How to Make Walls Black Without Paint

Black walls look very dramatic.

The color of a room's walls has a powerful effect on its occupants, and few colors are more bold and dramatic than black. Black walls are ideal for a modern or Gothic-themed room. Painting the walls black is a more permanent way to decorate a room, but if you rent your home, your landlord may not appreciate your choice of color. Hanging sheets of fabric, poster board or vinyl decals allows you to color the walls black without using a drop of paint.

Things You'll Need

• Vinyl decals
• Masking tape
• Curtains, sheets or other fabric
• Tacks, nails or staple gun
• Poster board or paper sheets
• Wallpaper
• Wallpaper adhesive

Instructions

1. Apply black vinyl decals to the walls. Flatten out any air bubbles and tape the top of the decal to the wall with masking tape. Lift up the decal and peel away the paper backing. Press the decal against the wall to make it stick. To remove the decal, hold one corner and peel it off the wall.

2. Drape black curtains or sheets across the walls. Attach the fabric to the walls using tacks, nails or a staple gun.

3. Hang large squares of black poster board on the walls. Other types of paper also work, but poster board lets you cover larger areas quickly.

4. Apply black wallpaper to the walls. If you rent your home, ask your landlord for permission before wallpapering.

Tips & Warnings

• Multiple black walls create an overwhelming, unwelcoming feeling in a room. Try coloring one wall black and give the others another color, such as dark red or pale pink.

References

• iGrad: No Paint Required: Decorating Your New Pad
• Offbeat Home: How to Go Goth without Painting Your Walls Black

Resources

• Vinyl Wall Art: Instructions
• Seabrook: How to Hang Wallpaper