The biggest mistake you can make is to treat your rental apartment like a rental apartment. Sure, there are some things you have to be careful about, and you can’t just tear down the walls. But just because you don’t own the apartment doesn’t mean it has to remain bare. After all, how is the apartment ever going to feel like home? That’s why in this post, I’m going to show you 30 hacks on how to decorate a rental apartment so that it feels like your home and not just a place where you live.
How to Decorate a Rental Apartment
1. Walls
So let’s tackle the walls first. The thing is, you immediately think that you should just leave the walls alone because, well, you’re going to move out anyway, right? Or maybe you think it’s not allowed.
Every situation is different, of course, so my advice would be to talk to your landlord beforehand. I would ask them what is allowed.
And normally, painting walls and wallpapering is allowed as long as you restore the apartment to its previous condition at the end of the rental period.
And honestly? The extra work at the end is worth it if it means you feel comfortable throughout the entire rental period.
So:
- Paint the walls: It’s best to use a neutral color, so you’ll have an even better chance that the landlord won’t want you to paint the apartment white at the end. Often, they accept neutral walls.
- Accent wall: This would also be a simpler option, because you would only have to repaint one wall white later on.
- Wallpapering: You can do that too, but of course, you’ll have to remove it at the end of your tenancy. I find painting easier, to be honest.
- Peel-and-stick wallpaper: If you don’t feel like wallpapering or painting, peel-and-stick wallpaper is definitely the best option. It’s very easy to put up and take down. Definitely the easiest way to spruce up your place.
- Peel-and-stick wall molding decals: I particularly like these because they are easy to use and give your home a high-end look without requiring a significant investment or any DIY work.
2. Shelves & Artwork
Yes, if you drill holes in the wall, they have to be filled in again. But that’s really quick and easy. So, giving up on character in your apartment just to avoid having to fill in a few holes? No way.
Now let’s drill a few holes:
- Floating shelves: Practical but cute. Whether rustic or modern, there are tons of different types. You can use them for organization or for decorative purposes.
- Empty frames: Or pictures that you can simply lean on the floating shelves, so you don’t have to drill as many holes.
- Gallery wall: This adds some personality to your apartment, which is important to make it more your own. You can also use command hooks for this, so you don’t have to drill holes in the wall.
- Mirrors: The good thing about mirrors is that they reflect light and make your home look bigger. You can hang them up or, if they are large enough, lean them against the wall in the worst case. But please attach them to the wall so that no accidents happen.
3. Lighting
Who wants to feel like they’re at work when they’re at home? Lighting makes a big difference. That’s why it’s so important to get the lighting in your home right.
So, here are some renter-friendly upgrades you can make:
- Layer your lights: This is the most important thing you can do to make your space cozier. But you’ll need several light sources to do this. So table lamps, floor lamps, string lights, you name it. Ceiling lights should be left out because they don’t create a cozy atmosphere at all.
- Warm light bulbs: Also very important, as warm white light (2700-3000K) looks way more inviting.
- Smart bulbs or dimmers: Brighter during the day, dimmer in the evening. Smart bulbs make this possible.
- String lights: I wanted to mention these separately because they really make a big difference. You can buy some for the curtains, drape them along picture frames or floating shelves, put them in glass jars, etc. The possibilities are endless.
4. Textures & Materials
If you really don’t feel like drilling holes, then these ideas are perfect for you. You can easily give your home character with textures and different materials.
- Pillows and blankets: Throw pillows and blankets are an easy way to add some color to your space. And of course, they’re easy to swap out, especially throw pillows. If you mix different fabrics, such as linen, velvet, and cotton, it will look even cozier.
- Rugs: These are also very important, because if your floor is ugly, you can easily cover it up. If you choose a light-colored rug, it will even make your home look brighter. Just a tip, if your home lacks natural light.
- Curtains: You can hang these without having to drill extra holes. All you need is a tension rod.
- Automatic curtain opener: If you want to feel like you’re in a luxury hotel, then you definitely need this! I think it’s so cool because you can use it to open and close the curtains whenever you want automatically. You can even set when the curtains should be opened. How cool is that?
- Make it more interesting: Mix different materials in your decor. For example, metal, wood, glass, and ceramics. Just be careful not to overdo it and only use accents.
