Many people in Germany rent their home, and plain white walls are part of the deal. A wall mural can change a rented room completely, but a few things should be checked before you order. This guide shows what to ask, which material to choose and how to take the mural down again.

1. Ask first

Look at your tenancy agreement and ask your landlord whether decorating the walls is allowed. Some landlords agree at once, some want to see the design, some ask you to restore the wall when you move out. We cannot give legal advice, so please clarify this yourself and, if you can, get the answer in writing.

2. Choose a removable material

Our peel and stick mural is self-adhesive: no paste, no water, and it is made to be removed later. It is the renter-friendly choice. Our non-woven materials are pasted onto the wall and are meant to stay. We cannot promise that they come off without a trace, so we do not recommend them if you need to leave the wall exactly as it was.

3. Check the wall

Peel and stick sticks best to a smooth, clean, well-dried painted wall. Textured walls such as woodchip wallpaper are not suitable, see murals over Raufaser. Freshly painted walls should dry completely first, and dusty or greasy spots should be cleaned. If the paint is already flaking, it can come off with the mural, so repair it first.

4. Take photos and test

Photograph the wall before you start, so that you can show its original state. Test a small piece in a hidden spot, for example behind a cupboard, and leave it for a few days. If the test piece comes off cleanly and the paint stays, you can go ahead.

5. Putting it up

The peel and stick guide describes the steps: number and dock the panels on the floor, draw a vertical guide line, peel back the first part of the backing and smooth the panel on, then overlap each following panel by 1 cm. Work with a second person if the wall is high.

6. Taking it down when you move out

Peel the panels off slowly, at a flat angle, from the top down. A hairdryer on a low setting can help to warm the adhesive. Never tear fast, because that is what damages paint. Our article on removing a mural explains what to do if adhesive stays on the wall. We cannot promise how your wall reacts, because every wall and every paint is different, which is why the test piece matters.

Designs to look at

Sepia Savanna, Safari Elephants and Dark Forest are all available in peel and stick. Order a sample set first to see the material on your own wall.

More ideas in our guide to renter-friendly wall decor.