An apartment may not be your permanent residence, but it's always a good idea to make any living space your personal space. Customizing an apartment may be a little more difficult since there will be restrictions imposed by the property owner.
As annoying as those restrictions are, there is no rude intention from your landlord; they’re just securing their investment.
A few decorating attempts involve huge risks which can be even more costly than your security deposit if something goes wrong. We suggest you select your project carefully and in case of any doubts, get approval from your proprietor before you go ahead with project.
A property owner might not give you permission to paint or make holes in the walls, but, that doesn’t mean you must live in a colorless space.
You can still decorate an apartment you choose to stay in for longer by applying our safe, no-risk tips in this guide.
Let’s know how they can help. Keep reading.
Apply Temporary Wallpaper
Adding patterned and bold wallpaper to decorate your new efficiency apartment is a great, non-permanent way to enhance or brighten the walls.
You will find many types of trendy wallpapers available in the market. Here’s what you need to do to choose an outstanding one for your new apartment:
- Select an attractive pattern with a pleasing color. You can then decide to apply it on every wall, choose a single wall to apply it on, or select a small area like an office corner.
- Make sure the removable wallpaper you want to apply is suitable for the walls of your apartment.
- For example, if the walls are heavily textured or loosely plastered, there might be a risk for air pocket formation which can deform the wallpaper.
- If you don’t pay heed to risks, your design will look unprofessional as the wallpaper will look bubbly instead of smooth, stylish, and sleek.
Highlight Artwork on Flat Surfaces
Framed artwork is an excellent way to customize a house based on your unique preferences.
You should avoid hanging the artworks from nails since the use of nails will damage the walls and put your security deposit at a significant risk.
Walk through your apartment to look for places that can highlight your artwork effectively in the same way if you would have hung them up on a wall:
- As you look around the house, we advise you to use your imagination and spot tabletops, windowsills, desks, vacant countertops, and inbuilt shelves where you can display your artworks effectively.
- You can prop up a few bigger art pieces on the floor as a minimalist style statement.
- If you don’t have any feasible options, consider buying an entertainment center, bookshelf, or decorative ladder as an impromptu solution for decorating your new or old apartment and holding decorations.
Alternatively, you can use command strips instead of inserting nails on the walls of your rental apartment.
Command strips are available in assorted colors and finishes, and they can fit anywhere and hold most of your items.
You can use command strips to hang plants, photo frames, keys, and more. When it’s time for you to move out of your apartment, you can be confident that the walls won’t get damaged and that you will also get your security deposit back.
You can even use an artist’s easel as this would create a rustic look and highlight the artwork without interfering with your security deposit.
Bookcase Placement
- Bookcase decorating tips for renters are limited to some extent, because it seems obvious that the proprietor will not permit you to hang floating bookshelves.
- Inserting floating furniture will require you to drill holes in the walls, and we’ve just established that such a thing is a bad idea.
- We suggest you buy a small size bookcase where you can store your books as well as display your favorite decorative pieces like a photo frame, or candle among a few others.
Use Big and Lean Mirrors
- A mirror is another great option for decorating your apartment bedroom or living room if you prefer there without causing any damage.
- It will help you create a feeling of a bigger space and give the room a nice look. Also, you will not need any specific tools to lean a full-size mirror against the wall, meaning there is a low chance for it to leave marks which can affect your security deposit.
Tip: It would be a great idea to fit the mirror against the wall so that it is crosswise to the window. This will enable the natural light to diffuse and create a rebounding, enlightening effect on the whole room.
Buy Bright Furniture
- As previously established, the property owner will likely not allow you to paint the walls. You will find the walls are painted beige, white, or gray, which can look very dull.
- You can use colorful furniture for your apartment instead to make the place look bright and fun. Another promising idea would be to use bright-colored throw pillows or rugs to make your apartment look lively.
Choose Floor Lights
- You can buy floor lamps to decorate your apartment and add more lighting to your house.
- Your proprietor will probably not permit you to change the light switches, so floor lamps will be the ideal option for you.
Go for Stylish Curtains
- Don’t forget to put curtains on the walls if you want to feel homely in your apartment!
- You can use tension rods to place the curtains on the window if there are no curtain rod installations.
- Creating holes in the walls will spoil the look, so you should avoid that and save yourself from future hassles.
- Even if you don’t care for curtains and their decoration, it’s worth it to place them for privacy’s sake.
Buy Sophisticated Decals
- If you don’t want to conjure up pictures of children’s rooms, we suggest you make use of decals that will personalize decorating your rented apartment.
- Vinyl decals are available in assorted styles ranging from fun flowers to old-fashioned laces.
- You will need to find a design that is in alignment with the other decorations in your apartment.
Make Tape Frames
- There is no need to have heavy metal or antique wood frames.
- You can instead create an attractive gallery wall with the help of Washi tape.
- With this, you can frame your photos and special prints. Washi tape is available in diverse shades and designs with which you can decorate your apartment.
Implement Folding Screens
- You can create a new nook in your apartment by using room dividers.
- Folding screens come in assorted designs and colors; we recommend you choose a wooden screen or an attractive print.
Purchase Artificial Plants
- Leafy green, cacti, and blossoming flowers are a few stylish and affordable ways to decorate your new or old apartment.
- However, if you want to use real plants, it would be a good idea to research online or visit a nursery to seek more information.
Best Tips to Find Decor Inspiration
Before you start decorating your new apartment, determine what will be suitable for your living space:
- Search for photographs of houses or apartments that inspire you and look for elements you can apply to your apartment.
- Keep in mind that those ideas shouldn’t interfere with your security deposit.
- Use Pinterest to create a mood board in advance.
- You must know your preferences well before you decorate your living space.
Overall, you as renter need to decorate your new or old apartment in such a way that it doesn’t get damaged and allows you get your security deposit back when you move out.
Painting your rooms with bright colors and using altering techniques can make your apartment lively, but they are not the only way to do so as shown by this guide.
You should always read your lease agreement before you plan to decorate your apartment.
With this, you can have an idea of what you can do and what you can’t.
If you’re planning to move to a new apartment for staying longer, we can help you move your stuff and equipment. You can choose from our list of trusted moving companies and get a free moving estimate. Get Now!