Temporary Wallpaper Alternative

Love the look of wallpaper but can't take the plunge because you live in fear of your landlord dropping by?

Renters unite!!

In December, Amy posted this image from Southern Living. I fell in love with the large scale harlequin patterned wallpaper. The wheels started to turn and I began formulating a plan for "wallpapering" my entry.


Then Caitlin posted this picture of her home. She used floral tape and a little dab o' glue to "wallpaper" her entry and it encouraged me to get my rear into gear!


I placed a $20 order for four rolls of 1/2" aqua Japanese masking tape from happytape (use the code "odds10" for 10% off).


I played with the tape on the wall until I found the right proportion for the diamond and then I measured. {My diamonds are 9" wide and 16" long}


Then I made some tiny registration marks with a pencil and a ruled level.



After I put up all the tape lines, I used an Xact-o knife to clean up the edges and I was done!


I finished my entry and long hallway in less than two hours. And I think it is pretty cute.



I like how the aqua lines add some subtle color and pattern. And the great part about the Japanese masking tape is that it looks more like vellum than masking tape. It's almost transparent and creates a more understated look.


116 comments:

  1. you are too clever! Another fantastic project! well done, you astound me! KG

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  2. what a great alternative! Wonderful job!

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  3. Brilliant! Now, MY wheels are spinning! ;)

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  4. Fantastic job!! At first I thought CC was crazy but I really love it now! Thanks for sharing.

    Have a wonderful day!!

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  5. oh my gosh, that's fabulous! You have an awful lot of energy for a business owner and mom to a brand new baby and two other little girls! What is in your water?!!

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  6. Looks fabulous. Also -it's great how you share your exact source, how to get and even the discount code. My daughter may be interested in doing something like this in her room - thanks!

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  7. such a great idea- I had never seen the tape you used before either -thanks for sharing!!!

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  8. Oh...My...Goodness! This is fantastic! I am ready to do the exact same thing now! But I'm worried that I wouldn't be able to make it look as good... I could do it, right?! :)

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  9. so good. happy tape for lots of projects please.

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  10. This is such a great idea! I LOVE your baby blue choice!

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  11. That is really impressive - I love the finished look. Great color choice too!

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  12. wow love it. I can see doing that on a wall in my guest bedroom.

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  13. oh my gosh! that's awesome! you inspire me!

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  14. Bookmarking this page. One day I will learn not to be shocked and impressed by what pops up on my screen from Little Green Notebook.

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  15. Very, very creative. I love design that is long on creativity and affordable for all. You are an inspiration.

    I'm constantly reminded of the need for economy as my kids feather their nests and look to me for ideas and inspiration.

    Today I am sewing ribbon along the edges of inexpensive curtain panels purchased at TJMaxx (54W x 90L for $5.99 each). We will have the perfect curtains for our little girls' bedrooms--practicality combined with whimsy.

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  16. It looks great! Inspiring me to tackle some things around my house...

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  17. Who knew? This looks fabulous - as does everything you do!

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  18. This is a great solution for a small spot... I have just the spot in my house!! Thanks!

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  19. Just lovely -- you have such an inviting home!

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  20. I remember this one, I think it was Kitty, the Interior Designer this was a feature Christmas Home issue from Cottage Living. It was one of my favorite homes. It seems like it was a Southern home and the homeowner had a couple of little girls. The ceiling in that room was a wonderful metallc shiny lustr finish too.
    I like your version in the aque too!

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  21. Wow! It looks great! I have to say, I think I would have wound up with a big ball of tape stuck to my thumb. I can't believe it only took you two hours. Amazing!

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  22. This is awesome! Any other tips for renters? Do you know if those decals actually DO come off? I've always wondered.

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  23. GENIUS! Speaking of tape, I used a version of your biased tape idea (duvet covers) in a nursery. I used grograin tape instead, but the idea was sparked from your blog. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  24. As a fellow renter I am always looking for creative ideas - I like this one! I wrote a a few posts on my blog regarding tips for renters!

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  25. OOOOOO I cannot tell you how awesome this is!! You just might save my living room walls - they make me crazy with all their whiteness!

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  26. that looks amazing!!! i may try that in my kitchen back-splash area but as vertical stripes!!! may i ask what your tape source was???

