Alternatives to wallpaper: add character with wall decals

Want character without covering the whole wall? Wall decals can create a flowing arrangement, a painterly focal point or a repeating pattern while keeping your paint visible. These different designs show how much the shape and placement can change a room.

Three flying tūī decals arranged across a painted wall

Let separate birds move through the space

A group of birds gives you an open alternative to continuous wallpaper. The painted wall remains the background, and the gaps between the birds help shape the arrangement.

Tui in flight includes three birds. Plan their positions around furniture and check the listed dimensions before applying them.

Fantails among yellow kōwhai flowers in an Artistic Series room view

Bring an original painting onto the wall

The Fantails in Kowhai design began as an acrylic painting in our Hawke’s Bay studio, as part of the NZ Artistic Series. Its birds and flowering branches create a feature without a rectangular background.

Look at the whole composition before choosing a size. A connected artwork has fixed proportions, so check both its width and height.

Fantail and flax artwork displayed on a painted wall

Choose a shape that suits the furniture

Fantail & Flax offers another painterly direction, with native foliage and a different silhouette. Compare the design’s shape with the usable space above or beside your furniture.

Keeping some clear wall around a feature can let the existing paint, furniture and artwork work together. You do not need to fill every edge.

Separate coloured polka dot decals forming a repeating wall pattern

Build a repeat with your own spacing

Polka Dots Wall Decals create pattern from individual pieces. A sparse arrangement and a dense repeat have different effects and need different quantities.

If you prefer continuous coverage, consider wallpaper or a full-wall mural instead. A mural dot offers a circular focal point. Choose the amount of coverage first, then check the specific material and installation method.

DIY-friendly, one step at a time

Watch Shayla install a detailed wall decal using application tape. Position the design, apply it carefully, then remove the application tape last to reveal the artwork.

Follow the instructions supplied with your product; fabric designs use a different method. For a large or intricate decal, an extra pair of hands can help.

Watch on Vimeo · All installation guides

Common questions about wallpaper alternatives

How are decals different from peel-and-stick wallpaper?

Individual decals usually leave painted wall visible around the design; wallpaper covers a continuous area. Both can be self-adhesive. Self-adhesive products do not need separate paste, so this is not a benefit unique to decals. Traditional pasted wallpaper uses a different installation process.

Can decals be removed and reused?

Most vinyl decals are intended for a single application. Some woven-fabric decals and dots can be reused, subject to their care instructions and the surface. Check the specific product rather than assuming all removable graphics behave the same way.

Could removal need paint touch-ups?

Yes. Paint condition, preparation, adhesive and removal technique all matter. Follow the product instructions and ask about your surface before ordering.

Can I use decals in a rental?

Check with the property owner first. Permission and suitable paint still matter, even when a product is described as removable.

Explore more alternatives to wallpaper

Kiwiana Wall Decals

Bring native birds and familiar New Zealand designs into your space.

Explore kiwiana wall decals

Wall Murals

Create a whole-wall feature with a made-to-measure mural.

Explore wall murals

Mural Dots

Choose a circular focal point with clear wall around it.

Explore mural dots

Wooden Wall Art

Add dimension with New Zealand-made wooden designs.

Explore wooden wall art

Art Prints

Explore artwork for a framed focal point.

Explore art prints

Acoustic Wall Art

Explore decorative acoustic designs for your interior.

Explore acoustic wall art

Start with your wall and the look you want

Use our size guide to plan the arrangement, then read the installation guidance for your chosen product. For a workplace or a different finish, send us your project details.

How can I create a feature wall without wallpapering the whole wall?

You can create a feature wall while keeping much of the original paint visible. Use a cut-out decal for an open outline, a Mural Dot for a contained circular scene, or one substantial artwork. The starting decision is how much of the wall you want the image to occupy—not whether every centimetre needs covering.

A simple way to decide

Choose the wall section and measure it.

Decide whether you want an open outline, a contained image or full-wall coverage.

Test the proposed outline using our wall-art size guide.

Confirm the specific material, wall finish and installation guides before ordering.

These formats do not all have the same installation, removal or reuse characteristics. Choose by the desired look first, then check that the particular product is suitable for your wall and the way you use the room.

An Enter the Forest circular mural above a timber bench, with plain wall visible around the circle. — Enter the Forest Mural Dot product styling image: a contained scene rather than edge-to-edge wall coverage. .

Enter the Forest Mural shown across a wall behind a console table. — The same Enter the Forest scene as a full mural. Compare its edge-to-edge effect with the contained circle and framed print; this is an alternative, not a requirement to cover the whole wall. .

Enter the Forest Art Print shown in an oak-coloured timber frame with a white border. — The same Enter the Forest scene as a framed art print. Comparing one design across formats helps separate the artwork choice from the wall-coverage decision. .