This Wallpaper Hack Gives Peel N' Stick A Run for Its Money (and You'll Never Guess What You Use Instead)

It turns out you can use a different material to get the same effect — and I'm already itching to try it out!

vintage floral wallpaper
(Image credit: Stephen Barnes/Getty Images)

You've certainly heard of peel-and-stick wallpaper, but have you heard of using fabric to achieve the same end? Because as it turns out, you can, and it's just as renter-friendly as the better-known alternatives (and perhaps more customizable).

Whether you're looking for wallpaper ideas, this insightful tip from Gretchen Raguse, a member of interior designer Emily Henderson's team, will expand your decoration options ten-fold.

Check out the tutorial below:

A post shared by Emily Henderson

A photo posted by em_henderson on

As shown in the video, all you need is: the right amount of fabric, a measuring tape, painters tape, liquid starch, a paint roller, and some scissors + an x-acto knife. After cutting your wallpaper into panels, tape your first section onto the wall so that it hangs on its own. Next, dunk your paint roller into your homemade 'paste' — equal parts liquid starch and water — and begin rolling over the panel until it is completely saturated and attached to the wall. Once the whole panel is covered, remove the tape and smooth everything flat. Repeat the process until the room is completely covered. Let it dry before then trimming back any excess fabric covering the outlets or windows.

The best part about all of this? It's completely renter-friendly. When you go to remove the wallpaper, whether that's weeks or months later, the full panel should peel right off in one (reusable piece) without damaging your wall. I mean, this is genius!

The fabric in the video looks to be some sort of lightweight cotton, so I'd likely recommend sticking to that where you can. That said, the comments on the video indicate it should work with anything — just be sure the dye doesn't run when the fabric is wet.

Below, I've found a few colorful fabrics that should work perfectly for this DIY, should you want to try. I know I'm already itching for a new accent wall ...

9 gorgeous fabrics for your next home improvement project

Still looking for inspiration? Check out some of our living room wallpaper ideas and kitchen wallpaper ideas for more.

Brigid Kennedy
Style Editor

Brigid Kennedy is a Style Editor at Livingetc.com, where she scours the internet for the best and most stylish deals on home decor and more. After earning a degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, she spent the first 2.5 years of her journalism career covering U.S. politics and culture at TheWeek.com. She describes her design style as colorful and clean, and in her free time enjoys reading, watching movies, and curating impossibly niche playlists on Spotify. She recently relocated from Manhattan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she's decorating and DIYing a new home downtown.