11 Tips for Apartment Decorating (and a Happy Landlord)

Jen Wallace |

Sep 10, 2024

If you live in a rental, you may think that means you are regulated to boring decor. Of course, painting and remodeling are out, but there are plenty of tricks you can use to add pizazz to your rental. Your home should be your castle and be a warm and inviting space for you to relax and entertain in. Just because your space may be small and you can’t knock out that hideous bathroom tile and replace it, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to make the best of what you’ve got. Just remember to abide by whatever rules are your rental agreement and you should be golden with these helpful tips on apartment decorating.

Tips for apartment decorating

Rugs – Cover ugly beige carpet with large area rugs. Not only will you be camouflage that bad carpet, but it’s a great way to add color and pattern without having to paint the walls.
Removable Wallpaper/Wall Decals – Putting up wallpaper is not a good idea when apartment decorating, it’s impossible to remove and takes a lot of work. That’s where removable wallpaper and wall decals come in. It is important to note that both are designed to be removable, but sometimes there can be some damage to the paint job, so be ready for repairs when removing them.
Paint Furniture – If you can’t paint the walls, then paint your furniture! Buy some thrift store pieces, paint them and voila, you have color!
Add Fresh Flowers and Plants – Adding fresh cut flower and potted plants is a fabulous way to add color and to create a warm, inviting atmosphere when apartment decorating.
Window Treatments – Ditch the vinyl mini-blinds, stow them away for when you move out and add colorful curtains and blinds.
Get Comfortable with Open Storage – Since many apartments are lacking in cabinet and closet space, add bookshelves and shelving units for storage. Group things in collections and add storage baskets to make everything look pretty and clutter-free.
Accessorize – Adding pillows, baskets, candles, ottomans and the like is a great way to add color, texture and patterns when apartment decorating.
Add Lots of Lighting – Adding lamps can add warmth and distract from the extreme whiteness of rental walls.
Washi Tape or Painters Tape – Washi or painters’ tape are low-adhesive and are meant to be removable. Use them to hang prints to the walls or to create faux frames. One bit of advice though, the longer they are affixed, the more likely they are to remove some paint when removed.
No Need to Hang Pictures – Lean pictures or mirrors along the floor, along a mantel or on top of furniture. This way you aren’t creating nail holes when apartment decorating.
Use Pallets, Shutters, Ladders as Shelving – Add repurposed pallets, shutters or ladders as shelving. Just lean them against the walls to use as magazine storage or to hang photos from.