If you’re like most renters you’re tired of white walls and the strict rules and policies many managers have against painting. But that doesn’t mean you can’t change your wall color.
Companies like Dali Decals and hundreds of others offer ways to customize your boring white walls with colorful vinyl decals you can remove and take with you when you move. The decals don’t damage the wall and can add a pop of color anywhere you want it. Many companies also have school mascots and logos, animals, cars and popular items like flowers, birds, insects and fish that can also be wall art. Dali Decals offers a unique perspective for the kitchen as well–vinyl coverings that look like different kinds of wall tile. Put it up, take it down. Unless you’re touching the image, it looks like a custom tile job, not wallpaper or vinyl. Because there are no adhesives used, you aren’t violating your lease either.
If vinyl isn’t the way you want to go, consider using fabric. You can staple or sew fabric to lathe and attach the lathe to the wall. There are only nail holes to fill when you leave and the fabric can be reused when you move. Tie-dye or paint some sheets, or find a colorful pre-printed sheet you can use.
If you really want to wow with fabric, consider using plain old-fashioned fabric starch as an adhesive instead of glue. When you’re ready to move, just use sponges and water to release the starch and peel off the fabric. For more details and examples, some apartment therapy can help you learn more.
Bamboo grass cloth comes in a variety of natural, subtle colors and adds a textured look and feel to the wall as well as a natural, subtle color. Tack or nail the cloth into place.
Consider spray-painting and nailing lathe in different colors to give your walls a “board and batten” feel. Kimba, a DIY blogger and crafter, turned her living room into a board and batten showplace and posted photos, a tutorial and even the breakdown of her costs at her website.
If you’re still looking at your budget and shaking your head, cheer up. Even something as simple as low-tack or low-adhesive masking tape applied directly to the wall for an unusual effect. The masking tape can create a striped effect, or a board and batten effect.
If you have some money to spend, consider buying Tempaper-repositionable wallpaper that can be removed, easily, moved around and pulled down when it’s time to move. 
No matter what you’ve decided to do, check with your landlord first so they’re not taken by surprise if they come through your apartment to fix a toilet or inspect the hot water heater and see your handwork.
Tips for approaching your landlord:
Only you know your landlord and can decide if an “Ask permission or Ask forgiveness” policy is better.
If you’re an ask permission type, then tell them what you have in mind. Be specific about the wall, the size of the project and what it will entail. Show them the fabric. They may have suggestions or ideas because I guarantee you; you are not the first one to hate white walls. Putting up an extra security deposit may convince them to let you paint or make other changes too. It never hurts to ask. If they say “No,” you’re no worse off than you were before. Ask them to put in writing what you can or can’t do if it’s not spelled out in your lease.
If you’re an “ask forgiveness” person, make sure you can take down your project within 24-hours if asked to. You never know. Better to lose your color than your apartment!
Take your time looking around. If you can’t find something you like, be creative and invent a new alternative cover yourself!
