Use Wall Decals to Add Artistic Flair to Your NYC Apartment

Tired of your plain walls? There’s an easy way to add artistic design flair to your apartment without spending a lot of money: wall decals. Try these tips to spice up your walls — no paint or hardware needed!

Tired of your plain walls? There’s an easy way to add artistic design flair to your apartment without spending a lot of money: wall decals.

Wall decals come in a near infinite range of designs, from modern to quirky to classic. Typically made from vinyl or adhesive-backed fabric, they allow you to breathe new life into your living space without damaging your walls. Try these tips to spice up your walls — no paint or hardware needed!

Create a Feature Wall

Do you have a wall in your home that you’re not sure what to do with? Decals are a great option. Buy a few decals and fill the wall with a repeating pattern, order a custom decal with your favorite quote or saying, or choose a whimsical design that cheers up your space. You could also cover a wall with frame decals and create a rotating gallery with your favorite pictures.

Tips for Applying Wall Decals

Image Source: Flickr/Lars Kristian Flem

Add Visual Interest to a Small Space

Your tiny New York apartment probably has all sorts of nooks and crannies that could be use a little decoration. Consider adding decals to a kitchen backsplash, closet walls, or an out-of-the-way corner. With a little attention, these formerly boring areas can become a new focal point for your room.

Get Creative with Placement

Although decals adhere best to flat, painted surfaces, there’s no need to limit them to walls. Here are a few ideas to get your imagination started:

  • Dress up your furniture or appliances with a pretty pattern.
  • Draw attention away from a boring view with a fun window decal.
  • Frame your bed with a faux headboard.
  • Add images or words to stair risers.

Get Creative with Wall Decals

Image Source: Flickr/Tara Kriese

Tips for Application

Wall decals are easy to apply. Just take your time and keep these pointers in mind:

  • Always start by reading the product directions.
  • Choose a clean, flat area for application (painted surfaces work best).
  • Peel the decal from its backing and apply slowly, starting from the center of the decal and working your way out to the edges.
  • Smooth out any bubbles with a credit card or other flat object.

Where to Buy Decals

Wall decals are popular right now, so shop local resources first. We’ve spotted them in Manhattan at neighborhood hardware and interior design stores, as well as chains such as Urban Outfitters, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target.

Of course, there are tons of options online, including Etsy. If you ask, many Etsy sellers will even create custom decals. Blik has a large selection of graphic, artsy styles. Shop Wall Pops for fun prints from designers like Jonathan Adler.

If you’re feeling creative, you can even create your own decals. Try cutting them out of contact paper. Alternately, use a cutting machine, such as a Silhouette or Cricut, to create more intricate designs.

Add a little artistry to your space the easy way! Whether your style is quirky or classic, there’s a wall decal that’s perfect for your space.

Image Source: Flickr/Simon Mason

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12 Comments

  1. Use Wall Decals to Add Artistic Flair to Your NYC Apartment | Janet Glowacki's Blog
    June 10, 2014

    […] post Use Wall Decals to Add Artistic Flair to Your NYC Apartment appeared first on Coldwell Banker Blue […]

    Reply
  2. Hello, Friday! Link Roundup | Hello Little Home
    June 13, 2014

    […] P.P.S. Check out my latest post for Coldwell Banker’s blog: Use Wall Decals to Add Artistic Flair to Your Apartment. […]

    Reply
  3. From Vinyl Wall Décor to Backsplashes: 4 Great Ways to Use Vinyl | Janet Glowacki's Blog
    July 28, 2014

    […] Vinyl wall décor is an extremely affordable, fun, and gorgeous way to add artistic pizzazz to bare walls. The sheer variety of decals available is extensive, allowing you to express your quirky, cute, or relentlessly Anglophilic sides. Have fun with proportion and placement: Choose a really large decal for a single wall, or have the decal art interact with objects in the room. Experiment with colors, too. You can even use vinyl letters to spell out words and phrases that are important to you and your family. Most decals are of the peel-and-stick variety, meaning that if you tire of a particular design or look, you can effortlessly swap it out for a new one. Not only are they easy to remove, but under some circumstances, they’re also reusable. (Check with the decal manufacturer to figure out whether yours can be reused.) […]

    Reply
  4. From Vinyl Wall Décor to Backsplashes: 4 Great Ways to Use Vinyl | My Website
    July 28, 2014

