Just because you live in a rental apartment doesn’t mean that you can’t rework it to fit your own taste – there are so many easy ways to customize it to reflect your personality. You just have to get a little creative! Here are ten great tips for making your rental living room feel like home. Your home.
1. Layer, layer, layer. This may be the cheapest tip – use what you already have to layer textures and colors, using things like throw pillows, books and other knick-knacks. [Photo: Domino]
2. Add monograms, photos and other personal items. Collect things that speak to you on a personal level and display them around the room. Monograms and initials always feel very personal, as do family photos and artwork from friends. [Photo: Apartment Therapy]
3. Add window treatments. Sure, maybe your apartment came with mini-blinds that function perfectly well… but don’t be tempted to stop there! Curtains frame windows and add softness to a room, giving it that “finishing touch.” [Photo: The Everygirl]
4. Buy a few plants. Plants add a sense of life to any space, and they also cleanse the air you breathe. It would be silly not to buy a few! If you have a black thumb like me, choose easy maintenance varieties like a Pothos, Jade plants or cacti. [Photo: PopSugar]
5. Hang a piece of large artwork. Large artwork gives the sense that you feel established, and it is also a great way to detract from those “renter white” walls. Check thrift stores and yard sales for inexpensive options. [Photo: Historias De Casa]
6. Try removable wallpaper. This stuff is great for accent walls or small areas that need a bit of personality. Try mixing and matching small swatches for a unique look, as shown in the photo above. [Photo: Apartment Therapy]
7. Display mementos from your travels. Don’t hide those vacation keepsakes in a shoebox anymore… put them in your living room as a personal decorative touch. They will remind you of all the fun you had on vacation, and they’ll be a great conversation starter with guests too. [Photo: Historias De Casa]
8. Do something quirky. The next time you run across a design idea that makes you smile in a magazine or on Pinterest, give it a try in your own home. Most landlords don’t like tenants to use the fireplace, so why not do something creative with it, for example? [Photo: The Honeycomb Home]
9. Add stickers or decals to mimic wallpaper. There are so many different ways to use stickers and decals to create a unique accent wall – you might try other shapes, or different arrangements too. I just wish the living room above had a rug… which brings me to my last point…. [Photo: The Diviners]
10. Add a rug! This is such a great way to make your space feel cozy and inviting, and it’s also a great place to add some character. And rugs don’t have to be crazy expensive… try RugsUSA or online flash sale sites to snag a deal. [Photo: Idle Hands Awake]
All wonderful ideas, but I’d like to see them executed in a normal, very plain apartment that doesn’t have architectural interest like great windows, a focal-point fireplace, or high ceilings. How does it look in a basic space, which is what the vast majority of renters are working with?