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Grand Ledge Apartments
Grand Ledge Apartments

Guide to Renter Friendly Wall Decor

When you move into an apartment,  it should feel like home. Setting up your furniture and unpacking your things is a start. But what about wall decor? Most people want to hang a few posters, paintings, or photos on the wall. The only question is how to decorate the walls while keeping to your apartment rental rules. Depending on the terms of your lease, you may need to decorate without creating any nail holes - or you may be responsible for filling any small holes from decorations that are created. 

Fortunately, there are several renter-friendly ways to decorate. Each one has advantages or works best for a different combination of wall material and decor. Let's dive into the smartest ways to decorate your apartment walls.
A woman is hanging a picture on a wall.

Wall Decor Methods that Don't Damage the Walls

The number one rule for apartment wall decor is not to damage the walls. Each landlord may define 'damage' a little differently. Determine whether you're allowed to use small nails or not. If not, you'll need methods to hang posters and frames without nail holes. If you can use nails, you'll need to fill the holes before you go. We can help with both.

The golden rule of apartment decorating is: Test Before Decorating Everywhere

Remember to test your decorating solutions. Choose a small section of wall where you will test things like adhesives (sticky) mounting methods or the impact of a nail hole. This way, you only risk a tiny amount of wall damage if something doesn't work.

 

Sticky Tack for Posters

Sticky tack is a type of putty designed for mounting lightweight paper and posters onto walls.  You may have seen teachers use it when you were in school. This can sometimes work well for light and short-term decorations and is apartment-safe when used for short periods of time. There are different brands and types of sticky tack, and some are more effective than others. You can remove sticky tack by pulling or rolling it off the wall.

However, some types of sticky tack leave a color mark or oil stain if left in place too long.

Two women are hanging a picture on a wall.

Mounting Tape for Frames and Hooks

Mounting tape is one of the best ways to mount heavier wall decor like frames and hooks. Mounting tape distributes the weight of your decor over the surface of the tape, and most is designed to remove easily from the wall without damage. Two-sided gel mounting tape comes in a roll with a peel-away cover on one side. It can be removed by rolling or pulling at one corner. As the tape stretches, it lets go of the wall. 

Mounting tape strips are often stretchy foam and are rated for a specific weight of support for each strip. Many are sold with specific mounting hooks designed for things like picture frames and other wall mounts. It can be removed by pulling on the non-sticky tab at the end of the tape, so make sure you can reach it when installing your hooks and frames. However, old and flaky paint can be damaged by mounting tape, and it doesn't stick well to plaster, brick, or stucco.

 

How to Hang Pictures in an Apartment 

You may need to know how to hang pictures in an apartment without nails. If you want to hang pictures safely in an apartment, mounting tape is your best bet when small nail holes are not allowed. Choose mounting tape and hardware that go together and can support enough weight for each picture frame.Don't forget to test your mounting tape in a small corner to make sure it both supports a frame and doesn't damage the paint when removed.

Renter-Friendly Wallpaper Technique

If you're craving beautiful wallpaper but know that it can become permanent, what you need is renter friendly wallpaper. There are wallpapers designed with weaker adhesives that can be removed more easily, but these also peel and ripple more easily as a result. One interesting option is to first hang plain paper from the top of the wall to the bottom. Then, add wallpaper to the paper on the wall. 

If you wallpaper a protective paper layer, you can not only enjoy renter-friendly wallpaper, but you also get to take your wallpaper with you (for crafts, the new place, or whatever) when you go.

A person is holding a broken glass with a white cloth.

How to Fill Nail Holes in the Wall

In some apartments, you're allowed to mount pictures using small nails - as long as you fill the nail holes afterward.  Or you might have hung a few pictures before realizing there's a no-nails policy. This will lead you to discover how to fill nail holes before you move out.

  • To fill nail holes, you need a small jar of spackle and a putty scraper. 
  • Use the corner of the putty scraper to pick up a small glob of spackle. 
  • Press the spackle into the nail hole.
  • Scrape away excess spackle so the surface is smooth over the filled nail hole.
  • Let the spackle dry.
  • If necessary, add a touch of fresh paint over the spackle once it dries.

Beautiful Apartments in Grand Ledge, MI

The Grand Ledge apartments are located in a beautiful historic building, and apartments here feature beautiful high-beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls. These apartments are naturally lovely, blending timeless design with the inherent charm of a brick building steeped in history. The space is so lovely that you won't need to cover the walls with wallpaper, and your photos will look perfect, hanging in just the right places throughout your new space.

Contact us to explore our unique floor plans, ask about availability, and unlock gorgeous apartment life in Grand Ledge, MI.

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