Art

Temporary Wallpaper Alternative

Love the look of wallpaper but can’t take the plunge because you live in fear of your landlord dropping by? Renters unite!! In December, Amy posted this image from Southern Living. I fell in love with the large scale harlequin patterned wallpaper. The wheels started to turn and I began formulating a plan for “wallpapering”…

Love the look of wallpaper but can’t take the plunge because you live in fear of your landlord dropping by?

Renters unite!!

In December, Amy posted this image from Southern Living. I fell in love with the large scale harlequin patterned wallpaper. The wheels started to turn and I began formulating a plan for “wallpapering” my entry.


Then Caitlin posted this picture of her home. She used floral tape and a little dab o’ glue to “wallpaper” her entry and it encouraged me to get my rear into gear!


I placed a $20 order for four rolls of 1/2″ aqua Japanese masking tape from happytape (use the code “odds10” for 10% off).


I played with the tape on the wall until I found the right proportion for the diamond and then I measured. {My diamonds are 9″ wide and 16″ long}


Then I made some tiny registration marks with a pencil and a ruled level.



After I put up all the tape lines, I used an Xact-o knife to clean up the edges and I was done!


I finished my entry and long hallway in less than two hours. And I think it is pretty cute.

I like how the aqua lines add some subtle color and pattern. And the great part about the Japanese masking tape is that it looks more like vellum than masking tape. It’s almost transparent and creates a more understated look.

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118 thoughts on “Temporary Wallpaper Alternative

  1. oh my gosh, that's fabulous! You have an awful lot of energy for a business owner and mom to a brand new baby and two other little girls! What is in your water?!!

  2. Looks fabulous. Also -it's great how you share your exact source, how to get and even the discount code. My daughter may be interested in doing something like this in her room – thanks!

  3. Oh…My…Goodness! This is fantastic! I am ready to do the exact same thing now! But I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to make it look as good… I could do it, right?! :)

  4. Very, very creative. I love design that is long on creativity and affordable for all. You are an inspiration.

    I'm constantly reminded of the need for economy as my kids feather their nests and look to me for ideas and inspiration.

    Today I am sewing ribbon along the edges of inexpensive curtain panels purchased at TJMaxx (54W x 90L for $5.99 each). We will have the perfect curtains for our little girls' bedrooms–practicality combined with whimsy.

  5. I remember this one, I think it was Kitty, the Interior Designer this was a feature Christmas Home issue from Cottage Living. It was one of my favorite homes. It seems like it was a Southern home and the homeowner had a couple of little girls. The ceiling in that room was a wonderful metallc shiny lustr finish too.
    I like your version in the aque too!

  6. This is awesome! Any other tips for renters? Do you know if those decals actually DO come off? I've always wondered.

  7. GENIUS! Speaking of tape, I used a version of your biased tape idea (duvet covers) in a nursery. I used grograin tape instead, but the idea was sparked from your blog. Thanks for the inspiration!

  8. that looks amazing!!! i may try that in my kitchen back-splash area but as vertical stripes!!! may i ask what your tape source was???

  9. This is fabulous! I want to do this in my bedroom, only maybe stripes instead of diamonds. I'm filing this away for every house I live in. Thanks!

  10. wow, that's fantastic! it looks like your walls are smooth, do you think it would work on textured walls? – it's a medium texture, nothing too crazy

  11. I'm speechless. This really puts the stripes of color I made on my moleskin with japanese masking tape to shaaaaaame.

    And to think, I was so proud of my little strips I even posted about it!

  12. If I wasn't totally in love with your work before, then I am now. How cool is this!?! I have been so inspired by you that I have enrolled in an online interior design course this past weekend. Thanks for the inspiration! I'll keep you posted…

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