If you have ever lived in a rental, you will know that the first couple of weeks can be emotional torture- forgetting that you no longer have the option to “get out of bed on the wrong side because your bed is now pushed up against your box bedroom wall” is particularly painful. Airplane sized bathrooms, a case of mildew and noisy neighbours will probably remain unfixable, but that doesn’t mean that some things can’t change. Here are a couple of easy ways to make your rented space look and feel like a happy place ( or your parent’s house if you are ever feeling a bit homesick)
Cover it up!
Not many people have this opportunity, so if you find yourself receiving approval from your landlord to paint your new place, by all means, take it! This will help get rid of cigarette stains or fingerprints and will instantly trick you into thinking the place actually belongs to you. Make a project out of it, and in no time, your spirits will be lifted. Choose your colours wisely- blue, like these walls, will work to calm you down after a stressful day at the office.
Pretty it up!
At last, a genius idea! If you can’t lay wallpaper for your life ( even if your landlord has given you permission to do so) here’s a pretty cool trick to switching up the feature walls in your apartment. Mural Your Way offers a range of no- glue wallpaper solutions that stay and come off when they need too. They have a wide range of choice from bold geometric lines to soft paisley prints, so this is definitely the way to go. What a way to get your deposit back!
Make the most of what you’ve got!
If your apartment has less charm and space than you had first hoped, your best bet is to work with what you’ve got. For example, the people behind House Tweaking transformed their top dresser into an impromptu desk by turning the top drawer into a computer keyboard pull-out. This “dresker” means spending less money extra storage and saving space.
When in doubt- add a rug!
Rugs can be pretty expensive, but a good quality rug will travel with you from apartment to apartment, if you take good care of it. If your rug is too small for the living room, put it in your box room and it becomes a floor covering. Get quirky and pick something unique like this one!
Add your own personal touch!
Nothing speaks personal touch louder than a painting! Your piece will be one of a kind, and like your big investment rug, can go with you when you move. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece- give your apartment some attitude and make a messy splash styled canvas like this one by Emily May; the end product was actually a failed painting!
Accessorise, accessorise…and accessorise some more!
This trick works best if you have a pretty blank canvas to work with- e.g. white on everything. Don’t be afraid to pick out bright colours- to save money, you can always paint objects with spray or acrylic paint. Consider purchasing cushions, throws, candles, ornaments, rugs, lamps and trinkets! Have a look at local thrift/ charity stores for pieces if you want to spend more money!
Switch out anything that can be removed
Dresser knobs, hangings, wall paintings, plants, rugs, placemats… the list goes on. Take pictures of the apartment before you make any changes ( and so you know where everything goes) and go crazy. As a starting idea, making a lampshade for your bedroom is easy enough to organise. Fashion blogger Fanny Staaf made this paper rose lampshade by rolling strips of paper and hot glueing them to a lamp-simple!
Bring along your memories
Finally, to finish off your hard work, display your favourite moments on your walls, either in frames, or simply as printed Polaroids. If you can’t put nails in the wall, invest in some white tac or Command strips- this guarantees easy and damage-free removal when it’s (finally) time to pack up and move on!