Decorating a space while tied down by a lease or renters’ agreement can be challenging. You don’t want to pay a fine for damaging the wall with nails or paint, but you don’t want these boring, beige walls for the next 12 months! I feel you, friend.
I wouldn’t quite consider myself a homebody, but my living space is very important to me. I want pretty things in my surroundings! It’s also important for me to have a cozy, comfortable home base to come back to. I was the person freshman year that needed to get totally settled in to my dorm room before venturing out to meet people – that home base was key!
Why should you care?
Renting is already money you’ll never see again. You might as well get as much of your deposit back as possible or avoid paying for damages from hanging things on your walls.
On the other (less practical) hand, your home should be a place you love! Personality, color and textures, and function are all important interior design aspects that can apply to the apartment or house you’re renting even without lease-prohibited things like paint and screws in the wall. You can add your style to your space without damaging it!
Decorating without permanent fixtures also gives you flexibility. You can change artwork or pillows out for different seasons or holidays or just when you’re bored! That’s much easier than painting or wallpapering or buying a new couch. So even if you own your home, these you could use these tips to gain some flexibility in your decor!
I’m here to share a few tricks I’ve learned over the years to decorate a rented apartment or home. Let’s do this!
Five Tips for Decorating as a Renter
Command strips are your best friends
Command strips and hooks are my #1 tip for decorating without ruining your walls. I’ve used dozens and dozens over the years. I use them to hang everything – frames, wall art, hooks (for more wall art or coats or to organize), anything. Be sure to check the weight-rating if you’re using them for something heavy to make sure you’re using enough strips. And follow the instructions so they actually work for that weight! To remove them, you just pull the tab parallel to the wall and they gently lift themselves without chipping paint. MAGIC.
Prop up mirrors and frame instead of hanging
Another option is to prop things against the wall instead of hanging them. I did this with a canvas above my dresser, a starburst mirror in our dining area, and a framed mirror over the fireplace. Easy!
Add color with accesories
Bring some color and dimension to the space with curtains, pillows, towels or a shower curtain, and rugs! The neutral colors of the floors and walls will fade away, showcasing your fun accents. BTW, this little shelf I put above the toilet is hanging on Command strips!
Make your furniture interesting
I chose a navy blue couch for my apartment in Kansas City. I also added some color and interest by re-covering my chairs with pink and white patterned fabric. I have a silvery mirror buffet piece that can easily be the focal point of a room. Like you saw in my post about organizing jewelry, I now have a fun wooden console in my bedroom. Your furniture won’t damage your space, but can be so influential!
Use removable wallpaper for an accent wall
I had two apartments in color with crazy colored accent walls (school bus yellow and grape purple), but I still believe they can be great! There are lots of different options available for removable wallpaper out on the market today. Make a wall pop without paying for damages on your rental!
There you have it – my five tips for decorating as a renter. I hope these help you create a home that’s uniquely you (without needing to pay your landlord a fine when moving out)! Happy decorating!
How have YOU decorated a rented home?
I’d love to hear your tricks and ideas! Comment below or shoot me an email on my Contact page!
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