If you live in a rental property, decorating it is a challenge. Your landlord has a page full of “dos and don’ts” and most of the items are “don’ts”. Oftentimes the rooms in your rental unit are all painted white and small. The hardware and light fixtures throughout the home are almost always cheap and outdated. You want to add your own personality to the home, making it a place that’s inviting to your guests. At the same time you don’t want to get in trouble with your landlord.
When you first move in, the apartment is nothing but white walls. Don’t be intimidated–white walls allow you the opportunity to add lots of color. I’ve put together a list of decorating tips to help you make your apartment stand out in both style and color. Before you start any decorating project in your rental space, start by choosing a versatile color palette for setting the tone of your room. In the space below, the cream color in the drapes softens the vibrant color in the furnishings.
Add color to your walls without repainting them
These days you can buy “renter’s wallpaper”. This wallpaper is self-adhesive, so there’s no glue involved. Just peel and stick–how simple is that? It’s available in a range of colors, patterns and textures. Do an online search or visit your local home and garden store, like Home Depot or Sherwin Williams.
If your landlord lets you paint, create a feature wall by adding a decorative stencil design on top of the original paint. You’ll create a one-of-a-kind wall just be adding another level of texture and color. A designer’s tip: before painting your design, ask the landlord for the brand name and color of the base paint.
For a really creative and unique idea, use wall decals. They’re similar to apply as the renter’s wallpaper, peel the backing paper and attach to the wall. Decals are fun and colorful, and they come in many shapes and sizes.
Provide plentiful lighting
Good lighting is a must in any home more so in an apartment where natural light can be an issue. Invest in table lamps and floors and place them around the apartment where you might have a dark corner, such as bedside and end tables and hallways. Just plug it in and you’re set, no electrician needed.
Dress your windows
Window accessories can add color to a small space. Complement your furniture with color-matching drapes or roman shades. To give the room height, mount the drapes or shades high above the window frame.
Display framed prints or family pictures on floating shelves. Hang several shelves and stagger their heights going upwards. By doing this, your eyes will move vertically as they scan the shelves, making it seem as though the room is taller.
Mount your television on the wall and surround it with a series of floating shelves. Use a console table to hide your set-top box, DVD player, and other entertainment devices. It can also be used for storage.
Decorate your flooring with rugs
Chances are that your floors have wall-to-wall carpet in basic cream or, if you’re lucky, they’re hardwood. Layer them with rugs or with runners (either patterned or of one color). It’s a great way to ground the space as well as provide texture to the room.
Use furniture with legs
Here’s another design trick to give your space the illusion of height and spaciousness: elevate your furniture off the floor. If you want your space to look taller, use furniture that shows some leg! The pieces will look as if they’re floating above the floor.
Painted furniture is inexpensive, and it can provide lots of color to a rental.
Get some patterned fabrics
Neutral colored walls make a wonderful background for patterned accessories in a room. Limit your number of colors and textures, because having too many can make the room look busy. In home decorations, a little goes a long way! In the space below, the sofa is combined with paisley cushions, ikat chevron-patterned chairs, and a textured rug. This combination works really well with the gray walls and makes enough of a statement to keep the space visually appealing.
Mount mirrors and artwork
It’s no secret that mirrors makes a room feel larger. In a smaller space, let it reflect something interesting (e.g. a beautiful work of art or a window) instead of just a blank wall. In this space, two mirrors are leaned against the wall, creating depth.
You can also use a large mirror to reflect a cluster of small objects of interest.
Artwork creates a focal point in the room, particularly when it’s large in scale. Make a dramatic statement by going big and colorful. Don’t overwhelm the space by adding a lot of smaller pieces of art that would clash with your statement piece. Instead, hang one or two neutral paintings that enhance it.
Include storage containers
Lack of storage space is a well-known problem in apartments. Invest in a few hampers that can double as storage for your linens, your seasonal clothes and decor items. Mount baskets on your walls and label them for small items. It’s easy to do and they can be hung in your front hallway or throughout the apartment.
These are just a few of the ways in which you can make a rental apartment inviting, colorful and stylish. Don’t be deterred, it can be fun to decorate a small place!
Simone