Before recently becoming a homeowner, I have always lived in rental properties. From small, gross, old apartments to newly renovated city rowhomes to my sister’s basement, I have had my fair share of moving around from rental to rental.  Wherever I lived, I always found comfort in decorating the space to make it feel like my own- even if it truly wasn’t. 

As a renter, I often found myself feeling “stuck” when it came to decorating. I wanted to paint the walls a fun color or add wainscoting to create dimension. I always felt so guilty when I took a nail and hammer to the wall when hanging up pictures. In the back of my mind I always thought to myself, “well there goes my security check”. 

The reality is, you make a house become a home by what and who you put in it. Whether it’s a dorm room, a small apartment or a large suburbs house, you can create a home wherever you are living- rental or not. 

Over the years, I have decorated and re-decorated quite a few rentals. I have found the below are some must-have design additions. 

Rugs on Rugs on Rugs

I hate to see a living or dining room without an area rug. When I see a bare naked floor, it is cringe worthy. I think, those poor floors, get them some clothes! I should admit, I am quite the sucker for area rugs. Area rugs are an easy and great addition to all rentals. Not only do rugs bring comfort and texture to any room, it can also be a source of color and warmth. If you can’t paint the walls, add color to the floor! Not to mention, rugs will protect the floors from damage and get you that security deposit back. When purchasing your area rug, it is not only about the color and pattern you get but most importantly the SIZE! Whatever you do, do not go too small. I beg you. At the very least, it should fit under your couch with a few inches to spare on each side.

As you can tell I have a strong love relationship with area rugs. Here are some of my favorite rugs in the market right now:

Other great sources:

  • RugsUSA.com
  • Amazon
  • Rugs Direct
  • Boutique Rugs

Greenery

Every house deserves a great house plant. Whether it’s real or faux, plants are a perfect addition to any space. They had color, a sense of life and texture to the space. My advice is to go with the real plants- they are actually good for your home air! If you are afraid you can’t take care of it (like myself) there are specific plants that are low maintence and only need watered a few times a month (sometimes only once a month!) 

Some of my favorite house plants:

  • Fiddle Leaf
  • Snake Plant
  • Pothos

If you aren’t confident you can take care of a real plant (no judgement, I have the same fear!) there are many faux plants out there that can fill a space and add color to your rental. Here are a few I love:

Pillows and Blankets

Do I love pillows and blankets because I love napping? That will be left unanswered. One thing I do know for sure is: pillows and blankets are an easy and affordable way to bring color and pattern to any space.  You have my full permission to go crazy with pillows & blankets. Want to know the best part? You can easily change them up throughout the seasons and they will immediately change the feel of the room. 

Tip: Mix up solid colored pillows with pillows with pattern. Add in pillows with textured fabric! Vary the size of the pillows you are layering– I always try to use a bigger pillow in the back, a medium size in the middle & a lumber pillow in front.

Wall Art

Give those walls some lovin’! Bare walls make a room feel empty and cold. Hang pictures or art on the wall to instantly transform your space and make it feel more homey. The art or pictures you choose and the way you hang them on the wall all play into the ultimate feel and mood of the room. Will you hang a large red abstract art piece or will you hang a gallery wall full of black and white photos? 

Don’t be afraid of hanging pictures on your walls in a rental. There are easy ways around not damaging the walls. For years I was too afraid to put a nail in the wall & just taped up cheap posters with no frames. Splurge for the frame- always, and hang up your pictures with command strips. If the command strip won’t do, take the nail and hammer and create that hole! On move out day, go to Lowes and buy Drywall Repair Puddy for $11. I promise you, it is worth it and you will get your deposit back! 

Unique Color Furniture

Does your rental feel plain and ordinary? Is it lacking color and dimension? Add a pop of color to the mix by investing in a piece of furniture that is a vibrant color. Think Navy Couch or Dark Green Dresser. Often people run away from colored furniture and stick with the neutrals. Adding a pop of color through your furniture is an easy trick to pull the entire room together. 

Slide through the below Design Boards to get inspired on investing in a piece of furniture that will bring color to the space. I promise, it won’t disappoint! 

There you have it! 5 great tips to turn your rental into a home. By incorporating these 5 design tips, your rental will feel warm and cozy in no time. The best thing about it is, you won’t have to worry about re-painting the walls or re-pairing anything before move out day. 

Happy Decorating!

xoxo

Alidia