craftgrrl | Adhering fabric to the wall

I've just begun renting a house that, while otherwise cute, has the most awful paint job in the breakfast room.

What's with this chair rail?

Unfortunately, since I'm renting, I can't paint over this crap; however, I also can't stand that chair rail.

My solution will be to buy some inexpensive fabric, sew it into long strips, and adhere it to the wall over the chair rail. What do you guys think would be the best way to go about doing that without damaging the paint when I go to remove it?

I don't think I want to put so many holes in it with a staple gun, and masking tape, while gentlest on paint, tends to come off of its own accord after some time. My best idea is 3M poster tabs, but does that work for fabric? I don't imagine a paper cover would stand up for more than a month in a kitchen area.

I'd also be very appreciative of other [inexpensive] ideas for covering it up temporarily. Thanks in advance!