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  27. This is fabulous! I want to do this in my bedroom, only maybe stripes instead of diamonds. I'm filing this away for every house I live in. Thanks!

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  28. very fun. I don't know if I would have the patience for this, but I love it.

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  29. you are insanely creative..!!! i love that fabric too??can you share the source?

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  30. Brilliant! So much easier than painting...

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  31. Great job! There is that parrot again. I thought about you because in the latest issue of Elle Decor, Steven Gambrel used a parrot too.

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  32. wow, that's fantastic! it looks like your walls are smooth, do you think it would work on textured walls? - it's a medium texture, nothing too crazy

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  33. Wonderful idea and solution!! It looks just perfect. Janell

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  34. fantastic! really fantastic! you inspire the masses! thanks for the tape source!

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  35. absolutely adorable! I've been trying this in my laundry room with 1/2" lime "frog" tape. love the aqua!

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  36. awesome!!! great job! STILL love that skirted table!

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  37. I'm speechless. This really puts the stripes of color I made on my moleskin with japanese masking tape to shaaaaaame.

    And to think, I was so proud of my little strips I even posted about it!

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  38. If I wasn't totally in love with your work before, then I am now. How cool is this!?! I have been so inspired by you that I have enrolled in an online interior design course this past weekend. Thanks for the inspiration! I'll keep you posted...

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  39. i really do learn something new every time i visit your blog. this really is genius!

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  40. You clever girl! Love the aqua !

    Kate

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  41. Super cute! Totally going to give this a try in my dorm room!

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  42. Jenny--I cannot believe you posted this today-- I've been contemplating the exact same thing for our hallway! I love the inspiration pic (by the way, that's painted on! It's from Kitty White's home in Atlanta, first published in Cottage Living--she did the walls herself!) and I've been really wanting to recreate it in our hall-- but the painting process seemed like SO much work. Your way seems a little easier-- GREAT job!!!!

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  43. That is such a fantastic idea! Creative much!!!

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  44. Ah, you are so brilliant. You come up with the most creative ideas I have seen yet. I think it looks great and I like the subtleness of the blue tape.

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  45. I'm with Tarheel: how in the world do you do all of this with such a full plate? Time for a post on time and energy management! PLEASE!

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  46. Thanks for this suggestion, I really like it and have the perfect wall on which to use such an idea.

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  47. you never cease to amaze me with how creative you are!

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  48. Love it! I've been stalking that site hoping for a sale on the tape. yea!!!

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  49. Very cool and such a neat idea! Thanks for sharing the step-by-step process!

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  50. love it! gotta save this post - we might be moving, find out in two months. but if we stay put, I'm so doing this in my entry!

    I love projects that I can be finished before my husband comes home! :)

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  51. Looks great! I love the lattice! I painted a lattice pattern in my entryway and this looks much easier! Beautiful!

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  52. LOVE this idea! Thanks for sharing!!

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  53. I love that chandelier, and the umbrella holder!!

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  54. I love it! I'm always so scared to put up wallpaper.

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  55. I love it, it looks beautiful, great color choice! Now I hope you do a step by step of your entryway table! Its just as great!!

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  56. Oh my goodness, I totally want to try this somewhere! Great idea!

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  57. found you via beachbungalow8...i'll definitely be doing a couple of your great projects!!!

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  58. It looks super. But am I the only one thinking that duct tape on walls isn't really impermanent? I can imagine that it's going to pull some wall down when it's time for it to come down. Just thinking...

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  59. jenny, this is BEAUTIFUL! congratulations on another amazing project.

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  60. I am amazed at how cool this looks! tape, saves one entry hall way at a time :)

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  61. Prepare to be copied, many many times! This is so innovative and simple! Well, I'm sure my diamonds wouldn't have turned out shaped like diamonds, but I can admire yours. Love the color!

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  62. I'm so in awe of you! All of your projects are simply amazing!! This one has to be my favorite, though. Who knew $20 of masking tape could look so chic? I've been searching for temporary wallpaper since I'm a renter, but this is definitely what I'm going to do!!

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  63. looks fantastic! bravo for a new use for that amazing japanese tape. I love the color you chose, too.

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  64. Fantastic!! I really like the subtle texture of it. And that Caitlin is pretty dang clever too.

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  65. AND.. you just had a baby! WOW... and umm did you make your umbrella stand!? do share!?!?

