What is the best way to create an ivy border over the top of my apartment walls?

Question

Next month I'm excited about moving into my new apartment, and I have several unique ideas in mind to help give this place my own sense of style and flair. The apartment manager says it's perfectly fine to paint walls and make needle-sized nail holes in the walls, as long as it's all repainted and holes are filled in before checking out.

I want to put some fake ivy up on my wall to wreath the upper edge of my walls in the main living room. Additionally, I was thinking of hiding some white christmas lights behind the ivy to give the room a soft glow.

Has anyone ever done something like this before? What do I need to know to make this type of project work? Can you think of any other design elements for the room that might make this room theme look extra super, and yet livable?

Any comments and feedback are welcome.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I would suggest using little cup hooks to hang the ivy and lights from, you could also spray paint the hooks to blend in with the ivy as the hooks usually come in a gold tone.

I would also suggest using the ivy in a few other places in the room to unify the theme.

Answer 2

You may want to try a company called The Simple Stencil they have wall transfers that are easy to put up and you can remove them when you move without having to repaint.

I am sure they have an ivy pattern, you may consider adding a real or fake ficus tree in the corner to string your christmas lights on, I think it may look nicer. My daughter hung the lights in her dorm room and the only time they looked nice was at night when they were on...during the day it just looked "cheezy" as a mom's opinion. If you conceal it bedhind some fake ivy or a plant or tree I think they look much nicer.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Why not use 8" 'strips' of garden trellis to start?  You have the option of painting the trellis, so you can make it stand out or have it blend in with the wall color (whatever it may be).  

In any event, if you have something you can work on at a table, it'll be easier to put together and easier to take down and change when the mood strikes.   Furthermore, you can staple gun, nail, glue, tie, etc., everything to the trellis and save the walls.



I like the idea of cup hooks that the other person posted.  You can still use them to hook the trellis pieces onto.  Just 'dry fit' all of the trellis pieces before you decorate them.  If you have a blank wall, you can even hang a FULL trellis panel from the cup hooks and decorate it accordingly.

It sounds like you have a lot of design finesse to begin with, so I'm sure your new place will look unique and welcoming, no matter.

Answer 4

do what you think is best, it's ur apartment