    […] Vinyl wall décor is an extremely affordable, fun, and gorgeous way to add artistic pizzazz to bare walls. The sheer variety of decals available is extensive, allowing you to express your quirky, cute, or relentlessly Anglophilic sides. Have fun with proportion and placement: Choose a really large decal for a single wall, or have the decal art interact with objects in the room. Experiment with colors, too. You can even use vinyl letters to spell out words and phrases that are important to you and your family. Most decals are of the peel-and-stick variety, meaning that if you tire of a particular design or look, you can effortlessly swap it out for a new one. Not only are they easy to remove, but under some circumstances, they’re also reusable. (Check with the decal manufacturer to figure out whether yours can be reused.) […]

    Reply
  5. From Vinyl Wall Décor to Backsplashes: 4 Great Ways to Use Vinyl | Patrick Lim's Blog
    July 29, 2014

    […] Vinyl wall décor is an extremely affordable, fun, and gorgeous way to add artistic pizzazz to bare walls. The sheer variety of decals available is extensive, allowing you to express your quirky, cute, or relentlessly Anglophilic sides. Have fun with proportion and placement: Choose a really large decal for a single wall, or have the decal art interact with objects in the room. Experiment with colors, too. You can even use vinyl letters to spell out words and phrases that are important to you and your family. Most decals are of the peel-and-stick variety, meaning that if you tire of a particular design or look, you can effortlessly swap it out for a new one. Not only are they easy to remove, but under some circumstances, they’re also reusable. (Check with the decal manufacturer to figure out whether yours can be reused.) […]

    Reply
  6. From Vinyl Wall Décor to Backsplashes: 4 Great Ways to Use Vinyl | Donna Dagley's Blog
    July 29, 2014

    […] Vinyl wall décor is an extremely affordable, fun, and gorgeous way to add artistic pizzazz to bare walls. The sheer variety of decals available is extensive, allowing you to express your quirky, cute, or relentlessly Anglophilic sides. Have fun with proportion and placement: Choose a really large decal for a single wall, or have the decal art interact with objects in the room. Experiment with colors, too. You can even use vinyl letters to spell out words and phrases that are important to you and your family. Most decals are of the peel-and-stick variety, meaning that if you tire of a particular design or look, you can effortlessly swap it out for a new one. Not only are they easy to remove, but under some circumstances, they’re also reusable. (Check with the decal manufacturer to figure out whether yours can be reused.) […]

    Reply
  7. How to Brighten a Room Without Painting | Janet Glowacki's Blog
    December 2, 2014

    […] Wall decals are a great way to add an artistic flair to your walls, and the good news is that they can be peeled right off when it’s time to move out (some can even be saved and used at your next apartment). Sticker art graphics come in all kinds of designs — from nature scenes to inspirational quotes to stripes — and they are especially popular for nurseries and kids’ rooms. […]

    Reply
  8. How to Brighten a Room Without Painting | Earl Forbes Blog
    December 2, 2014

    […] Wall decals are a great way to add an artistic flair to your walls, and the good news is that they can be peeled right off when it’s time to move out (some can even be saved and used at your next apartment). Sticker art graphics come in all kinds of designs — from nature scenes to inspirational quotes to stripes — and they are especially popular for nurseries and kids’ rooms. […]

    Reply
  9. How to Brighten a Room Without Painting | My Website
    December 2, 2014

    […] Wall decals are a great way to add an artistic flair to your walls, and the good news is that they can be peeled right off when it’s time to move out (some can even be saved and used at your next apartment). Sticker art graphics come in all kinds of designs — from nature scenes to inspirational quotes to stripes — and they are especially popular for nurseries and kids’ rooms. […]

    Reply
  10. How to Brighten a Room Without Painting | Elouise Margita's Blog
    December 2, 2014

    […] Wall decals are a great way to add an artistic flair to your walls, and the good news is that they can be peeled right off when it’s time to move out (some can even be saved and used at your next apartment). Sticker art graphics come in all kinds of designs — from nature scenes to inspirational quotes to stripes — and they are especially popular for nurseries and kids’ rooms. […]

    Reply
  11. JacksonKell
    January 12, 2016

    Wonderful article with Nice designs.

    Reply
  12. frank lingiroux
    February 17, 2017

    Wall decals are the best way to give new life to the walls and ultimately it change the entire looks of the home. There are many online websites who deals in selling the digital cutting files and decals for various cutting machines and software programs.

    Reply

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