Blank white walls are one of the most frustrating parts of renting — you want the place to feel like yours, but every drill hole is a potential deduction from your deposit. Here are nine ways to genuinely personalise a rented space without a single hole.
1. Command Strips picture hanging strips
The picture-hanging versions specifically (not general-purpose ones) are rated to hold real frame weights, and they remove cleanly if you stretch the tab downward rather than pulling outward. For anything heavier than a small print, double up on strips rather than risking one giving way, and check the weight rating before hanging anything.
2. Washi tape for a gallery wall
Washi tape is designed to be low-tack and fully removable, making it genuinely good for arranging prints or photos directly onto a wall in a gallery layout. It comes in enough colours and patterns to become part of the design itself. One thing to watch: wait a few weeks after any fresh repaint before applying tape, since very new paint can occasionally lift.
3. Leaning frames instead of hanging
A large framed print or mirror leaned against a wall — on the floor, a shelf, or a dresser — creates a stylish, intentional look while requiring zero holes. It’s popular well beyond rentals too, since it gives a more relaxed feel than a perfectly hung gallery wall, and lets you rearrange pieces easily.
4. Tapestries or fabric wall hangings
A large tapestry can transform a wall’s presence more dramatically than a single framed print, just due to scale. Most hang using small removable adhesive hooks, or can be draped over an existing curtain rail, meaning no permanent fixing at all.
5. Removable wallpaper for an accent wall
Good quality peel-and-stick wallpaper applies smoothly and removes cleanly, even after months on the wall. Used on just one accent wall, it can transform a room’s feel without much effort — a smooth plastic scraper helps a lot when smoothing out bubbles. Always test a small patch first, since paint quality varies between properties.
6. Freestanding shelving as a display
A freestanding shelf unit against a wall can display books, plants, or photos with much the same effect as built-in shelving, while staying fully portable. You can rearrange the whole display in minutes and take it with you when you move.
7. Fairy lights or LED strips with adhesive clips
Battery-powered or plug-in fairy lights, secured with small adhesive clips, add warmth to a room quickly and cheaply. They work especially well around a mirror, headboard, or window frame. Battery versions with a timer are worth the extra cost if there’s no outlet nearby.
8. Command hooks for hanging plants
A trailing plant hung from a damage-free ceiling hook adds real life and colour without touching a wall. Make sure the hook is rated for the combined weight of the pot, soil, and plant once watered — that’s heavier than it looks.
9. Large mirrors on a leaning stand
A large mirror on a leaning floor stand makes a small room feel noticeably larger by reflecting light and space, with zero wall mounting needed. Position it opposite a window if possible, to bounce the most natural light back into the room.
Final thoughts
Renting doesn’t have to mean bare, impersonal walls. With the right damage-free approach, it’s genuinely possible to make a rented space feel completely your own — and take it all with you again when you eventually move.