These days, renting is becoming more and more common. After all, a rental lets you test out a new country, a new neighborhood, sidestep inflated home prices, and pack up at a moment’s notice or better yet, 60 days’ notice. However, the one thing these rentals often lack is the warm, lived-in vibe of a more permanent place. With a little clever decorating, you can easily make any rental feel like home without breaking your budget. Here are 12 clever ways to decorate on a budget and make your place yours.
Make your small space feel cozy, not cluttered
Use mirrors to make the room seem bigger
Buy used furniture.
Put up curtains
Invest in long-term items
Invest in good lighting
Use removable wallpaper or decals
Get double-duty furniture for storage
Bring in greenery
Choose artwork that speaks to you
Get reusable containers
Decorate all of your rental
Embrace Your Small Space
Some people find small spaces a challenge to decorate, however I find it easier. The key is not to cram everything you think a space deserves. Try to give each item ample space to shine. More importantly, try to get pieces that serve more than one function.
Use Mirrors to Make the Room Seem Bigger
Full-length mirrors resting on the floor help make a room feel bigger, and short mirrors attached to the wall can help a hallway feel bigger as well. Mirrors also help light bounce around the room, so if your rental is dark, angle a mirror toward the window or a light to brighten the rest of the space.
Click here to see some of the mirrors I’ve used in my rentals:
Salvage or Buy Used Furniture
Furniture can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out antique stores, Goodwill, Craigslist or other online marketplaces, flea markets, garage sales and even sidewalks on large-item trash pickup days.
Put Up Curtains
In my experience, most rentals don’t have nice window coverings. They usually have simple privacy coverings like blinds. Simple fabric curtains can help add texture, elegance, and color to the room. For my bedrooms, I usually purchase blackout curtains like these ones:
Invest in Long-Term Items
Invest in core furniture pieces – so your sofa, your bed and things you know you’re going to carry with you and spend less on the items that aren’t used as often and may not even make the move to your next place.
Update Your Lighting
Your home will feel more complete if you focus on brightening up each room. You don’t have to pay a fortune either for good quality lamps. I buy most of my lighting from Amazon and so far I haven’t been disappointed. You can easily find options in different styles for under $100 here.
Use Removable Wallpaper
I absolutely love removable wallpaper. It creates a huge impact, it’s easy to install and it’s easy to remove once you leave your rental. Fortunately, removable wallpaper and wall decals offer a temporary, damage-free solution to the white or beige walls that keep a rental looking plain. For one of my bathrooms, I bought these beautiful decals from Amazon:
Get Double-Duty Furniture for Storage
If your apartment lacks closet space, purchase furniture that both provides storage space as well as performs its standard function. Look for a coffee table with shelves underneath or hidden trunk space like this one:
Add Greenery to Your Space
Indoor plants are an ideal way to infuse color and life into a space. However, if you don’t have a green thumb, no worries. Artificial plants have come a long way and they are so easy to maintain. Here are some of the plants I have in my rentals.
Choose Artwork That Speaks to You
You don’t have to spend a fortune on artwork, however, do purchase or collect pieces that speak to you. This way, your space will feel more like home.
Get Reusable Containers
I love an organized home and even if you have a small space, you can still keep it clutter free with proper reusable containers. Proper organizational storage containers can be pricey if you’re not careful. So only buy items that have a specific purpose. Here are great storage bin ideas for your kitchen.
Finish Out the Space
I always treat my rentals like they are my home. I don’t leave any room untouched or even a space untouched. Spend the extra money or time on your rental so that you feel good in your space. After all, home is where the heart is and the heart is happier in a space that reflects your personality.
If you're looking for help in either staging your rental, your home, or your investment property, consider Nayarit Living.
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