I transformed my apartment with Spoonflower removable wallpaper. It's still the focal point of my space 3 years later.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

After years of renting small, stark apartments in New York City, I finally got the chance to design a space on my own terms when I moved into my first studio. However, the outdated kitchen was on full display from every angle of the pre-war space, so I turned to peel-and-stick wallpaper to cover the walls, floor, and countertop, and learned very quickly just how much quality can vary among the best removable wallpaper brands. For instance, the low-quality paper I used left sticky residue on my countertop and ripped the paint on the wall, putting my security deposit at risk.

When I moved into a more modern studio in 2022, I was initially unsure about playing with removable wallpaper again. However, I still found myself craving color, and I discovered Spoonflower through social media. A whimsical print of roses and hummingbirds became the perfect statement wall—and three years later, it's still the heart of my apartment.

Patterns

Spoonflower has an extensive design library that is fueled by and the independent artists who submit design and earn a 10% royalty for each purchase. Spoonflower produces its peel-and-stick wallpaper using a print-on-demand process, which minimizes waste. The removable wallpaper is made from a woven linen material that has a textured feel and a matte finish. It's printed on FSC-certified paper. In addition to removable wallpaper, Spoonflower offers pre-pasted, non-pasted, grasscloth, vinyl, and metallic variations in the same patterns, so the brand can grow with you from renter-friendly DIYs to more long-term projects. They also offer fabric by the yard for clothing and upholstery projects.

The only downside to this wide pattern library is that the site may feel overwhelming at first and be time-consuming to browse. I knew I wanted a feminine floral wallpaper, and Spoonflower had hundreds of options for me to sift through. If you don't have a specific style in mind, Spoonflower offers curated collections ranging from 'Southern Maximalism' to 'Refined Bohemian' to help you get started. You can also shop by expert picks for extra inspiration, including DIYer Drew Michael Scott of Lone Fox and designer Mina Starsiak Hawk from HGTV's "Good Bones."

Ordering and delivery

Spoonflower's website is organized by room, style (like modern abstract to traditional chinoiserie), and topic (like animal to food) to make it easier to shop, but since I was looking for a specific pattern, I found the most success using the search bar. I suggest searching by a keyword (such as floral) and then using color filters to narrow down your options. If a specific artist's work resonates with you, you can also visit their gallery to learn more about them and see their other designs.

Spoonflower offers two-by-one foot swatches for $9 each, which is a bigger size than other similar brands and helps you get a good idea of true scale and coloring. Personally, I photographed the wall I wanted to apply wallpaper to and used Photoshop to get an idea of what the pattern would look like in my space.

Next, it was time to measure, with a nifty the wallpaper calculator to help determine how much product I needed. Spoonflower recommends measuring the entirety of your wall, including any doors and windows, and skipping baseboards or molding. It instantly recommended that I needed 4 panels in the 2 x 9 feet size for $356 ($396 at time of review), which felt like a fair price for the amount and quality. My wall is 12.5 x 9 feet, but has two doorways, so I chose to get less than the recommended amount, but generally it can be a good idea to get an extra panel to account for any mistakes and ensure patterns line up. Spoonflower also offers removable wallpaper panels in 2 x 12 feet, 2 x 6 feet, and 2 x 3 feet panels. My order shipped after about a week and a half and arrived rolled neatly in boxes.

Installation

I enlisted my brother to help install my removable wallpaper since he tends to be the more detail-oriented sibling when it comes to DIY projects, but this would also be doable on your own. Right away, this wallpaper stood out from others I've used due to its textured feel. As we got to work hanging it, I was further impressed by the heftiness of the paper and how easy it was to apply.

We didn't do anything to prep my walls, which are painted with a matte finish. Generally, you'll want to start by hanging removable wallpaper from one side, working to the other. However, my apartment layout is a little bit funky — the wall I chose has two doorways, two light switches, and molding (so basically, every detail that makes applying wallpaper trickier). To make the process more seamless, we started by lining the wallpaper panels up on my floor to ensure the patterns lined up. Then, we wallpapered the middle section of my wall (between doorways) and saved the oddly shaped sections for last.

