Renter-Friendly Wallpaper

Western Birds and Flowers wallpaper swatch in Sage Hollow — sage green wallpaper by Pine + Feather Studio

For renters

Renter-friendly wallpaper that comes off clean.

Two materials, both removable. One costs $34 less per roll and outlasts your lease.

Ships free, and we'll give you a $20 credit on your first roll order.

Order a swatch, from $9

How long will it stay up?

  • Under 3 years: Peel & Stick

    $149 a roll. No water, no paste. Peels off dry.

  • 3 years or more: Pre-Pasted

    $115 a roll. Lasts 7 to 15 years. Comes off with warm water.

Most shops will sell a renter peel and stick, full stop. Past three years it lifts at the seams and you pay more up front. Nobody else tells you that, so we do.

Not sure? Take the 3-question quiz

Will it come off?

  • Peel & Stick

    Start at a top corner and peel slowly at a low angle. No tools. Clean removal within its one to three year life.

  • Pre-Pasted

    Wet the surface with warm water, wait a few minutes, peel from a corner. Wipe the wall. Done.

Neither one is paint. Your deposit is safe with either material, as long as the wall was painted more than 30 days before you hang it.

Three steps. The first one is $9.

  • 1. Swatch on your wall

    24 x 12 inches, printed on the same material as the roll. Live with it for a week.

    Order a swatch 

  • 2. Rolls when you are sure

    The calculator tells you how many. Most accent walls take one or two. Your $20 credit applies.

    Wallpaper calculator 

  • 3. Hang it in an afternoon

    Both materials are DIY. Step-by-step install guides, no installer needed.

    Installation guides 

Patterns that suit a rental

Mid-scale, hand drawn, and calm enough to live with in an apartment, dorm, or rental house. Every design comes as a swatch.

View all

Two sentences that usually get a yes

"I'd like to hang a strippable, water-activated wallpaper on one wall. It removes with warm water and leaves the paint intact; here is the manufacturer's install and removal guide."

Copy it into an email with the guide link. Landlords say yes to strippable paper far more often than renters expect, because it is the same thing they would hang themselves.

Pre-pasted install and removal guide

The rooms and walls that trip people up

  • Textured walls

    Both materials want a smooth wall. Peel and stick fails first on orange peel, because the adhesive only touches the high points. If your walls have texture, order a swatch and press it on. You will know in a day, for $9.

  • Bathrooms

    Powder room with no shower: yes, either material. Full bath with a shower or tub: no. Steam gets under both. That wall needs a commercial-grade paper, which is not a renter's problem to solve.

  • Kitchens

    Away from the stove and sink, both work. The backsplash zone gets splashed and scrubbed; leave it painted or tiled.

Questions renters ask

Does peel and stick wallpaper damage walls?

Not on paint that has cured for at least 30 days. Peel slowly from a top corner at a low angle and it comes off clean. On fresh paint or a poorly primed wall, any adhesive can lift the finish, which is why we say wait 30 days.

Is wallpaper renter friendly?

Yes, if you choose the right material. Peel and stick and pre-pasted both come off without damaging the wall. Most leases allow removable wallpaper; if yours is unclear, ask, and send the install guide with the question.

Will peel and stick work on textured walls?

Not reliably. It is designed for smooth, flat walls, and on orange peel the adhesive only touches the high points. If your rental has texture, order a $9 swatch and press it on before you commit to rolls.

Can I put wallpaper in a rental bathroom?

In a powder room with no shower, yes, with either material. In a full bathroom with a shower or tub, no. Steam gets under both peel and stick and pre-pasted. That wall needs a commercial-grade paper.

How do I remove it when I move out?

Peel and stick: start at a top corner and peel slowly at a low angle. Pre-pasted: wet the surface with warm water, wait a few minutes, peel from a corner, then wipe the wall. Both install guides walk through it step by step.

How much do I need for one wall?

Rolls are 2 ft x 12 ft. Most accent walls take one or two rolls once the pattern repeat is accounted for. Use the wallpaper calculator with your wall's width and height and it will tell you the exact count with a 10% buffer.

How long does peel and stick wallpaper last?

One to three years before the edges start to lift, depending on the room. That is why we recommend it for leases under three years and pre-pasted for anything longer. Pre-pasted lasts 7 to 15 years and costs $34 less per roll.

Is pre-pasted wallpaper removable?

Yes. Our pre-pasted is a strippable paper. Wet the surface with warm water, let it soak in for a few minutes, and peel slowly from a corner. That makes it the better choice for a long-term rental.

Stacie Humpherys, architectural illustrator and Creative Director of PIne + Feather Studio

Start with the $9 swatch.

It ships free, and we'll give you a $20 credit toward your first roll order.

Every pattern is hand drawn in my Idaho studio and printed to order in the USA. If you are not sure which material is best for your room, email me and I'll tell you honestly.

- Stacie, Pine + Feather Studio

Order a swatch & get $20