If you’ve ever rented, you’ll empathize with me in attempting to decorate a condo, apartment, dorm, or house that you may only inhabit for a certain period of time. Should you invest in making elaborate changes to a property that you’ll eventually move out of? Paint is a great example of a fixer upper, but do you truly want to make the commitment to someday returning the walls to their eggshell glory? Probably explains why I’ve never painted one of my dwellings. It might have something to do with the fact that I frequently miss my mouth while trying to feed myself, so just imagine what may happen to an unsuspecting wall.
Perhaps it makes more sense to purchase less expensive items or craft DIY decorations to make the best of your current space’s features. Even if you’re sewing-challenged or aren’t the sharpest in wielding a paintbrush, you can do it! Read on and be inspired!
Flooring
Does your rental have flooring that resembles a 17th century dungeon? This might only apply if you’re living in a dorm that’s as old as time like I once did, but in any case, quality flooring can make a world of difference in perking up your space’s design. If you can’t convince your landlord to invest in tearing out the floors to appease you and future renters, there are other options to consider. Rejoice!
In case your car’s a Fiat or a Mini Cooper, bring a friend with a truck along to a home goods store in pursuit of a decent-sized area rug to cover the not-so-ideal flooring in, perhaps, your kitchen. Now, I don’t want to get all design diva on you, but a good area rug can really bring any room together by adding an unexpected splash of color against monotone colors. In my case, a rug added a small bit of flair that transformed my bedroom from drab to fab. A few years ago, I got my hands on an inexpensive faux-fur rug from Ikea that I’ve used to draw a glamorous edge throughout the warmer months, and embrace an alpine effect during the cooler ones. With its ivory color, I’ve used it in my last five apartments in contrast to color schemes that range from burnt orange, to brown, and even black with grey.
Never fear, there are more possibilities. A snazzy brand called Flor makes interlocking carpeted tiles that are versatile enough to go in nearly any room in your place. Piece together a graphic pattern, textural effect, stripes, or a solid color – BAM! – you’ve got yourself a gorgeously adorned floor that’s easy to remove and later reapply at your next home.
Removable Décor
I truly hope this doesn’t knock my credibility down a notch, but just a short year ago I, lived in an apartment with a few of my teammates that had a living room straight out of a 14-year-old, boy-crazy girl’s dreams. Yes, it was adorned with removable, life-size stickers of The Twilight Saga’s Edward Cullen and Jacob Black, as well as a giant 5-foot tall poster of Justin Bieber.
Say what you will, but this particularly easy type of decorating can come in handy to a money savvy renter. At Bed, Bath, & Beyond and other home goods retailers, I always find a great selection of contemporary decals and stylish 3D wall designs to spruce up a lonely corner partition, space above a dresser, or powder room.
How about a Fathead? Decorate your rental’s man roost from floor to ceiling in the oh-so-glorious Tim Tebow if you want. In the kitchen, stick on a specially designed dry erase decal to write down your grocery list or the kids’ chores. For the living room, there are stick-on art replicas, complete with the frame! My dear friends, the opportunities are so endless.
What about those dull tiles or backsplash covering prominent eye-level areas in your kitchen? While real ink isn’t the best for commitment-phobes, get your hands on some “tile tattoos” to bring gourmet to your galley. Once you’re off to your next place, just remove them! It seems much less painful than facing the needle after getting a tattoo that has gone horribly wrong.
As far as reflective surfaces go, I suggest looking for a framed mirror that’s around five- to six-feet tall and around 2-feet wide. It looks very chic and modern leaned up against a wall in a vertical fashion, while placing it horizontally on a buffet-style table can bring extra light to an entryway or dining room.
Fabrics
I often wander through the fabric section at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, or JoAnn’s in sheer amazement that some artsy sewing wizard out there will turn an ordinary looking sheet of cloth into a masterpiece. Hey, if they can get inventive with fabric, so can you and I. Ever thought of using a boldly colored bolt of fabric as a wall covering? An elegantly patterned or boldly colored piece of textile can be easily attached to a wall (via starch, tacks, or other adhesives).
