How To Get On Board The Wallpaper Trend Without Committing To A Mess

Do you look at pictures of trending wallpapers with a modern look and wish you had the courage to give it a try? You are not alone. Wallpaper is making a comeback, but anyone who has ever had to remove old, outdated wallpaper may be traumatized from the experience and afraid to put up their own. The good news: There are ways to jump on the wallpaper trend without making a major commitment.

From removable wall decals to peel-and-stick wallpaper to paint that achieves the look of wallpaper without the mess, there are many ways to calm your commitment-phobic heart and still get a beautiful space. Don't believe us? Instagram user @popofcolorproject showed how she uses removable wall decals — basically glorified stickers — to achieve the look of a wallpaper without any commitment. Just find a decal you like and have a go at your wall! With a project this easy you could change out the design seasonally if you want to.

With all the options available you may be wondering which is right for you. We can't blame you; there's a lot to understand. Let's dive into the differences between wall decals and removable wallpaper, and illuminate how you can create your own bespoke pattern with a little creativity and paint.

First, let's get our terms straight. Many sites make no real distinction between wall decals and removable wallpaper. For our purposes, wall decals are smaller stickers that you can apply to your wall to create patterns or, in some cases, larger decals of one big image, such as a flower or a tree. In general, they are not meant to cover an entire wall. On the other hand, peel-and-stick wallpaper looks just like traditional wallpaper but can be removed easily.

Removable wallpaper is easier to work with than traditional wallpaper and generally allows you to reposition it if you do not get it right on the first try. However, it still requires you to be able to line up a pattern and match your seams, so it takes some skill — and patience — to apply. A good quality peel-and-stick wallpaper can also be expensive.

Wall decals are even more DIY friendly. If you are using small stickers like those applied in the video, placement is entirely up to you — no need to match seams or patterns here! The same goes for larger, standalone decals, but you may need a few tips for preventing decals from falling off your walls. If you're looking for a middle ground between decals and a wallpaper, you may be in the market for some peel-and-stick murals.

If you have a steady hand, an artist's eye, and the right tools, you can DIY a handpainted pattern on a wall to mimic the look of wallpaper without the commitment or the expense. Paintbrushes, paint, and a laser level (to keep your pattern in the right place) are all you need to get started. If you don't want to freehand your pattern, you can also find a stencil to help keep your design uniform. You can even try finding a block stamp to make the job easier — but if this is the method you choose, know that perfection is practically impossible and that the handmade look is what makes it unique.

Part of the allure of painting your own designs is that you are limited only by your imagination, but if this is your first time taking on this task, you may want to keep it simple. Polka dots, simple geometrics, or line-based patterns will work well, but you may want to do a little poking around for patterns to make your walls less boring. No matter how simple or complex your design is, you will want to try it out first — so before you put any paint on the wall, find an old cardboard box or even a canvas to test your skills.