A Renter's Best Friend

Chic, not cheesy: Design-forward decals banish beige walls and there's nothingFathead about it

Scroll damask vinyl wall decal by Birdie Graphics, $44 on Etsy[https://www.etsy.com/listing/81147873/scroll-damask-18-graphics-10026-vinyl?ref=cat3_gallery_3]
"Breakthrough" by Surface Collective[https://www.surfacecollective.com/wall-decal-detail/breakthrough/202/37/], ~$145
Imaginary Castle by Patrick Hruby for Blik[https://www.whatisblik.com/shop/explore/imaginary-castle], $110
All You Need Is Love by Harmonie-interieure[https://www.harmonie-interieure.com/home.htm], from ~$122
Elephant wallpaper silhouette by Romp[https://rompstore.com/productDetail.php?productId=74&categoryId=126&productItemId=96&optionId=199],$110.

Not so long ago, making a rented space your own meant risking the wrath of the landlord with a coat of paint (messy), covering up walls with framed art (expensive) or learning to love that boring shade of beige all around you.

That was until Blik invented the removable wall graphic in 2003, earning an I.D. Design Award and a spot at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Triennial in the process.

With colorful stick-on designs that are like cake to install and remove, the wall decal movement exploded, and as a result now renters and designers with a short attention span can find everything from butterflies to bible verses vying for wall space.

But just because decals are cheap and easy doesn't mean they have to be cheesy. Designers are making decals that are closer to frameless art, eschewing the everyday in lieu of bold graphics, artist collaborations and on-trend irreverence.

Blik was the first innovator, and the company still has the best collection of decals, from minimalist tiles to video game themes to trompe l'oiel furniture. Blik also specializes in collaborations with the likes of the estate of Keith Haring, Charles and Ray Eames, Ilan Dei and the Savannah College of Art & Design. Some of their stickers can even be removed and re-used.

Just because decals are cheap and easy doesn't mean they have to be cheesy.

Looking to match a modern Scandinavian aesthetic (*cough*IKEA*cough*)? Danish design firm Ferm Living makes minimalist designs that stretch from serene nature patterns to whimsical sketches of suitcases and power lines.

For something a little bolder, Barcelona's Mira y Tu Interiors creates decals with attention-grabbing designs with inspiration from origami, geometric patterns, nature and sketch-style drawings. Best of all each decal comes in 30 customizable colors, if the pattern has more than more than one color, users can select both in the combination, plus you can select the wall color to make sure the final product matches your artistic vision.

Design geeks drool over wall images from Canada's Surface Collective. There are the popular cherry blossom and damask patterns in addition to anime and gothic-inspired styles, but other typical images are updates in interesting ways, like clouds reflected in a window-like pattern and a map of the world drawn with gem-like geometric lines.

For a dose of color that's whimsical, energetic and just a bit retro, France's Domestic has wall stickers in simple patterns ranging from fruit to ladybugs to hearts — we think Robert Indiana would approve.

If you prefer to make a more literal statement on your walls, Harmonie-intérieure offers words to welcome and inspire with design-forward typography, Romp takes youthful art to the next level by mixing wild animal shapes with vintage wallpaper prints — no kids required — and Winkplay straddles the line between decor and art with oversize prints of Audrey Hepburn and the Brooklyn skyline.

Looking for something completely one-of-a-kind? Plenty of artists and designers have taken their wares to Etsy and can offer unique or customized patterns. With wall decals for every style and budget, the blight of beige walls could finally be coming to an end.

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Calling All Makers

DIY paradise VEVOR opens first global flagship store in Houston

Courtesy of VEVOR

YouTube star ChrisFix cut the ribbon at the VEVOR grand opening.

Houstonians love a good project. From backyard makeovers to “weekend warrior” style mini-renos, local hardware stores are perpetually filled with bright-eyed do-it-yourselfers looking to get their hands a little dirty. Not exactly sure where to begin? Enter VEVOR. The popular online hub for tools and equipment has opened its first-ever global flagship store right here in Houston.

Known for tools, appliances, and nearly anything one could imagine, VEVOR promises professional-level performance without professional-level prices. The brick-and-mortar marketplace will offer workshops, seasonal events, skill-building programs, and weekend demonstrations to help even the most sheepish DIY enthusiasts get their projects off the ground.

Founded in 2007 as an eBay seller, VEVOR began selling on Amazon in 2013 and launched vevor.com in 2020. The brand unveiled its refreshed identity in 2025. Today, VEVOR operates in over 50 countries, with a network of more than 200 global warehouses and a catalog of over 15,000 products spanning tools, outdoor equipment, and home improvement solutions. Customers can order items on the VEVOR website and have them shipped to the store.

The nearly 32,000-square-foot store is situated on the outskirts of the Beltway, between Cypress and Jersey Village. VEVOR took over the former Big Lots space in Jones Plaza (10951 FM 1960 Rd W) and is set up in a similar fashion. To say that there is a little of everything is a gross understatement.

Tools range from 12-volt drills to jackhammers. Commercial-grade kitchen equipment sells alongside stainless cabinet and drawer inserts for outdoor kitchens. Find large appliances, pizza ovens, hotdog rollers, vent hoods — and don’t miss the margarita and slushy machines. The store event has a pet department that offers grooming tables, litter box cabinets, and other accoutrements.

A variety of vinyl press machines line the shelves, and even hat blanks can be purchased ten to a box. Traveling makeup artists can find rolling trunks with built-in tables. There are lots of tools available for what VEVOR refers to as the “home creator.”

“I believe once our shoppers come through the front door, they’ll find something they need to buy,” general manager Jalal Aburas tells CultureMap. “We have every type of tool. They will not leave here empty-handed — I assure you.”

VEVOR truly caters to everyone. Whether it be a chef, builder, gardener, craftsman, artist, furniture refinisher, or mechanic, they have the tools. The quality and diversity of their tool range has even garnered praise and endorsement by ChrisFix, the world’s premier automotive YouTuber. Hundreds of his over 11 million subscribers showed up to the store’s grand opening for a meet-and-greet and to watch as he helped cut the ribbon.

"As someone who has been helping the DIY automotive community for years, I'm excited to see VEVOR open this store, bringing pro-level gear and high-performance tools within reach for every car enthusiast ready to take their garage to the next level," ChrisFix said in a statement.

In the US, the annual market share for home improvement stores is $5.5 billion. So, why choose Houston for the company’s first store?

“Houstonians are builders, they’re DIY enthusiasts,” explains Aburas. “They could be professional gardeners, they could be contractors — Houstonians work day and night, right? So that’s the number one reason our vision was on the Texas market, and particularly in Houston.”

Aburas explains that the “secret sauce” to their high quality products being available at easily-accessible prices is that VEVOR owns its supply chains. Without a middle man, its tools and products are 30-40 percent less expensive than its big name competitors, while quality can a lot of times exceed that of more commonly known names.

“We cater to every class of clientele that we offer to, and there is no competition that will offer all we carry,” explains Aburas. “Our actual brand is going to be a hit from the brick-and-mortar perspective, because we own our own supply chains — we have nothing to worry about.”

openings home-design shopping vevor