If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my staircase before, but the small space opposite the stairs was one area I rarely shared because it always felt awkward—until now.
I finally found the motivation to finish that overlooked spot. The transformation is dramatic and I’m so happy with how it turned out.
Best of all, every change I made is renter-friendly. From masking a major eyesore with a removable solution to swapping the light fixture and using peel-and-stick wallpaper, the makeover works for a leased home.
Scroll for the full breakdown and the before photos—you’ll definitely want to see them.
BEFORE WE MOVED IN…
DURING / WE HAD MOVED IN BUT HADN’T DONE ANYTHING BUT PAINT…
When we first moved in we assumed that odd built-in “storage solution” would be removable. It turned out to be permanent, and stylistically it was a confusing mix—like someone combined marble with rustic railroad ties and called it a day.
Because we rent, permanently replacing it wasn’t an option. But we didn’t want to live with it for the length of our lease either, so we designed a temporary, removable front that covers the built-in. It’s easy to detach when we move, and light enough that we can access the space underneath for storage of tools and bulky items.
I’ll share a tutorial for the faux cabinet front in a later post if you’d like to see how we built it.
With that solved, the next priority was updating the lighting. The original gooseneck sconce didn’t fit our aesthetic, so we removed it and installed a modern, minimal fixture. We kept the old sconce in the attic so we can reinstall it before moving out, and take our new fixture with us.
To create a focal point and add depth, we applied peel-and-stick twill-stripe removable wallpaper from Threshold. I actually installed the wallpaper myself one afternoon while my partner was at work, though he handled the electrical swap. The wallpaper’s subtle texture—resembling linen—adds warmth and visual interest that balances the bold artwork and clean-lined light fixture.
Each roll was under $30 and I used three rolls to cover a wall roughly 7 feet wide by 6 feet tall, keeping the wallpaper cost under $100. It’s straightforward to install alone, and each roll includes instructions so you won’t be guessing as you go.
I’m glad we chose patterned removable wallpaper instead of leaving the wall white or painting it a solid color. It makes the small landing feel cozier and more intentional while fitting with the modern-casual vibe of the stairs.
The removable wallpaper performed exactly as promised: it stayed flat with no curling and peels away cleanly when removed, so we won’t need to repaint when we move. I tested this before sharing the recommendation to make sure it truly works without damaging the wall.
After hanging the paper, I used a sharp blade to trim the top and bottom edges for a crisp finish. Then I hung a large painting and styled the area with a few accessories I already owned to complete the look.
Budget breakdown
- Threshold twill stripe wallpaper: $29.99 each × 3 = $89.97
- Materials for faux cabinet front: $100
- New light fixture: $219
- New plants: $41
- Painting: created by me using supplies I already had = $0
- Other decorative items: already owned = $0
TOTAL COST: $449.97
That’s the whole process—simple, renter-friendly updates that made a big visual impact on a small, awkward space. I’d love to hear what you think of the before and after. Do you have a room in your home that could use this kind of upgrade?
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This post was created in partnership with Target. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Paper and Stitch running.