- Matte vs. glossy: Matte walls or furniture combined with glossy accents? A dream. It looks super classy. Think vases, picture frames, trays, or lamps. It’s a super simple way to decorate a rental apartment.
5. Furniture for Renters
People often think, “Oh, I’ll be moving out again anyway, so I don’t need to buy fancy furniture.” In a way, that may be true, but it’s still a good idea to shop smarter.
Always ask yourself whether you could take the furniture with you when you move out later. If it’s furniture that you know you’ll get tired of looking at anyway, then don’t buy it in the first place.
Otherwise, you’ll end up buying everything twice or three times over.
- Neutral style: I think this is the way to go. You never get tired of neutral colors. And you can always spice things up with accent colors.
- Multifunctional furniture: Smart, because you can use a sleeper sofa as a bed in your apartment and as a sofa when you move, or vice versa.
- Space-saving furniture: Also smart, because you can always be sure that the furniture will fit in your next apartment or house.
- Rolling kitchen island: This is ideal if you have a small apartment and need additional workspace. It also saves a lot of space.
- Towel rack: These are often very easy to install and often do not require drilling. Not to mention that they also look very stylish and keep things tidy at the same time.
- Bar cart: You can use it purely for decoration or to serve snacks and drinks when you have guests.
- Headboards: They immediately add character to the bedroom and make it all the more cozy. Just choose freestanding versions so you don’t have to drill any holes.
6. Easy Renter-Friendly Home Updates
As we all know, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. That’s why it’s important not to lose sight of the inconspicuous things.
- Magnetic spice rack: I think this really brings life into the kitchen. And all without any holes.
- Hide cables: You can use cool organizers for this. Whether in your home office or living room, when the cable chaos is hidden, it looks much tidier.
- Replace hardware: You can replace the hardware on your kitchen cabinets or bathroom fixtures, for example. It’s such an easy way to make everything look more modern and fresh. Just remember to keep the old parts.
- Replace the showerhead: Replacing your current showerhead with a massage showerhead is really nice. Even better if it comes in an elegant black or gold.
- Contact paper for countertops: These come in all kinds of colors. I love the marble ones because marble is just so elegant. They’re easy to apply and remove.
- Peel-and-stick backsplash: This is another way to upgrade your kitchen in no time without having to do much work. Neither now nor when you move out.
- Switch the shower curtains: Choose something that suits your style, whether playful or elegant.
- Plants: Probably the easiest way to bring life into your home & to decorate a rental apartment. Whether hanging, placed on shelves, fake or real, the effect is the same.
7. Outdoor Fixes
If you have a small terrace or balcony, then this area is a must. There are a few simple ways you can make the most of it:
- Plants or flowers: A must-have that instantly enhances your outdoor space and brings it to life. Place them in the corner, or on the outdoor table, or hang them in flower boxes on the railing. It’s that easy.
- Outdoor rugs: Waterproof ones are best here. They’ll make your balcony instantly more cozy.
- Cozy lighting: Lanterns, fake candles, and string lights make the outdoor area instantly more inviting.
- Seating: You can use folding chairs, small benches, or these cute poufs, for example. The good thing is that you can take them with you again later.
- Protection: In the form of screens, trellises, bamboo, or fabric panels. These are mainly for protection, but they can also add a touch of style.
- Decor: Seat cushions, weatherproof blankets and throw pillows, outdoor tables, candles, trays for drinks and snacks, macramé, and oh, there are so many things that could give your outdoor space even more character! But that would be going beyond the scope of this article.
Let’s Wrap it Up
I hope you enjoyed this post and now know how you can easily decorate your rental apartment. The most important thing is not to treat the apartment like a rental. Otherwise, you’ll remain stingy and fearful, and ultimately you’ll never feel truly at home. It doesn’t matter how long you stay there; you should be able to look forward to coming home every day.
So drill a few holes, paint the walls, buy some cool but timeless things, and you’ll see that you’ll immediately feel much more comfortable.
Of course, you should discuss this with your landlord, but it’s usually possible. As I said before, the extra work at the end of your lease is worth it, especially if it means that all this time you’ve felt at home.
This post showed you how to decorate a rental apartment
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