Everyone wants a place to live that feels warm and welcoming. Even if you travel often or have a short-term lease, you can still make your apartment feel like home with these decorating tips.
Change Out the Cabinet Knobs
Image via Flickr by emily @ go haus go
As a renter, you don’t have any choice in the type of cabinets in your apartment. However, you can still add some personalized style by changing out the knobs on your cabinets. If you have a screwdriver and a few hours, this do-it-yourself task can make a big change in any room.
Use Removable Wallpaper
Just because you’re not allowed to paint the walls in your apartment that doesn’t mean you have to live with boring, white walls. If you want to liven up your walls without a permanent change, consider removable wallpaper. All you have to do to install it is peel off the backing and stick it on your wall. Best of all, when it’s time to move, it comes off easy with no damage to the walls, and you can reuse it again in your new place.
Hang Up Some Curtains
If you have a very strict landlord who won’t let you paint or hang artwork, you can still add some color to your walls by simply hanging a set of curtains over your windows. Curtains are also a great way to bring warmth to a room. Then when you’re ready to move, simply take them down and pack them for your next place.
Dress Up Your Floor with a Rug
If you’re not one of those lucky renters who have hardwood floors throughout your apartment, you can still enjoy beautiful flooring by purchasing an area rug. If you’re buying a rug for the bedroom, you want one that provides at least 3 feet on each side of the bed. In the living room, it’s all about the look you want. For a more formal look, buy a rug that’s large enough for all your furniture to fit on. If you’re going for a casual look, have your furniture half on and half off the rug.
Create Mood Lighting
Dull and drab lighting can create a less than cheerful space inside your apartment. If you can’t change your light fixtures, add some soft lighting by using Christmas lights. These small lights add just the right amount of bright light to perk up any room. Layer a few strands to warm up an unused fireplace. Or, stick a few branches in an urn and place it in a corner to banish shadows.
If you have a porch that you’d like to use after the sun goes down, you can get some strings of lights from Christmas Lights Etc and drape them across the underside of the roof. This canopy of lights creates the perfect outdoor mood lighting for parties.
Just because you’re always on the move, you don’t have to settle for a bland apartment. These decorating tips can make any space feel like home when you’re there.
