11 Wirecutter-Approved Nonpermanent Home Upgrades
If your landlord won’t let you paint your walls, or you prefer a bolder look, peel-and-stick removable wallpaper can be a quick, DIY-friendly way to transform a space. These wallpapers require no extra adhesives, drop cloths, or drying time. They’re also designed to remove as cleanly as possible from non-textured walls with most types of paint finishes (except for matte).Top pickWallshoppe’s smooth, satin, paper-based removable wallpaper is easy to install and has plenty of patterns to choose from.Peel-and-stick tiles provide the same kind of near-instant gratification for an outdated kitchen backsplash or a sorry-looking bathroom floor. These tiles work best on flat surfaces, and they likely won’t last for more than a few years before they need to be replaced. But they can be a supremely satisfying aesthetic upgrade, especially if you’re a renter. Some of our staff’s favorite finishes include a thick faux marble, a geometric-patterned decal, and sheets of mother-of-pearl.Although these vinyl tile decals are relatively thin and thus less realistic up close, that also means they’re easier for beginners to smooth out. They come in a range of designs and work well if you want to keep existing grout lines exposed.If you already have plain tiles but can’t stand the drab look, patterned tile decals that go on like temporary tattoos could add the pop that you’re looking for. We tested a few patterns from Suteka and found them to be less stressful to install than other peel-and-stick wall coverings. They’re durable once they’re in place, and they’re not too tough to remove.These removable DIY decals are simple to apply and remove, and they can be used on everything from wall tiles to dishes to candles. They come in dozens of patterns ranging from playful to polished.No-drill curtain-rod holders are an easy way to add window treatments or even room separators. The designs are utilitarian, but they can be nearly as sturdy as proper screw-in rod holders and much simpler to install and remove. Some no-drill curtain-rod holders require a hammer or screwdriver for installation, but several tool-free options are available as well. (And if you need curtains, we’ve picked out some favorites based on years of research and testing.)If you have wood casing around your windows, it’ll be a cinch to install these top-mounted nail-in brackets. Technically, they still leave holes, but they’re small, and your landlord will never find them.
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