DIY Your Apartment
Make sure to get approval from your landlord or property manager before you make changes to your apartment.
Finding non-permanent apartment decorating ideas is key to making a rental feel homey.
Updating a rental with details like wallpaper, molding, flooring, or even paint colors may not be allowed and can result in problems when you leave the property later on. But no one wants to live in an impersonal box, so if you rent your home, you can make it your own with a few strategic design ideas.
Define Your Style
Before you start ask yourself what your aesthetic is. To help with your vision, create a vision board. This could be on websites like Pinterest or printing photos and putting them in a book or on a piece of bristol board.
Measure Your Space
You need to consider what space is available, the traffic in that area and if it would be used effectively. Take some measurements. Draw a sketch. This can act as your blueprint. Consider, do you want shelves, drawers, cabinets or other features.
Make a Statement with Furniture
You might be stuck with basic apartment finishes and materials, but that doesn't mean you can't have fabulous furniture. Fill the space with pieces you love to help make it your own. Choose a furniture piece for every room to be the focal point. For example, a stunning colourful sofa or midcentury modern coffee table.
Update an Apartment Entryway
If your apartment lacks a designated entry, try decorating with a few wall-mounted pieces. Hang hooks for stashing hats, purses, or light jackets. Choose a unit with a shelf on top for grab-and-go items like your keys and sunglasses. Hang a large mirror for last-minute touch-ups on your way out the door. And if your rental doesn't allow you to screw into the walls, pick up a few adhesive-back hooks to do the job. Use baskets below the hooks to drop bigger items like umbrellas or dog leashes when you walk in the door.
Maximize Small Kitchen Storage
Apartments are notorious for having small kitchens. Maximize vertical space to take advantage of every inch of kitchen storage. Use open shelves, place several stacks of dishes on each shelf, arranging like items together. Use the upper shelves for lesser-used items you don't need as often. Keep items organized to avoid a cluttered look that will make the space feel smaller.
Minimize Unappealing Features
Older buildings can have character, but some original elements can get in the way of your best apartment decorating ideas. Rather than cringe at something you don't like, embrace it and find a workaround. If the bathroom tile is a shade you can't stand, pick a different color to serve as the primary hue. Go retro and highlight a vintage look by adding period pieces that can play up the older style of a space.
Use Peel-and-Stick Tiles
If you want to add patterned tile to your bathroom, but your rental agreement makes it a no-go. Use peel-and-stick tiles that are easy to apply and remove. Choose a small area, such as the wall above the sink, to keep costs low. Use the design as a jumping-off point for other bath features, including towels, washcloths, and shelving.
Finish off the space with some final details like plants, personal effects, and LED lighting.
Now you’re ready to host the next party with your friends or pour yourself a drink. If you do decide to drink, make sure you’re of legal age and you drink responsibly. Cheers!
