Can renters use wallpaper?

Yes, with the right product and some preparation. Sandberg describe their Peel & Stick as "the perfect choice for accent walls, rooms where you want to change wallpaper more often, and renters looking for temporary wallpaper solutions." How any self-adhesive paper behaves on removal depends on the wall beneath it, the paint under that, and how long it has been up, so test a sample on your own wall first and ask your property manager in writing before you start.

Wallpaper for Rentals: What to Choose and How to Remove It

Q: What about paste-the-wall paper in a rental?

Paste-the-wall paper uses paste, so more landlords hesitate. Removal on poorly painted walls can lift paint. The practical advice is peel and stick for rentals unless your landlord has approved a pasted paper in writing.

Q: Where should peel and stick not be used?

Sandberg say their Peel & Stick is "not recommended for textured surfaces or areas exposed to high humidity or significant temperature fluctuations" and "recommend applying Peel & Stick to smooth, clean, and well-prepared walls." Rebel Walls advise against "rooms with significant temperature changes and varying humidity, such as bathrooms" and "rough walls, structured walls, and ceilings".

Last updated: 17 September 2026

Renting shouldn't mean beige walls for a decade. Wallpaper is one of the few changes that can transform a rented room. Here's how Australian renters do it properly.

Rule one: ask first, in writing

Whatever product you choose, a quick message to your property manager saves grief at inspection time. Show them the product page so they can see exactly what you plan to use. Keep the reply with your bond paperwork.

The renter's product: peel and stick

Our peel and stick range is self-adhesive, so no paste touches the wall.

We stock peel and stick from two makers, and it is worth reading what they say about their own product. Sandberg describe their Peel & Stick as "the perfect choice for accent walls, rooms where you want to change wallpaper more often, and renters looking for temporary wallpaper solutions." Both makers are specific about where it should not go. Sandberg say it is "not recommended for textured surfaces or areas exposed to high humidity or significant temperature fluctuations", as these conditions "may affect adhesion", and they "recommend applying Peel & Stick to smooth, clean, and well-prepared walls." Rebel Walls advise against "rooms with significant temperature changes and varying humidity, such as bathrooms" and "rough walls, structured walls, and ceilings". We recommend ordering a sample before you commit.

We won't tell you your walls will be untouched, because that isn't ours to promise. How any self-adhesive paper behaves on the way off depends on the wall beneath it, the paint under that, and how long it has been up. What we can tell you is how to find out cheaply, before it matters.

Test before you commit

Test a corner first. Order a sample, stick it somewhere hidden — behind a door, low in a wardrobe — for a week, then peel it. If the paint underneath is old, chalky or poorly applied, you will find out on a 10 cm square rather than a whole wall.
Check the paint's age. Paint needs about four weeks to cure. Self-adhesive film on paint that is dry but not cured is the most common way people come unstuck.
Peel low and slow when you leave — flat against the wall, not outward.

What about paste-the-wall paper in a rental?

Paste-the-wall paper uses paste, so more landlords hesitate, and removal on poorly painted walls can lift paint. Our practical advice: peel and stick for rentals unless your landlord has approved a pasted paper in writing. The comparison: peel & stick vs paste-the-wall.

Where one wall does the most work

Behind the bed — the classic. The room changes completely, and the wall is half-hidden by your headboard until the day you take it down.
The living room TV or sofa wall — anchors the whole space.
A rented nursery — soft cloud and animal designs from our nursery collection make a temporary home feel properly yours.

When you move out

Photograph the wall before you start, keep your landlord's approval, remove slowly, and wipe the wall down afterwards. That order gives you the best chance of a clean handover, and a record if anyone asks.

Still unsure? Order a sample, or email us at hello@wallpapertrader.com — we're happy to help you get it right.