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  66. Beautiful! what is the fabric on the console? Brunschwig & Fils?

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  67. Whoa! How creative! And here I was all ready to stencil, but this might be better yet! I ordered some happytape for Christmas wrapping, but may have to go check out their selection again. Hmm... You're got me thinkin'!

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  68. Oh wow! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Your blog is so inspirational!

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  69. Now... who would've guessed?!? Looks spectac!

    But I ADORE the table. The fabric is gorgeous! I made a small table like that with plain linen.

    The prints are wonderful too....look great with the happy tape!

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  70. this is AWESOME! i don't know if i could do this really :-/ the color is so great too. i'm gonna ask again...could you show us how to do that ikat table?! it rocks!

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  71. WOW...you remind me of Kate from Centsational girl! You rock...!


    Jen Ramos
    www.madebygirl.com
    madebygirl.blogspot.com

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  72. Amazing project!! Here I am, complaining about having to paint my credenza for a paint job, and you've taped a whole wall!!

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  73. Very interesting idea. It is amazing what you can do with a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

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  74. You are too cute! Please come to my house and work some magic :)

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  75. Such a fun idea and I love that you ordered blue Japanese making tape to make it a tad bit different than the others. The pattern and color are just subtle enough to make it look outstanding!

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  76. Very cute idea, of course that blue looks perfect!

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  77. Okay...I now need to do this, this weekend. What a great idea for adding a pop of colour.

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  78. Oooooo...I remember seeing happy tape in Martha Stewart Living a couple months ago. I'm wanting to redo my entry and this inspires me. I posted your entry on my blog.

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  79. What a lovely entry way and oh so clever with the happy tape

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  80. Very cool. Our clients who rent Downtown Austin apartments thank the author of this blog for decorating tips - http://www.apartmentninjas.com/area-search/area/Austin-Downtown-Apartments.html

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  81. It looks great! I just hope the little kiddies don't discover it and start peeling away on it. lol

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  82. This is such a creative idea. I love the color and the pattern. Your ideas always amaze me.

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  83. What a phenomenal idea! Definitely takes lots of patienceand precision!

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  84. Wonderful! I have been contemplating a similar diamond design for my outdated dresser. Now I know how I might do it - with some tape! By the way, thanks so much for your blog! I am always amazed by your choice of colors and classic shapes.

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  85. Wow! What a great idea. I would love to do vertical stripes but my ceilings are 15 feet high, and I just don't see that working!

    Maybe under the molding for a pretty stripe...

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  86. This is awesome! Thanks for sharing! I bet one of those nifty laser level jobbies would make this super simple too. Must talk to FIL about that. :D

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  87. As a renter, this would be a great way to spruce up an apt. that you cannot wallpaper or paint!!

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  88. Um, stop it. You are killing me with your talent!

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  89. What a great idea. I love how you added both texture and color with this uber simple fix.

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  90. i love it! So simple yet gives such charector. Fun idea.

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  91. Lovely!

    I'd like to see the door painted in a teal now to bring it up to the standard you've set for the entrance!

    BTW, your Ikat fabric is beautiful and the crisp tailoring is great!

    Just found your blog and I'm so please to follow,

    Dane

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  92. What a great idea! It would work well for apartment dwellers like me, since it comes right off without leaving marks.

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  93. Great look! I hadn't heard of this tape. I wanted to do the same look on the ceiling in my living room, I was just dreading all the taping and painting, this will be much better! Thanks for sharing :D

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  94. So cute, but the umbrella holder is what I can't stop looking at!! I'm dying for the source/instructions!

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  95. I loved this back in January when you posted, but I still love it five months later! I can't wait to try this in my new apartment when I move next month :o)

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  96. super idea. I am moving soon and browsing the net for inspiration, many thanks from Berlin

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  97. thanks for the great idea! i'm not a renter, but i do have commitment issues when it comes to paint/wallpaper, so this project was perfect for me. if you want to checkout my before & after, i've posted them on my blog (http://seamsofthought.blogspot.com/2011/03/tape.html). thanks again! p.s. i love, love, love your blog!

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  98. Hi there, thanks for sharing this idea! We loved it so much we’ve put a link to it on our blog www.polkadotlighthouseuk.blogspot.com along with a few other MT ideas! Thanks again!
    Olga

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  99. yes. i want this happytape immediately.

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