Crafting Intentional Spaces: A Journey in Peel-and-Stick Design
Rental Life Hack: My Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Adventure
Living in a rental means my design choices need to be temporary, so peel-and-stick wallpaper has become my new favorite tool. You can transform the vibe of an entire room with it, but, as with all things home, sometimes what looks amazing in your mind… doesn't quite turn out that way.
Take my recent attempt to update my daughter’s room. I envisioned a cozy, colorful space with a dash of boho. I wanted her room to feel restful but also creative—a little haven for her while we're here. But those yellowish-beige walls were killing the vibe! So I ordered some peel-and-stick wallpaper from World Market in a gorgeous blue pattern. It looked perfect when I held it up against the wall. But once I committed and covered the whole wall? Nope, didn’t like it at all.
So down came the wallpaper in one dramatic swoop! I walked around the house, searching for an easier spot—one without windows or outlets. I ended up sticking the blue in the hallway, where it actually works pretty well.
Then I reordered the same pattern in a lighter grey and gave the bedroom wall another go. And this time, success! It completely shifted the feel of the room to more of what I had in mind.
I held it up for a quick test—it looked like a perfect match at first!
I went ahead and covered the whole wall…but I just didn’t like it. The color combination was completely off.
So I tried again with a light grey version, and I liked it so much more!
I repurposed a few pieces in the hallway, and they ended up working quite well there.
I even used some leftover pieces to line the back of a plain hutch in the office—it added just the right pop!
In this room, I added a peel-and-stick decal called "Sunset." It was easy to install and brings both warmth and visual interest to the space.
In this room, I went with a single round sun decal instead of wallpapering. In Feng Shui, you generally want to avoid hanging anything directly over the bed (hello, “poison arrow”), but with the tall ceiling here, I needed something to fill the space without being permanent. I absolutely love this decal and would peel it down and take it with me to the next house if I could, but I doubt it would restick well. So, the next person will get to enjoy a little sun too!
Future goals!
I definitely have my eye on something darker and more dramatic for the next wall I wallpaper. I love how the contrast of dark and light brings a space to life—dark, moody, bold, and dramatic all at once. No shocker here—it’ll likely be something in the Brown With Flowers family (wink wink).
Creating a home, even a temporary one, is all about bringing intention to every choice. With each peel-and-stick experiment, I’m reminded that designing a space goes beyond looks—it’s about how it feels, how it moves, and how it supports our daily lives. Feng shui teaches us that each color, pattern, and material has an energy of its own, subtly influencing our mood and well-being.
So while the journey might include a few missteps (like a blue wall that didn’t quite cut it), every tweak brings me closer to the vibe I’m after. By salvaging pieces here and there, incorporating my *Brown With Flowers* touch, and rethinking design when it doesn’t feel right, I’m learning how to create spaces that are not only beautiful but balanced, intentional, and alive with possibility. It’s a process of trial, error, and refinement, but in the end, it’s all about crafting a home that feels like us—even if it’s just for now.
Here are a few tips if you’re ready to try peel-and-stick wallpaper yourself:
1. Order a Sample First: Light and color can play tricks. Samples give you a chance to check how it looks in the actual room before you commit.
2. Think About Scale: Large patterns might be overwhelming in small spaces, while small ones can disappear on bigger walls.
3. Prep Your Surface: Clean, smooth walls are best. Dust and bumps will only mess with your masterpiece.
4. Try an Accent Wall First: If you're unsure, go small! That way, if it’s not love at first sight, you have a quick escape plan.
5. Embrace Imperfection: Running out of wallpaper? Not covering every inch of wall? Embrace the perfectly imperfect—after all, it’s what makes a space feel real.
Give peel-and-stick a shot! It’s worth it, even for the trial and error.
