This Renter-Friendly Accent Wall DIY Turns A Breakfast Bar Into The Coziest Spot

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There's no doubt about it: decorating a rental is tricky. Balancing your own style with your landlord's restriction can feel near impossible — but what's a renter who dreams of a cozy breakfast bar to do? Take a page out of a clever TikToker's book — TikTok user @itsmeshelbyturner created her own stunning breakfast bar by smoothing contact paper over her accent wall, and then gluing acoustic wood panels to it. After attaching some floating shelves and wall-mounted lights, she styled it with her favorite tea, coffee, mugs, and even a nifty cereal dispenser for a warm, welcoming space to enjoy the morning. The good news? You can do it, too. 

Want to build your own cozy breakfast bar in your rental? Depending on the size and style of your accent wall, you can likely get this renter-friendly DIY upgrade done in about a weekend. But before you get started, first check your lease to see what your landlord's stance is on nail holes and cosmetic changes. Anecdotal evidence shows that some landlords don't mind small nail holes while others are adamantly against it. Getting clear on what's allowed and what's not will help you narrow in on the best method and material to use for your accent wall.

Start by wiping away any dust or grime and make sure the wall is dry. Then, cut your wood panels — like TONOR Wood Wall Panels — to size with a circular saw and speed square. If there's an outlet, use this trick to cut in the right place: remove the outlet cover and attach a looped piece of painters tape for DIY double-sided tape on the inside top and bottom of the cover. Replace the cover inside out and press the wall panel into position. Pull the panel away, and the outlet cover should be positioned in the right spot. Trace inside the outlet cover, remove it, and cut the opening with a jigsaw.

Finally, attach the panels to the studs in the wall. Whether renters should use Command Strips or nails comes down to your comfort zone, rental agreement, and the weight you're hanging. Some DIYers recommend using finishing nails in rentals, but we couldn't confirm how much weight they'll hold (anecdotal evidence suggests 3 pounds, at most). It may be worth using more nails to err on the safer side. If you'd rather not use nails, four Command X-Large Picture Hanging Strips can hold up to 20 pounds of weight. Once the panels are up, style your breakfast bar and enjoy!

If you love the wood look, but ribbed panels aren't your style, you can swap them out for quarter-inch sheets of plywood, like Sandeply Plywood from The Home Depot. They're fairly budget-friendly, coming in at just $30 per board, and hold stains or paint well. Plus, they're easy to install with finishing nails.

If wood isn't your idea of cozy, there are lots of options to create the breakfast bar of your dreams. One of our favorites? Peel-and-stick wallpaper. This renter-friendly DIY upgrade is great because it's easy to find your perfect style. Since it weighs next to nothing, you can install floating shelves or wall-mounted lights without worrying about overloading the nails or Command strip weight limit.

Faux brick paneling, like SMOOSTIKC Faux Brick Wall Panels, is another great choice. Brick instantly creates a cozy coffeehouse vibe, and by using panels, it's easier than ever. Make sure to check that the panels are renter-friendly; we stumbled across some where reviewers noted that the adhesive is strong (a.k.a., possibly unremovable).

If you love a classic cozy look, a board and batten accent wall may be more your style. For a renter-friendly wall paneling hack that looks like the real deal, smooth peel-and-stick wallpaper over your accent wall. Then, attach furring strip boards to the wallpaper with Command strips (we like Command 20 lb X-Large Picture Hanging Strips for easy removal on moving day). Use caulk to close the gaps between the furring strip boards and wallpaper for a clean look. For an even easier option, install a beadboard panel, like EUCATILE Beadboard White True Panel from The Home Depot, and top with a painted furring strip board for a clean look.