Renter-Friendly Updates: Peel and Stick Wallpaper and a Plug-In Wall Light

Rentals often come with plain white walls and a single ceiling light. You want the place to feel like yours, but you also want your deposit back.

Peel and stick wallpaper and plug-in wall lights are the answer. Both change a room completely, and both come down when you move out. Start with one wall and two lights, and the room will feel different the same day.

How to use peel and stick wallpaper in a rental

1. Check your lease. Read what it says about wall changes, and ask your landlord if you are not sure.
2. Take photos first. Photograph the walls before you start, so you can show how you found them.
3. Test a sample. Stick a sample on the wall for a week, then peel it off to check that the paint stays put.
4. Start with one wall. The wall behind a bed or a sofa makes the biggest difference for the least paper.
5. Prepare the wall. Peel and stick works best on smooth, clean, dry walls. It does not hold well on rough texture.
6. Work with a helper. Lining up the pattern is much easier with two people.

Now the light. Most rentals rely on one ceiling light, which makes a room feel flat. A plug-in wall light, also called a plug-in sconce, gives you soft light at eye level without any new wiring. You fix it to the wall and plug it into a normal socket.

Two on either side of a bed replace bedside lamps and free up the tables. One beside a sofa or a reading chair adds a warm glow. To hide the cord, paint a cord cover to match the wall, or choose a light with a cord you like the look of.

Prices change often, so always check the shop before you buy. Amazon prices are shown on Amazon only.

When you move out

1. Peel slowly. Pull the wallpaper back at a low angle, close to the wall, not straight out.
2. Use gentle heat if it sticks. A hair dryer on low softens the glue.
3. Fill the small holes. A plug-in wall light needs a couple of small screws. Fill the holes with a little filler and touch up the paint.