You'll need:

slim, black Washi tape

$5.14

When I lived in a rented flat for the very first time some years ago, it had always been a struggle to decorate it. Renting definitely imposes some limitations especially when it comes to personalizing and feigning some semblance of ownership.

But I feel like as renters, we can still take measures to make our place, however temporary, our cozy little nook. Having had moved six times in the past two years (and hopefully not in another two, at least!), I've experienced how it is to stay in a rented room that was devoid of anything that reflected my personality except for some pictures pinned on a cork board.

You probably know this already, but going home to a place with tiny bits of you peppered all around feels totally different. I particularly love breathable and modern spaces, and was looking into incorporating decorative elements into them without losing my rent deposit.

If you're like me who can't be bothered to get in trouble with the landlord/lady, then washi tape is your best friend. I once tried these (supposedly) chip-proof adhesive hooks to hang some pictures. But I realized, a month before moving out, what a terrible mistake I've made! I was lucky to have had safely peeled off the first one, but I think I pulled the other adhesive the wrong way and, much to my horror, immediately saw a 2-inch diameter chip of paint come off with the adhesive.

I had to hunt for a similar-colored paint to fix it, and even so, I got 50 euros less from my deposit because of how badly it was painted over. Geez.

So I said, "Never again!"

You may have a lighter hand than me, or you may end up being luckier in picking out adhesives that would cooperate. But if you were to ask me, I'd stay clear of it.

In this post, I'll be walking you through the steps to decorate our workspace wall with modern and chip-proof washi tape wall art.

I was browsing through Pinterest and found this geometric wall art print from Melinda Wood Designs on Etsy. I found it so terribly adorable that it became my inspiration for the washi tape wall art you see on the right:

I also made the geometric elephant canvas on the left following Liz Fourez of Love Grows Wild's Geometric Stitched Animal Art. If you're interested in making that, head over to her blog!

I got this slim, black MT washi tape for this project and have had them on my wall for more than 4 months now, and they're holding up pretty well. I try to peel a part off every once in a while to see if it's leaving any mark or if any paint's coming off when lifted. I've seen teeny weeny spots of white paint but they're almost unnoticeable. They also haven't made any marks on my wall, so I'm good with that.

TIPS

The black tape will create a beautiful contrast with a white washed wall, or any super light hues of pastels and grays.
Make sure that the surface is clean before starting this project. You may want to wipe the surface gently with a soft cloth to get rid of any grit or loose particles.
Not all washi tapes are created equal. The glossy ones tend to be more cellotape than washi, and would most likely lead to chipped paint. Stick to the ones with a matte finish and tissue-like texture.

MODERN GEOMETRIC WASHI TAPE WALL ART

Illustrated Steps

Voila! It's that simple! I didn't even need to use scissors because I'm lazy like that. You'll notice some fibers off the edges, but it's not a problem at all. You can easily cover them up with the next strip of washi tape.

Those of you who find yourselves changing flats often would love how easy and neatly it peels off.