There are many wall decoration ideas that can suit all tastes. However, when you are a tenant, you must comply with certain rules imposed by the landlord.
Of course, you have the right to dress your walls with wallpaper or repaint them. However, it is not recommended to choose overly busy patterns or garish shades, as they may displease the landlord.
With these procedures, you find it difficult to make a decision. However, you want to brighten up your interiors. Don’t worry, this article can provide you with some practical tips and tricks to avoid making a mistake.
📋 Key points: Personally, I think decorating rental walls is based on 3 essential criteria: reversibility, ease of installation, and controlled budget. Today, more than 65% of tenants favor solutions without drilling. It is possible to transform an interior without damaging the walls or risking the deposit. With the right options, your decor remains both aesthetic and flexible.
How to decorate a wall in a rental?
🌟 Advantages
No damage to walls
Easy to install
Economical
🔍 Drawbacks
Less sturdy than drilling
Limited for heavy objects
The old wall is completely white and you are considering giving it character. You can definitely enhance it with frames or paintings.
The landlord will not agree to you drilling the wall. So use the appropriate adhesive mounting strips. When you think about leaving the house, remember to fill all the holes. On this subject, our article on repairing a hole in a plasterboard wall may be useful to you.
Many tenants use masking tape to avoid damaging the walls. Inexpensive, this adhesive tape is easy to use and leaves no marks on the surface. It is very helpful for sticking photos or posters.
To highlight your wall, don’t hesitate to also install mirrors. They are a decorative asset for a more aesthetic result. That’s not all, they have the ability to visually enlarge the room, which is very practical for those living in a studio.
💬 Personal anecdote: When I was a tenant in 2020, I didn’t want to drill the walls of my living room. I used adhesive strips to hang frames and mirrors for less than 30 euros. The result was neat and I got my deposit back without any problem. I realized that you can decorate effectively without making holes.
How to decorate your apartment when you are a tenant?

When you follow the rules required by the landlord, you can easily apply the interior decoration that you like. Avoid damaging the structure of the apartment as much as possible. You just need to succeed in staging and you’re all set.
Give free rein to your creativity to arrange the corners of the room. Find the best place for knick-knacks, frames, the adorable serving cart, and enjoy the results.
More and more tenants also use wall stickers to add charm to their interiors. Since they can be easily applied and removed, they have the ability to preserve the apartment’s original condition.
If the furniture lacks style, use self-adhesive sheets with marble or wood imitation. For the floor, you can choose floating parquet, seagrass, or even linoleum which resembles tiling.
The wall paint may not suit your tastes. There are many models of wallpaper available in various colors and patterns on the market. Otherwise, adhesive tiles offer another interesting alternative.
| Solution | Fixing | Ease | Cost (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adhesive frames | No drilling | Very easy | 10 to 30 |
| Wall stickers | Sticky | Easy | 5 to 50 |
| Light shelves | Reinforced adhesive | Medium | 20 to 80 |
| Wall hangings | Adhesive hooks | Easy | 15 to 60 |
| Light mirrors | Adhesive strips | Easy | 20 to 100 |
How to decorate the walls?
Given the variety of options to dress the walls, it is necessary to take into account the opinions of each occupant.
Since major structural work is generally expensive and may offend the landlord, try some small modifications. They may be enough to make a difference overall.
For example, you can keep the color of the old wall. But to give it a fresh touch, don’t hesitate to fill it with frames, drawings, paintings, posters or photos. To avoid holes, use adhesive hooks or picture hangers to hang them.
🌍 Did you know?
Poor fixing can leave visible marks, which may result in a partial deduction from the deposit during the inventory check.
If you want to add a bohemian note to the house, a graphic rug will suit you very well. Installing it on the wall makes it stand out to your guests.
If you don’t like the wall paint, first and foremost think about informing the landlord of your transformation project.
Favor neutral tones that simplify re-renting as soon as you leave the accommodation. You can choose between gray, white, and cream. They bring elegance to your interiors. To add small touches of color, use cushions, linens, and other decorative objects.
⚠️ Common mistake
Using low-quality adhesives can peel off the paint when removed. It is important to choose suitable fixings.
How to decorate a rental?
📦 Storage
Always test your fasteners on a small area before full installation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
According to INSEE, 4 out of 10 French people remain tenants. Even if you are not the owner, you can still enjoy some advantages.
You do not have to finance the facade renovation. Also, you are exempt from property tax. Even better, you can move whenever you want.
Despite its many advantages, our options are limited on the decor side. Tenants are not allowed to modify everything in a rental property. Nevertheless, you can still treat yourself to a nice piece.
Instead of applying a new coat of paint, why not simply choose a colored or patterned wallpaper? When you move, you can remove it without any problem.
If you want to make a headboard, you can customize it to make the task easier. There is no need to use nails and a hammer. Masking tape does the job. Moreover, it comes in many sizes and colors.
To cover the kitchen floor, there is no need to undertake major renovation work. Opt for vinyl flooring. It allows you to change the style easily and at a low cost.
For the living room, rugs are an excellent solution. This accessory can hide imperfections. Even better, it fits very well with any decor style. When you leave, you can pack it up quickly.
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