Since the wallpaper panels were the same size as the length of my wall, we worked from top to bottom, flattening the paper until it was flush. My brother came up with a technique where he only peeled the back off the wallpaper a little at a time, which ensured it didn't stick to the wall at once. We did encounter air bubbles, but were able to work them out using a smoothing tool.

If you choose a floral pattern like me, precision is a must — the panels cut off right in the middle of the roses, so we had to line them up carefully. The best way to do this is to move slowly and press down once you're sure of your placement. My brother used a box cutter to carve out the light switches and to trim the wallpaper where needed, like around some tricky molding.

How it's held up over time

Nearly three years later, my statement wall is still going strong, and the wallpaper hasn't peeled or ripped at all. The different panels have a seamless look on my wall that's made me completely forget about some of the trickier parts of application. While I'm glad I chose Spoonflower for its functionality, the pattern is what really makes it stand out in my apartment.

I live in a studio apartment with no natural lighting, and the wallpaper is the focal point in my main living area, which I use as a living room, office, and dining room all in one. That means it's basically always visible—and in addition to brightening up my apartment, the vibrant pattern truly brings me joy. Applying peel-and-stick wallpaper to my apartment was a way to infuse my personality into the space and make it feel more like me. The wall is the first thing guests notice and compliment me on. It's a detail I've become known for, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Removal

I just renewed my lease, meaning I have another year of pink roses and hummingbirds ahead of me. To get an idea of what the removal process would be like, I recently tested a Spoonflower swatch. After two weeks, it peeled off easily, leaving no residue or damage behind. I'm confident that when I do decide to move, removing my wallpaper will be one of the quickest parts of the process.

Cons to consider

The biggest con to consider with peel-and-stick wallpaper is that you're putting your security deposit at risk. While I'm confident that Spoonflower won't leave damage or residue behind, there's always some risk associated with making a big aesthetic change to a rental property. My building staff has entered my unit for repairs and inspections and luckily, no one has questioned my wallpaper, but I know some landlords can be stricter.

Additionally, while I'm still a fan of my wallpaper, I can't deny that my taste has changed over the years, and I might not have picked the same pattern today. It's common to get tired of a color or pattern and want a change. Since my wallpaper is bright pink, I'm limited in the decor I can add to my apartment and need everything to match the statement wall. This also goes for tablescapes and party decor when I entertain guests. Of course, removable wallpaper is temporary, and part of the appeal is that it can be changed. But this still comes with financial and labor costs, and personally, I'm not sure it's worth a change when I'm not sure if I will stay in this apartment for more than another year. Oh, the constant mental turmoil of being a renter.

What are your alternatives?

While I will definitely be checking Spoonflower for my next DIY project, Chasing Paper also has a wide assortment of removable wallpaper patterns available. They regularly launch new collaborations with interior designers, and the pricing is very comparable. When I tested a swatch of Chasing Paper wallpaper, it was a close runner-up to Spoonflower in quality.

It's made from matte fabric that has a similar textured feel. However, Chasing Paper wallpaper is thinner, so it might not be the best for textured walls, especially in lighter colors. I have a few nicks on my walls, and was able to see them through the paper. Otherwise, the removable wallpaper was easy to apply, stayed firmly in place during testing, and peeled off seamlessly with no residue or damage left behind.

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, check out Tempaper. This removable wallpaper brand has a wide variety of patterns available as well, but comes at a lower price point. I tested a few swatches of the vinyl wallpaper and could tell the difference in quality, but the brand also offers removable grasscloth, which has a more dimensional look and textured finish. The grasscloth swatch rivaled any more expensive brand at a lower price point. Overall, a value removable wallpaper is a great option for a short-term project or temporary design fix.

The bottom line

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is one of the best ways to transform a rental home in just a few easy steps, and you can't go wrong with Spoonflower. The artist-driven brand offers a wide variety of patterns in high-quality removable wallpaper that's simple to apply, has good staying power, and won't damage your walls. My statement wall has been the focal point of my home for three years now, and I know I'll be turning to the brand for a future DIY project.

More prints to check out