If you lived in your very own home, you’d likely paint the walls and replace the kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, these aren’t likely to be things you can do in your apartment. Not only is it a waste of money to invest in a piece of property you don’t own, you will also end up getting into plenty of trouble with your landlord!
Even if there are things you can’t do, there are plenty of things you can do to personalize your space. Banish those boring walls and breathe life into your kitchen with these tips that are perfect for renters.
Dress the Windows
Most apartments come with some kind of window treatment. Usually, it’s white mini blinds. Although these window treatments are functional, they won’t do anything to make your space feel like home.
Instead, replace those window treatments with blinds of your own. Create an earthy space with wood blinds, have a little fun with colored aluminum blinds, or hang curtains.
Just make sure you hang on to the original window treatments. That way, you can rehang them when you’re ready to move out.
Change the Light Fixtures
The light fixtures in apartments are usually pretty ugly. Landlords often purchase affordable fixtures in bulk that are used in every unit. Replacing them can have a huge impact on your space.
A chandelier in the dining room or kitchen is the best way to add some impact with light fixtures in your apartment, but don’t hesitate to replace sconces in the hallway and lighting in the bathroom.
Just make sure you don’t make any serious modifications. For example, it’s not a good idea to install a ceiling fan where there was once just a simple flush mount.
Just like with the window blinds, you should hang onto those old light fixtures so you can take the ones you purchased with you when it’s time to move.
Put up Removable Wallpaper
Although some landlords may allow you to paint the walls, they will likely ask you to repaint them white when you move out. Other landlords won’t allow you to paint at all. That doesn’t mean you can’t do something to personalize your space!
Removable wallpaper is a great way to dress up a space, and you can do a lot more with it than you think! Some ideas for using removable wallpaper in an apartment include:
- Using wallpaper tiles to update the kitchen backsplash
- Updating the bathroom cabinets by covering them with removable wallpaper
- Cutting strips to dress up the stairs in an apartment with two floors
- Creating a removable wallpaper headboard behind the bed
- Using removable wallpaper to line closet shelves
You can also consider placing removable wallpaper on furniture. Use it on dresser drawers and cheap storage cubes to elevate a space without spending a fortune on furniture.
Hang Plenty of Stuff on the Walls
The walls have the biggest impact on the way a space feels, and the white paint in most apartments can make a space feel cold. Warm up your space by hanging plenty of stuff on the walls.
Paintings, pictures, and artwork are obvious choices, but don’t be afraid to get creative. Hang a rug on the wall, or hang a shelf that is adorned with decorative plates.
Just be careful how you hang that stuff on the wall. Check your lease to make sure you can put holes in the wall, and if you can, what kind of holes are acceptable. If you want to avoid putting holes in the wall altogether, use Command Strips that can be removed without damaging the paint.
Lay Down Rugs
Most apartments have carpet that you obviously can’t replace, but that doesn’t mean you have to stare at that ugly shade of brown for the next few years. It is perfectly acceptable to put a rug over your carpet to dress things up!
Consider placing a large, plush area rug in the living room, a traditional rug in the dining room, and a runner in the hallway. Not only will rugs in these areas elevate your space, they will also protect the carpet, which means you’ll be more likely to get your full deposit back when it’s time to move out.
Don’t think you’re stuck living with plain, white walls and ugly cabinets while you rent. Although you may not be able to remodel the way you want, there are still plenty of things you can do to dress up your interior space so it’s a place that feels comfortable and homey.
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