Small Projects + DIY

Chic and lease friendly: 6 sites to shop for peel-and-stick wallpaper for your NYC rental

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By Austin Havens-Bowen  |
May 3, 2022 - 2:30PM
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Removable wallpaper has an adhesive that doesn’t damage your walls when you remove it (or reposition it if you don’t get it right the first time).

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Traditional wallpaper is a big commitment; peel-and-stick wallpaper is not, which makes it a great option for New York City renters. But instead of just covering your walls with a hint of color or pattern, why not think big and bold? Consider super chic patterns with large-scale designs that really transform your space and make a statement. And if you get tired of living with, for example, tigers dancing across the walls of your dining nook—you can easily change it up.

Removable wallpaper uses an adhesive that doesn’t damage your walls when you remove it (or reposition it if you don’t get it right the first time). And companies sell rolls and panels in various sizes so you can use it for an accent wall or to cover an entire room. Samples are also available so you can test out a design first. 

Be warned that it’s not totally foolproof—installing the wallpaper takes work but with a little patience and a steady hand, your room can be transformed. And if you are trying to cover existing wallpaper, or your walls are textured, make sure the brand works with that kind of surface or it might not stick the way it’s supposed to. 

A final thought before you start covering your walls: Double-check your lease to make sure you’re allowed to install temporary wallpaper. In most cases, it should be fine—just don’t forget to remove it when you move out or you might lose your security deposit.

Read on for six of Brick’s favorite wallpaper designs from Spoonflower, Tempaper, Rifle Paper Co., Wallshoppe, Chasing Paper, and EazyWalls. 

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Wild Grass by egrayprints starts at $28 for two by three feet.

Spoonflower

Spoonflower has hundreds of peel-and-stick wallpaper options designed by a community of over three million artists. The eco-friendly wallpaper comes in panels of one, three, nine, or 12 feet. It’s made of a woven-textured fabric with a matte finish. And it’s repositionable if you don’t get it on the wall right the first time. Swatches are available for $8.

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Block print leaves, $43 per roll.

Tempaper

All of Tempaper’s wallpapers are peel and stick and they offer custom options if you can’t find a design that you like. You can shop by style (think art deco, boho, modern) and by collection. There are several collections by designers like Alice + Olivia and Cynthia Rowley. Wallpaper is sold by panel or roll; size and price varies by design. Samples are available for $7. Tempaper also sells murals and decals.

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Black Menagerie is $65 per 20-foot roll. 

Rifle Paper Co.

Rifle Paper Co. offers removable, repositionable, washable non-woven peel-and-stick wallpaper that’s made in the U.S. You can buy designs by 20-foot rolls, which cost $60 to $250 depending on the design. Samples are available for $3. The site also sells regular wallpaper and other home decor. 

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Tigers by Tea Collection in watermelon is $58 for a 26.25-by-53-inch panel.

Wallshoppe

Wallshoppe was named the best removable wallpaper by Wirecutter. There are 1,855 designs digitally printed on eco-friendly paper, sold in both rolls and panels in various sizes. Many of the designs come in several color options. They’re sustainably made to order in Los Angeles and there’s free shipping on orders over $300.

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Multi floral is $45 for a two-by-four-foot panel.

Chasing Paper 

You can shop peel-and-stick wallpaper from Chasing Paper in a variety of styles including collaborations with interior designers like Max Humphrey and companies like Yelp and Penguin House. Their stain- and fade-resistant wallpaper is printed on self-adhesive poly-woven fabric with a matte finish. They also sell Peel & Stick Install Kit, $25, which comes with a pencil, X-Acto knife, and wallpaper smoother. Samples are $6 each or you can buy a sample pack of five designs for $30.

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Hypnotic geometric starts at $99 for 24-by-96-inch panel.

EazyWallz 

EazyWallz is a go-to for custom wallpaper needs with 24” panels starting at $99. You choose from hundreds of designs, pick the scale of the design (small, medium, or large), and decide on what kind of paper you want including Eazystick and 3M peel-and-stick vinyl. Sample sets of three are available for $20. You can also order wall murals and custom designs.

 
 
 
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Austin Havens-Bowen

Staff Writer

Staff writer Austin Havens-Bowen covers the rental market and answers renters' questions in a column called Realty Bites. He previously reported on local news for the Queens Ledger and The Hunts Point Express in the Bronx. He graduated from Hunter College with a BA in media studies. He rents a one-bedroom apartment in Astoria with his boyfriend and their two cats.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

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