Fabric, being as versatile as it is, has plenty of other uses too. If a bare mattress and box-springs stacked in the corner of your apartment’s bedroom screams “frat house couture,” grab a piece of wood from the hardware store that’s ideal to let sit on the floor against a wall and rise above the edge of your bed. Simply use a staple gun to enclose the selected fabric over the wood, secure between the wall and mattress, and voila! You’ve got yourself a snazzy headboard! To take an easier route, shop inflatable headboards online. For around $100, you can add an effortlessly classy touch that will leave your houseguests thinking you spent thousands on a fancy bed! FIERCE!
You can always turn to fabric to cover a dingy sofa, ottoman, or a chair’s upholstery. Sound like too much work? Grab some slip-covers for pillows to change the mood of a room as often as you please. They’ve got a superb selection of these at my home goods mecca, Ikea!
To my friends living in college dorms: get your hands on some fabric, ASAP! Just think how much better your dorm room would look if those icky cinder blocks were masked! Depending on the floor plan of your campus habitat, fabric can make an excellent partition to section off certain areas of the room. In my freshman year dorm at Michigan State University, my roommate and I used a spring-loaded rod to hang fabric between our “foyer” and “living room/bedroom.” Save a few laundry quarters and invest in this budget décor idea!
Shelving
Shelving is genius, but I fear a grizzly landlord might bear their claws if you leave a scatterplot of holes in a wall upon your departure. There are plenty of standing storage pieces that don’t require putting a single nail in a wall! Yippee! Try a tall wire rack in lieu of a pantry, insert pre-made wardrobes into an empty walk in closet, or place two to three of the same bookshelves together against a wall to create a “library” in your living room.
After I feared my closet was going to burst open and explode with clothes like a volcano, I visited my favorite time and money waster (the one and only Tar-jay) for a solution. Behold: an easy-to-assemble 8-opening cube that brought all my purses and some of my high-heeled shoes out of a frustrating mess in the closet. Not only did it make more room for new additions to my closet (which I need like a hole in the head), but it also made a darling display of my jazziest pumps and gave my handbags the proper organization they deserve. This cube would look awesome in a living room (cool display for books and knick knacks), kitchen (showcase cookbooks and bottles of wine), kids room (add a fabric drawer in the cube and it’s a great place to hide the clutter of toys), or bathroom (neatly stack towels and use pretty jars to hold makeup brushes). I have a larger, 9-opening cube that my TV sits on top of in my bedroom. In the cubes underneath, I keep fabric boxes filled with my DVD collection and old photographs.
Further Suggestions
- Add a paneled divider screen to a studio apartment. Create the illusion of two separate rooms in one! It’s the perfect place to set up a cozy reading nook, dressing area, or private office that’s tucked away from the rest of the room.
- Invest in a bold statement piece to tie a room together. Whether it’s a brightly colored ottoman, fancy vase, giant clock, or fabulous lamp, it can add that special touch of luxury to your space.
- Looking for more storage ideas? Pick up a vintage-looking trunk that’s big enough to store extra blankets, out-of-season clothing, or old memorabilia. I’d also suggest a specifically-designed plastic box that can corral less-accessed items, but easily slides out from under your bed when you need something.
- When space is an issue in your living room or bedroom, eliminate the need for a lamp on an end table by utilizing a floor lamp with an adjustable arm.
- Do you struggle containing your wardrobe inside a tiny closet? Place outwardly facing over-the-door hooks on your closet and bedroom doors to create additional space. These are ideal for hanging items like bulky coats, long dresses, or scarves.
Now that your landlord won’t be nagging you to patch the holes you left in the ceiling or begging you to cover up that peacock blue paint in your bathroom, you’re free to decorate away! These concepts should certainly give you a bit of motivation to spice up your rental property, right? For even more rental-enhancing inspiration, browse through the Home Décor category on Pinterest to see other users’ color scheme, furniture, and space-maximizing ideas! Happy decorating!
Stephanie Koske is a writer for Quicken Loans, a company whose clients believe it’s Engineered to Amaze. Interested in being Amazed by us? Read trusted reviews at our review site.
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