School Me On Removable Wallpaper Sources, Please!

[Dicey]

Does anyone have any sources they recommend for removable wallpaper? Also, any tips and tricks for managing the job would be appreciated. We're making over a condo and this will be for a feature wall in the living room and an adjoining hallway. I have something like this in mind, but since it's in a hospital, I'm not looking for this exact pattern. All the walls will be white and the floors and countertops are in taupe-ish tones.

Thanks!

[Shinplaster]

Have you done any wallpapering previously?   Do you have a preference as to peel and stick, prepasted, or paste the wall?   Techniques and tips can vary depending on the type you want to use.

I am also on the hunt for greige and cream wallpaper geometric pattern for a powder room.   I've found some very nice ones on Spoonflower, and some of the vendors offer both peel and stick and prepasted options.   Personally I like prepasted, but I know lots of people like peel and stick.  I've helped a friend with peel and stick once, and nope, do not like it.   I've done many houses with prepasted, and that's what I will continue using if possible. 

Wayfair has a few options, but they are likely overpriced.   I found this one  https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/pdp/gracie-oaks-desaree-27-l-x-27-w-textured-wallpaper-roll-w003160458.html?piid=1592878031    but suspect an image search would give a more affordable option.    Searching by known brands (Brewster, Graham and Brown, York, etc.) might help narrow it down for you.   A Street prints (part of Brewster I think) sometimes has good geometric patterns, but they are not cheap!

[Dicey]

Hi Shinplaster, I have far more experience removing godawful wallpaper, which is why I'm thinking the new removable wallpapers are a great idea. Thanks for the suggestions.

Funny, I found something I liked on a traditional wallpaper site and the price was ridiculous. Couple of hours later, up pops an ad from Wayfair, featuring the same wallpaper at a significantly reduced price.

In the course of this gut job remodel, DH textured all the walls except the two I wanted to wallpaper, so now I'm slightly stuck with the idea.

[Shinplaster]

I've spent more weeks than I ever wanted also removing wallpaper that was badly applied.   4 of our 5 houses have had nightmare rooms of wallpaper.   One actually had done their dining room walls in MacTac.  Remember that stuff?  Not made for walls!  That was the project where I also learned to repair drywall.  : )

Even traditional paper backed prepasted wallpaper from 30 years ago is easily removable if you size the walls first.  Skip that step and it's a different story.  Sizing takes so little time and is cheap - I don't understand why people don't do it.   

With peel and stick, I've heard stories about it damaging drywall when removed a few years later.  My designer friend says you need to use a hairdryer to soften the adhesive so that doesn't happen.   Also if you are installing full lengths of peel and stick, you need 2 people working together to keep it from stretching and/or wrinkling.   Or maybe that was just our experience - neither of us had used this type before when I helped her do hers, so we were learning as we went along.

I hope you can find something you really like.   There used to be wallpaper clearance stores - those were always a goldmine.  You'd find the designer stuff for a few dollars a roll.   None of those where we live now - are there any in your area?   Wallpaper has made a comeback, so I'd think clearance outlets might be found again in bigger cities.

[Dicey]

Tangent Alert: OMG, using a hair dryer to soften and remove labels, price tags, tape, etc. is a total game changer. Why did I only figure this out in my sixth decade?

My worst wallpaper experience was when I purchased a home that had been a model, many years prior. They slapped it up directly on the raw drywall. What a nightmare!

[Moonwaves]

Hmm, I thought it was the adhesive/paste/glue you use (I've only tried once - very unsuccessfully - to wallpaper) that determined whether or not it the wallpaper was peelable-offable. Seems like the selection of products has expanded since the last time I thought about it.

Almost 10 years ago now (where does the time go?) but my sister bought a few different Lars Contzen wallpapers for her house - she bought mostly swirly rather than angular but I found his website and he does have both. No idea where it might be sold in the US or how much but my sister was definitely on a budget and this was what they used for feature walls. Ooh, this is the one she has in the hallway of her split-level main living area: https://www.amazon.com/-/en/Lars-Contzen-790316-Livingwalls-Non-Woven/dp/B005NP2VLS. It's weird but very nice and holding up well. He had one sort of similar to what you saw, too.

[GuitarStv]

All wallpaper is removable with enough persistence.  :P

[Dicey]

All wallpaper is removable with enough persistence.  :P

Touche.

[Dancin'Dog]

Slightly off-topic, but I've used a special thick wallpaper for covering wood paneling.  I can't remember whether I painted it, but it can be painted. 


Of course, you can just directly paint ugly paneling, but the paper covers the grooves so it looks like drywall. 

[Cassie]

When I have used wallpaper for a accent wall I always hired someone with a really good reputation. Nothing looks worse than poorly hung wallpaper.

[Dicey]

Slightly off-topic, but I've used a special thick wallpaper for covering wood paneling.  I can't remember whether I painted it, but it can be painted. 


Of course, you can just directly paint ugly paneling, but the paper covers the grooves so it looks like drywall.

DH has prepped every room in this very crooked condo to as close to perfection as can be humanly achieved. There is no paneling.

When I have used wallpaper for a accent wall I always hired someone with a really good reputation. Nothing looks worse than poorly hung wallpaper.

That would be DH and me. He just finished tiling the shower. You know how there's always a weird row or corner? Nope. He measured the ceiling height, divided by 5 and cut every single tile to the same height so they would all be equal.* Except the top row. Remember the crooked ceiling? Yup, he cut each tile in the top row to the exact specs. They look perfectly even, square, plumb and level, but that's because of the care he took with every tile. He can definitely hang wallpaper.

*The tiles were 12" x 24" originally. He cut about 2.5" off every one and did them in a vertical stack pattern. The shower looks awesome!

[ysette9]

Impressive guy! But then we knew that already.

[Dicey]

Impressive guy! But then we knew that already.

We just celebrated our 10th Anniversary in Moab. Definitely a keeper, he is.

[MandyT]

I second Spoonflower for removable wallpaper in thousands of creative designs. This one looks somewhat similar in style:

https://www.spoonflower.com/en/wallpaper/7565862-mod-triangles-s-white-gold-by-crystal_walen

There are so, so many that it can be hard to find just the right one! It can help to pick something similar to what you want, and then check out the ”you may also like” designs on that page. It took me a week to find the design I wanted for a shower curtain (they make fabric as well).

[Dicey]

Thanks for the suggestions! I found some of Wayfair. Four rolls for around $100 (I think*). I believe it's going to work.  It looks nothing like the examples I posted on this thread. Fingers crossed.

I have a thread documenting our project over here:

https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/real-estate-and-landlording/west-coast-rta-cabinet-maker-recommendations/msg3083616/#new

There are a few pictures of the backsplash and shower tile mentioned earlier in this thread on page 3. We chose it kind of the same way way we did the wallpaper: We looked at eleventy bazillion until finally something jumped out at us that we both liked.

*I'm typing when I should be sleeping, and I'm pretty sure I ordered it on DH's account. I will look it up tomorrow.

[Dicey]

It's not a great shot, but I've posted a picture of the wallpaper at the link above. Here's the link to the Wayfair site, which is a better shot. Of course it's on sale for less now, sigh.

https://www.wayfair.com/decor-pillows/pdp/wrought-studio-englert-33-l-x-205-w-wallpaper-roll-w002020311.html?=&experiencetype=2&selectedvertical=5&piid=1004778971