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Thrifty Fashion for your Walls…

My husband and I currently rent a little farm-style home near where we go to school and we love it. What we don’t love are all the white white white walls that abound in a rental. Because of the blinding whiteness I am always looking for affordable removable/reversible decorating ideas to bring some color and texture to my house, and in one of my google-quests for said ideas I came across this method of wallpapering your house with fabric and cornstarch. The supplies were so affordable that I figured I didn’t have much to lose so a little while ago I tried it out.
Here is what you need:
-Lightweight fabric
-Sponge or Paint Roller
-Container to pour starch into
-Not pictured: Patient husband who allows you to follow through on your harebrained decorating schemes
Just measure your fabric to match the wall, cut it, pour your starch into your bucket, dip your sponge in it, then start wiping the walls with it.
Smooth the fabric against the starch coated wall, brushing and smoothing it to get out any bumps, then wet your sponge again and go over the top of the fabric with the starch. Mine stuck immediately to the wall, but if yours doesn’t, you can tack or tape the fabric so it will stay in place until it is dry. Then just wait for it to dry.
To remove, all you have to do is soak the fabric with water and it will peel off.
Before:
After:
Before & After:
I love it, it wasn’t hard, it is easy to clean, and there is a little less white in my house. Also, I had some extra fabric that I may or may not have made a skirt with, and when I wear it my kitchen and I match like Mary Kate and Ashley circa 1997. Win win, I tell ya.
Have any of you renters out there tried anything creative to combat the whiteness? We’d love to hear about your projects!
oxoxo/W
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  • TamiJuly 28, 2011 - 3:21 pm

    ha – i am totally envisioning you blending into your walls like camouflage. awesome! so cute – great idea.ReplyCancel

  • Nicolette @ Momnivore's DilemmaJuly 28, 2011 - 3:53 pm

    I saw this on Nate Berkus and really wanted to try it for a small hallway with funky walls. This is such a great tip for those would what pattern without the price of wall paper…

    I'll be featuring you next week at Creative Juice! Thanks for linking up this week. {Pinning you as well!}ReplyCancel

  • RachelJuly 28, 2011 - 4:10 pm

    Oh, you smart lady! That looks adorable, and that fabric looks awfully familiar–I almost bought some of that same print to make pillows out of for my bed, but wimped out at the last minute and was worried it wouldn't be the right shade of green. But I love the fabric, I love what it adds to your kitchen, and I love picturing you cooking in there in your skirt that matches your walls . . . I hope you also wear pearls and heels, this is a very 50s housewife image in my head.ReplyCancel

  • Mommy Makes MeJuly 28, 2011 - 4:31 pm

    Oh my! I LOVE this idea. I wish I would have know about this when I was renting. I think it is still a great soloution because I'm not great on commitment to something so permenant(hense the reason I don't have a tatoo yet). Anyways, totally love your style too! I found your blog from the linkup at House of Hepworth. I am happily a new follower. I just love all your crafty ideas and I think, why didn't I think of that. Hopefully you can hop over and catch my blog.
    http://mommymakesme.blogspot.com

    Have a Wonderful Day!ReplyCancel

  • Sunny & StarJuly 28, 2011 - 4:55 pm

    I love the wall paper. The print is beautiful.ReplyCancel

  • Sweet PeaJuly 28, 2011 - 6:00 pm

    WOW. That looks really good 🙂ReplyCancel

  • SuzeJuly 28, 2011 - 6:07 pm

    That's adorable! What a great idea. Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • Along Abbey RoadJuly 28, 2011 - 7:28 pm

    This is so cool! I am all about new ideas right now, as I am trying to decorate a baby nursery. I have always gone the route of actually painting and then painting back to the original color once we move, but that is only if the landlords allow you to.

    BTW, your hair is really cute. That's the first time I've ever seen your head, haha.

    Hosting a super fun giveaway on my blog! Would love for you to stop by!

    ♥Abbey
    Along Abbey RoadReplyCancel

  • KatieJuly 28, 2011 - 8:58 pm

    Wow! I love it! Such a great idea!ReplyCancel

  • kimbercraftsJuly 28, 2011 - 10:18 pm

    I've never heard of this technique, how cool! It makes a huuuge difference on those bland rental walls. Oh, and your hair cut is super cute!ReplyCancel

  • ElegantpawsJuly 29, 2011 - 12:01 am

    What a cool idea. Love the fabric choice too. Gorgeous.ReplyCancel

  • heidiJuly 29, 2011 - 1:40 am

    i am in AWE of this. who knew?! i definitely have to bookmark this post to reference later and hopefully try out in my own apartment!ReplyCancel

  • KariJuly 29, 2011 - 10:40 pm

    This is FANTASTIC! I absolutely LOVE the green. I found you through Momma's kind of crafty link up and I would love it if you can link this up to my weekly link party Tutorial Tuesday!

    Kari

    Newlyweds on a BudgetReplyCancel

  • StephanieJuly 30, 2011 - 1:38 pm

    That is such a great idea! It adds so much color!ReplyCancel

  • AngeeJuly 30, 2011 - 7:38 pm

    Wow, I love this. What a great makeover!ReplyCancel

  • ~Iffy~July 31, 2011 - 12:35 am

    Wow this turned out awesome!! I'm stopping by from the Catch A Glimpse Thursday party. I would love for you to link this up to My Favorite Things party! It's going on all week,
    & be sure to check out my giveaway too!
    Thanks
    ~Iffy~

    http://www.stayathomenation.blogspot.comReplyCancel

  • Tricia KayJuly 31, 2011 - 2:51 am

    My Mom used to do this, but I had forgotten about it! Thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • StephAugust 4, 2011 - 2:49 am

    LOVE this! We are renters too. Thanks for sharing the details on how you did it!ReplyCancel

  • Julie ClarkSeptember 9, 2015 - 5:47 pm

    Wondering what the wall looks like when you remove it — how to get all the paste off?ReplyCancel

  • Shelley JenkinsDecember 28, 2015 - 4:27 am

    I've done this before, and it works great, as long as the fabric is lightweight. When you want to peel off the fabric, just wet it, and then wipe down the wall to get the laundry starch washed off.ReplyCancel

  • JudyApril 14, 2017 - 11:39 pm

    I did a lot of this when I was a young mother, 40 yrs ago. Very popular in the 70s and 80s. It’s not difficult. I did several walls in kids rooms and in my son’s nursery. I then used the same fabric for the bedding and a rocker!ReplyCancel