I have been renting my apartment for over two years now and in that time I have made an imprint on my apartment. To be honest I am not much of a decorator and would rather much prefer a Premiere Furnished Apartments. With furnished apartments someone has done all the hard work for you, you just need to maintain it. But I appreciate it’s not everyone’s cup of tea or even something on the budget. With that here are 7 ways to decorate a rented apartment and make it more home like.
7 Ways to decorate a rented apartment
As I have mentioned, I am no decorator so all the tips I am sharing are what has worked for me. I have put imprints in my apartment to make it more lovely and homely.
1. Add some plants
Maybe I should start with a confession, I seem to kill all plants that I keep. I don’t have green thumbs so I think a cactus would be the best plant I can recommend. At the moment I have orchids which are replaced every four weeks because I seem to kill them easily. Plants bring life to every room and is actually good to keep them in your home.
2. Make a side table for magazines
We all have magazines in our homes, some are good are keeping them tidy unfortunately not me. I opted to have a side table in my living room dedicated to magazines.
3. Put up the art and pictures
To make a place feel more homely I think pictures do just the trick. I am not good with art pieces so I add ones with motivational tips, something to keep the spirits up.
4. Keep your surfaces tidy and clear of clutter
I have an open plan apartment and even small items lying around makes the place look untidy. There I try to clear the dishes, keep the counter tops clean and fold all my laundry. It’s simple actions like these that can make a huge difference to a home.
5. Paint your furniture
Unless your landlord is not strict then you have more option than just painting your furniture. For those of us who are not so fortunate, painting the furniture is the only option. If you are able to purchase already painted furniture great otherwise best to up-cycle what you already have. Depending on your apartment colour scheme colourful furniture can make a huge difference.
6. Create space
This can be a tough one especially if you’re limited on space but try to position furnishings in a way that creates space. I am someone whose always looking to maximise space in my home so any tips are welcome.
7. Less is more
This has never been truer than when I moved into my apartment. I have always admired the minimalist life but can’t quite hack it as I am a hoarder at heart. There are items that I can’t leave without but that doesn’t mean I can’t practice minimalism in other areas.
As I said I am no decorator but I have made my apartment into a little haven with the tips I have shared above. There you have it 7 ways to decorate your rented apartment.
* Collaborative
Terri Ramsey Beavers says
Your tips are much needed. After owning my home forever, I decided to downsize to a small apartment due to health issues. I can’t for the life of me figure out how to decorate it. I’ll be using your tips.
Vyjay Rao says
I love all your tips for decorating home. We have lived in apartments for a long time and these are very apt. I particularly love to have indoor plants and some antique pieces to decorate the living room.
Our Family World says
These are great suggestions for apartment dwellers! I love indoor plants. It not only adds a pop of color to the place, but it also helps to clean out the air.
valmg says
I don’t do much interior decorating. We have our furniture, and we change curtains with warm and cold weather. I like to make space my own with our photos.
Shannon Graham says
This list is on point. When I notice someone who has style, its usually comes down to the apartment decorations.
Marceline Dementori says
I guess adding a bit of decor or color would be the best way since most apartment owners do not allow you to paint the walls. I think these are awesome suggestions. Adding plants is great too.
Ali || Veggies by Candlelight says
These are really great tips, in a small apartment too much clutter can make it feel smaller! The tip to paint the furniture is good, especially because most places you can’t paint anything except something you’d be taking with you when you leave.
Lori Vachon says
I’m a big proponent of the ‘less is more’ approach. Making an apartment feel cozy can be accomplished without over-decorating. Great suggestions!
Pam says
Decorating an apartment can be hard because you can’t do anything permanent. Painting furniture is a great idea to add a pop of color.
Sarah Bailey says
These are some neat ideas on making your renting home your own, it can be hard when you are limited on things you can do.
Kim L says
I remember that I got charged for putting too many holes in the walls of one of my apartments..lol…those command hooks are the best; they don’t leave any mark
blm03 says
I need to follow a lot of these rules in my own home. I feel like I have clutter all over and I need to clear out my house!
Betty Boiron says
It’s nice when you are renting to decorate the place with your own style so that you feel like you are at home. I think adding a plant is a great idea to brighten the place up and keep it colorful!
Candy Kage says
Adding plants is always a great idea. Something living and green always brightens up the place.
Jeanette says
I agree with you less is more. I don’t live in apartment but I live in a very small house and when we moved in here we get rid of a lot of things. I’ve never liked the clutter look, so I like a lot of the tipsy put here because it helps keep it looking clean.
Franc Ramon says
Less is more really would give you a lot more space and more focus on your designs. Plant and artworks can really liven up the room.
Alli Smith says
I totally agree that less is more! I have a green thumb when it comes to gardening but not with some indoor plants. My orchids bit the dust while I was on vacation.
Robin Rue says
My husband owns a rental home (with 3 apartments) and his tenants are not allowed to put up art. Well, they are not allowed to put nails in the walls….