Renter-Friendly Black Feature Wall

Even if you’re renting, you can create an accent wall that doesn’t require painting or removable wallpaper. See how DIY expert Isabelle LaRue created a renter-friendly black feature wall for her bedroom in this EngineerYourSpace video:

Painting was not an option as the wall would have to re-painted white again before moving out. Temporary, removable, paintable wallpaper was considered, but it actually is not that easy to install or remove, and it does not work on walls with a matte finish (which this bedroom has).

Ram board was used for this project as it has a spill guard technology that protects it against water and paint. A test panel looked good after two coats of paint and had a nice texture. However, it curved slightly along the edges, which would not allow panels to be laid side-by-side.

To solve the curvature problem, contact paper strips were attached to the wall, and then the ram board panels were attached to the contact paper using removable double-sided mounting tape. The contact paper was a black adhesive film with a matter finish that is removable and safe for walls. Five 24-inch painted ram board panels were applied to the wall with a 3-inch gap in between the panels.

The combination of the black wall with the white bedding makes the wood furniture stand out more and creates a more dramatic and luxurious look.