! Love them and we might even try some of them, even though we're owners...I can never make up my mind and end up painting over paint colors on a monthly basis (ridic, I know) so this will provide some temp and fun options for us too!

As others have observed, the "reversibility" of tape and decals is overstated. Yes, you'll be able to pull them off the wall--along with a thin layer of paint, drywall or plaster.

Fixing those holes takes more work because it alters the walls surface texture.

I copied the look of the vinyl stripes by using ordinary beige/"latte" colored contact paper from Home Depot. I cut it in half to get the width I wanted (using the handy grid on the paper backing). It was easy to hang up.

The tackiness is very, very light, so I'm not worried about taking it down (and being in Seattle I don't have sun-faded walls to worry about), but it's ample sticky to stay stuck to the wall. I've had it up for over 6 months at this point.

Great ideas. I don't think I have the patience for the masking tape, but the effect is very cool. Love the effect of the black stipe wall decals! I've often wondered how well these look and work in spaces. I've only ever seen kids' versions in person....

I'll be using Ikea's Stolmen adjustable floor to ceiling poles and some curtain rods to experment with hanging fabric without adhesives or needing to drill or nail walls.

I also want to try some of paint-your-own wallpaper stuff.

While I can afford the costs my landlord charges for repainting an apt, painting could be used as reason for eviction since it breaks the lease :(

Does anyone know how well Tempaper holds up in areas with more moister (say, the bathroom). There are so gorgeous prints that they carry and I'm seriously thinking about updating my bathroom.

I know all of these are supposed to be safe for walls, but I just don't think it's worth taking the risk. What works in one home may not work in another.

I've painted every apartment I've ever lived in and just repainted when I left. A gallon of glidden is $15, so even painting twice is affordable. One of my leases said no paint, but when I asked about it they gave me the sheet on fines and it was just a $50 fee if they had to prime the walls when I left, so I primed. I had another landlord who said he had to approve the color choices, no big deal. No harm in asking given that paint is still one of the easiest wall treatments.

I wish 3M would develop a version of their sticky note adhesive tha came in a a roller-ball, paint or spray paint application. Then you could paste up wrapping paper, unglued wallpaper, whatever on your walls.

Landlords can be picky which is why I really appreciate this post. Another reader mentioned using contact paper in order to make stripes on the wall; what a great idea.

This is a great article. Another great way to add design and color to walls is with WallPops wall art. www.wall-pops.com

I warn you that using masking tape can damage the paint/walls if left up for too long. By 'too long' I mean longer than 4-6 months. Vinyl is a better option.

Also, don't tack or use glue or staples in the wallboard. Let's face it, wall board is not user friendly. There is tacky putty called Teacher's Putty that I have used for years. It leaves no mark behind when removed. I have used it to hang mediums sized wall art by simply applying it to all the flat back surfaces that will touch the wall. If the object is heavy it won't hold but having said that, it has been holding an average sized ceramic art plate up on the wall outside next to our front door for over a year now. Through wind, rain, snow, ice and heat it has never let go and our door has no protective over hang and faces north. If your clients really want to use something that is not going to leave a lasting mark of their previous presence then that sticky putty is the way to go.

Susannah from The Daily Biscuit, I would love to try the putty you speak of. Could you provide a link or the name of the store you purchased it from? Thank you!

I have been researching removable wallpapers for months now. They are usually removable but not REUSABLE. I want to use grasscloth on a wall in my pad but want to be able to take it with me. That's not an option. I also don't want it to sag over time or look loose. Humidity is high in summer where I live. Also, the rolls are usually 36" wide so heavier than normal strips of wallpaper.

I would appreciate anyone's experiences or suggestions. I have thought of:
--that waterproof, glues any material interior or exterior glue tabs that is advertised on TV. It is supposed to release when you pull it. Has anyone tried or seen it?
--staples...since grasscloth is forgiving but I'm worried that it may sag in places
--would starch work, as it does for fabric?? or is this wallpaper too heavy?
--moveable spray glue that's used for stencils?? then how do you get IT off the wall later?! paper is probably also too heavy for it.
--ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS??

Also, could someone who's tried the fabric and starch application tell me how you deal with the selvage edge of fabric and the joints? Do you cut it off before you install it? Hard to get it straight enough to join relatively seamlessly, no? Any problems with fraying on cut edges?

Thank you everyone!!

Painting is far more reversible than putting up any type of tape or contact paper. Seriously - if you are so concerned about your lease and security deposit, these are going to create a huge mess that not only will require painting, but probably skim coating and re-priming as well.

Seems like it would take less time to paint (and re-paint when you move) than to do the masking tape route.

The problem with masking tape is that sometimes it's not adhesive enough and it will quickly curl up.

OR, that it is TOO adhesive and will remove paint and leave gummy residue upon removal. requiring a repaint anyway.

Note if you have a cockroach problem within your building. The are attracted by the smell of the glue on contact paper and find it very tasty too. As someone else says what works for one may not work for another.

I think I'm in love with the arc lamp in the first photo. Anyone know where to come by one?

Another option to the Teacher's putty someone mentioned is Museum wax. While living in CA and always fearful the next quake shake would destroy my collectibles, I found it held items in place. It was easily removed with the edge of a credit card or plastic putty knife. There's no doubt it would hold onto other media besides china and porcelain.

Teacher's putty can be found at teacher supply stores, big box stores (Target, Walmart, etc.) and even some grocery stores on the school/office supply aisle. I haven't had that much luck with it unless it was a poster or sheet of paper I was tacking up. I prefer the removable 3M adhesive strips for heavier stuff. These can be found at the same stores mentioned above plus home improvement stores. I agree about the tape comments - leaves a residue that requires sanding and priming before repainting - not landlord friendly.

Does anyone know if stencils or tape method leaves anything behind when you remove it? For example, if that wall is in a well lit area will the prolonged sun exposure leave the wall lighter where the stencils or tape previously was?

@nmw

3M did make it: http://www.staples.com/3M-Scotch-Restickable-Glue-Stick-.20-oz/product_510818

Everythingtwogether. A stencil is a tool for applying pattern, usually with paint but not always. Sun exposure would not make a difference because one would paint over the stenciled pattern to remove it. You may have confused a stencil with a decal. Earlier in this post I suggested that stencils could be used to decorate wallpaper, fabric or canvas and then hung as artwork. They can move home when you do.

I did the whole fabric and cornstarch thing at my last apartment. It destroyed the walls. I spent more time filling in with spackle the places where it tore away the layers of paint than I did actually putting the entire thing up. Never again.

I have just used some amazing Ikea placemats to cover my backsplash area behind my sink. They are metallic on one side and green and black polka-dots on the other. I just cut them to fit, and glued them up, temporarily, with a repositional glue stick, and it looks really cool and keeps the area behind my sink clean. Placemats are inexpensive and often come in really nice patterns. You could use it behind the stove too.

This idea is great but it is greater if you will try to install room divider nyc for your own house so that it will give you more rooms and customize it with the designs that you really love.