Just because you can’t dramatically change a rental doesn’t mean you have to settle for a bland, generic home. With a little time and effort, you can have an apartment that reflects your style– without angering your landlord.
Here are seven tips for personalizing your place:
Paint furniture. Not being able to paint (or, maybe more accurately, not being able to paint without having to paint again when you move) is a bummer for lots of renters. We suggest painting a dresser, a bookcase, a chair, or a table instead of your walls. This breathes new life into your furniture and gives you the opportunity to add a pop of color.
Get familiar with temporary wallpaper. If you’re still itching to spruce up your walls, go with temporary wallpaper, like Tempaper, that you just peel off to remove.
Use rugs. Don’t like your carpet? Have noisy wood floors? Rugs can solve both those problems. They’re also great for visually breaking up a space.
Pay attention to lighting. Standard overhead lights often don’t provide adequate light, and some apartments don’t even have even them. Floor and table lamps give you more control over lighting. Plus, they’re another way to incorporate your style.
Switch knobs and handles. Rental hardware tends to be pretty basic. Add some personality with new door knobs and cabinet pulls. Just make sure to hang onto the originals so you can put them back in when you move.
Rest, don’t hang. Since filling holes is no fun, we suggest hanging as few pictures and mirrors as possible. Rest them on the floor or on a shelf instead. A fireplace with a mantle, like this one at 1600 Glenarm Place in Denver, is another good place to rest artwork.
Add some greenery. Apartments often lack a garden, but a few houseplants can satisfy a green thumb. They’re also a great way to bring the outdoors in. For a list of low-maintenance houseplants, click HERE.
Got any other decorating tips for renters? We’d love your suggestions!
Images courtesy of Elise Blaha Cripe, Elle Decor, and From The Right Bank.
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