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Transforming your living space into a haven of style and comfort doesn't have to involve a drill or a hammer.
When you want to add a decorative touch your home or apartment walls without leaving a trace, elevate your home using these creative alternatives.
1. Removable Adhesive Strips, Tabs, and Hooks
We stock up every year on easy-to-remove adhesive every year because it really comes in handy. Command Strips, FrogTape reMOVEables, Velcro HANGables are just a few of the trusted products we've used for wall art and decor.
"FrogTape reMOVEables™ heavy-duty hooks and picture hanging strips are the perfect solution for refreshing the walls in your guest rooms over the holidays,” said Natalie Guillaume, Director of Product Marketing at Shurtape Technologies, LLC, the parent company of FrogTape® brand.
2. Try Poster Putty
Putty is a safe alternative when you want to avoid drill holes.
Plus, it's flexible and reusable, as it never dries out. Consider it for lightweight items.
3. Use Ties and Clips
Organizational supplies from your home or office are also a great way to hang garlands and lights.
- Cord ties feature a peel-and-stick loop and close feature. You can repurpose these after the holidays to organize all of your chargers and cords in different rooms.
- Office clips, like binder clips also help in a pinch.
- Alternatively, zip ties work well at securing heavy items.
4. Use Brick Clips
Transform a blank brick wall and hang decor with ease. Brick clips allow you to hang accents indoors and out without drilling or damaging the brick, stone, or mortar. (They're year-round go-to products for us.)
5. Elevate Your Space With Mirrors
Mirrors are magic! Use them as background to create depth in a small space.
Add garland or wreaths with a stick-on hook. Instead of using a permanent hook to put that wreath on the wall, removable hooks on a mirror can transform a space.
6. Make a Gallery Wall
A gallery wall of framed pictures is a great way to bring a lot of energy into one spot. We recommend framing postcards, magazine cutouts, and prints to cut costs. Don’t be precious about it... the point of wall decor is the visual interest, not the price of the art!
If you can't put holes in the wall, picture hanging strips are a great solution. FrogTape offers a variety of hanging strips to suit the weight of your framed art.
Also, as a reminder, the entire wall doesn't have to be framed pieces of art. You can add a frameless collage to your blank wall using temporary washi tape.
7. Update the Curtains
Swap your everyday curtain panels for designs with seasonal design. Lean into the reds, greens, blues, and panels with shimmery details. (Just a bonus, they're easier to store than assorted holiday pillows.)
8. Lean Into Plants
Garlands and poinsettias are classic choices for holiday decor. Also consider items you’ll use like citrus, winter squash, and dried branches. Lay pomegranates for a pop of red on top of some greenery on your table to create a centerpiece.
When in doubt, visit your local plant shop to learn about local decor or invest in reusable dried flower options.
If you have pets, be cautious about incorporating toxic potted plants like holly and mistletoe. Poinsettias can cause irritation but have low toxicity to pets.
9. Apply Gold Leaf
Try applying gold leaf to a few leaves or branches on your dried bouquet. Or, put gold leaf on the bottom half of thrifted glassware to create elegant candle holders. "We like buying white and clear ornaments, then partially applying gold leaf on the bottoms for a gorgeous speckled effect," shares Gina Nuccitelli, Property Owner and Manager of Doud Apartment Homes.
10. Create Zones With Rugs and Furniture
Rugs define spaces without touching your walls. Layer a seasonal rug over your existing one, or swap in a new pattern to refresh your room.
Move furniture away from walls to create conversation areas. This opens up space and makes rooms feel larger. Group chairs around a small table, or angle your sofa to face a window.
Add a bookshelf or room divider to separate areas. These pieces stand alone and move with you when you relocate.
No Storage? No problem! Use Items You Already Have
If you've already maxed out on storage, decorate with what you have.
- Place a few ornaments in a bowl with a piece of greenery, and add them to your kitchen island.
- Add a candle or battery-operated string lights to a glass jar and illuminate your entryway.
- Wrap existing picture frames with seasonal wrapping paper and ribbon.
Lighting is Everything
Add string lights to existing decor to give it a holiday feel. A strand of lights along the top of your kitchen cabinets or inside a glass jar instantly gives the space a holiday glow.
"Both plug-in lights and battery-operated string lights are a great option," adds Nuccitelli. "I tend to choose battery-operated lights that come with a timer feature. If you change the batteries at the beginning of the season and set the timer function, these will last the whole month of December.
