Living in your own space means making it look like it is YOUR space. How is that possible when you have an apartment that has specific decorating rules and guides? In this article you will find different ways to style your place without breaking the rules. Home Depot has some excellent tips on decorating for renters. Here are some highlights:
Rugs, rugs and more rugs
Hardwood can be cute, but sometimes it can look a little monotonous. Not to mention, in the winter the floors can get really cold. Luckily, rugs kill two birds with one stone by being a cute decoration and keeping your feet warm. According to Home Depot, rugs can also help to “cover unappealing flooring, conceal scuffs and more.” Rugs can be easily layered with other rugs, such as a bold, patterned rug with a muted-tone, fluffy rug. Overall, rugs are a good option to protect your floors, keep yourself warm and make your place a little more lively.
Peel and Stick
When living in a rented space, peel and stick wallpaper, backsplash and similar items will become your best friend. It won’t peel off any paint nor damage the walls. These peel and sticks can be found in all different colors and prints! All you have to do is measure out the paper, peel and stick on! Maybe you want a certain vibe in your living room or kitchen, but you can’t paint the walls. According to Home Depot, “It lets you alter the feel of your kitchen without giving up your deposit.” This is a great option to personalize your space within the restrictions of being a renter.
Frame it
When you first move into your new place, it might be a little hard to feel at home due to how bare it is. Empty walls aren’t much fun to look at and won’t make you feel very cozy in your new home. Decorate the walls! Hang posters, paintings, photos, or whatever fits your personal tastes. When hanging heavier items, command hooks and strips are a great alternative if you can’t use nails in your walls. Additionally, if you’re hanging something lightweight and don’t want to use tape on the walls, there is the option to use sticky tack or washi tape.
Wall Mounting Alternatives
There are some things that you might typically hang on a wall in a place that you own, but when renting it might not be the best idea. For example, TVs can be a hassle to wall mount and if you can’t put nails in the wall, this isn’t an option. Instead, invest in a good entertainment center. Not only will this give you a place to put your TV without hurting the walls, it’s also a great organizer and space saver, as you can put many items on the shelves.
Another example is if you want a mirror, instead of struggling to hang it on the wall, get an over the door mirror. Over the door hangers are the perfect solution to anything that you can’t nail into the wall. There are over the door towel racks, shoe organizers, spice racks and more. Before worrying that you won’t be able to hang something, search for this option!
Saving Room
Let’s face it, most rental spaces aren’t very roomy. If you’re stressed about fitting everything in your space, there are a few solutions with decorations. For instance, if you have a lot of blankets, stuffed animals, or other items, try using a corner net. This is a net that you simply attach to two corners in your room, and it acts as a hammock to store items that you don’t have any more room for. It’s a space saver and can look really cute at the same time!
The Bottom Line
It might seem frustrating at first to try to decorate a place with so many restrictions, but there are many workarounds and alternatives, such as the ones listed here. Renting doesn’t mean that you can’t make a place your own while you’re living there. Just make sure you’re following all of your property’s guidelines for what is and isn’t allowed, and get creative!
