Whether you’re just starting your search for apartments for rent or have recently moved into a new place, turning that blank canvas into a space that feels like home can be both exciting and overwhelming. Rental restrictions, tight budgets, and temporary living arrangements often lead renters to overlook design altogether – or worse, make choices that sacrifice comfort and style.
It’s important to remember that the rental process begins long before you pick out furniture. From passing a tenant screening to signing your lease, every step helps set the stage for the kind of home you’ll create. Once you’ve secured a place, thoughtful design becomes just as important. From selecting the right paint colors and lighting to choosing furniture that fits your space and lifestyle, every decision plays a role in creating a functional and inviting home. We’ve explored the most common design mistakes renters make and how to fix them with simple, budget-friendly solutions that won’t jeopardize your lease.
By making intentional design choices and embracing temporary upgrades, you can personalize your space and dramatically improve the way it looks and feels. With the tips in this article, you’ll be well on your way to transforming your rental into a space that reflects your personality – and truly feels like home.
Not Personalizing Your Space
Your own touches can transform a bland rental apartment into a warm home. Of sentimental value to you, photographs and artwork can elevate the personality of your home. Items that strike a chord with you add to your decor and make your dream home come to life.
To fill a large wall space while still allowing creative expression, follow these suggestions for gallery walls:
- Group related pieces together to help maintain a cohesive look for your gallery wall.
- Focus less on achieving harmony and sell less favored harmonious designs to make space for truly unique pieces.
- Increase your decor to create more gallery walls and elevate your home with these unique pieces.
Besides artwork, including pieces such as travel souvenirs, heirlooms, or handmade crafts can add layers of charm and meaning to your space. These personal touches help narrate your story which further help in turning over a generic rental into a home.
Do not hesitate to add a range of materials and textures to your decor. Pairing soft textiles such as throw pillows and blankets with vintage pieces or natural elements such as plants can add a warm and inviting feeling.
Feel free to share more about yourself with your decor. It can be a collection of books, musical instruments, or even framed sports memorabilia. Such items will transform your apartment into a reflection of who you truly are.
Neglecting Storage Solutions
Not making the most out of available storage can result in a disorganized and inefficient clutter which can make your rental apartment feel cramped and chaotic. In order to keep your space tidy, it is vitally important to maximize every inch of available space. Organizers like tall bookshelves, wall-mounted shelves, and hanging organizers are suspended vertically and thus do not take up any floor space. Items such as out-of-season clothing, extra bedding, or other rarely used items can be placed in under-bed storage bins or drawers freeing up closet space.
The use of multi-purpose furniture also serves to enhance storage capabilities in small apartments. Furnishings like beds with drawers underneath, coffee tables with secret compartments, mounted foldable desks, and storage ottomans all serve multiple uses and blend style with practicality. Reducing clutter while maintaining the spacious airy feel of the apartment is critically enhanced by this approach.
Small items like the remote controls, magazines, or even craft supplies can be stored in decorative baskets, bins, or boxes. These small containers not only help in organizing and decluttering but also serve to enhance the overall decor by adding texture and warmth.Maximize unused spaces like cabinet interiors and the tops of kitchen cabinets or the backs of doors for additional storage. Bags, kitchen utensils, coats and many other objects can be hung on undamaging hooks, racks, and tension rods.
Settling for Poor Quality Accessories
Settling for poor quality accessories is a common mistake and can ruin the entire look of your space. Styling pieces that are purchased in haste lack the uniqueness and character that truly elevate a space. Vintage or handcrafted decor pieces, which are often richer in history and tell a tale, are more desirable as they bring character and soul to your rooms. Accessories with different colors, textures, and materials create an inviting atmosphere as well as showcase personal style.
In order to create balanced and dynamic decor, include one or two medium sized pieces and combine them with small items and one larger statement piece. This helps draw attention to the room and prevents spaces from feeling monotonous. Artistic coffee tables or bold sculptures can be placed as centerpieces and adorned with smaller decorative items like candles, vases, or books to provide welcoming warmth.
Do not forget that accessories should not only be ornamental; they may also perform a practical role. Think of storage baskets, elegant trays, and some lights which double serve as fantastic decorations and functional items. Well selected accessories can solve a number common design errors by bringing together the furniture elements and improving the flow of your rental flat.
To conclude, your space will feel homier and inviting if you put thought into your selection of quality meaningful accessories. Do not fall into the trap of buying mass produced homogeneous decor. Stand out by featuring pieces that reflect your personality and make your home warm and alive.
Hanging Art Incorrectly
Art has a unique way of bringing life to your walls. However, hanging it incorrectly can be damaging. The optimal height for artwork’s eye level is 57-60 inches from the floor. Best practice dictates that while hanging art above furniture, the bottom of the frame should sit around 6 to 8 inches above the furniture piece to keep a balanced visual relationship.
Carefully combining and mixing encourages different art styles, orientations, and configurations. Doing so helps avoid monotonous walls while adding personality to your space. This approach enhances the accent wall, making the previously ‘cool and uninviting’ space feel warm and dynamic. Engaging gallery walls can be crafted through the use of different frame styles, sizes, and colors which set the overall atmosphere of your room.
When arranging the artwork, keep in mind the proportions of space and scale. A large piece can be placed as a statement piece, while several smaller pieces can be grouped together for interest and cohesion. Try to balance the decor with furniture pieces and accessories that surround it to avoid imbalance.
Furthermore, correct techniques for hanging art is equally nagainama important for its preservation. The use of suitable hooks or picture hangers is recommended for pieces of considerable weight. For those living in rented premises, command strips and hooks are ideal as they do not leave holes in walls, yet enable the display of cherished pieces.
Tommy Hardy, an alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, has been a go-to figure in residential upkeep and innovation for over 18 years. His career commenced in a leading home appliance manufacturing company, where he mastered the intricacies of household systems. Joining our platform in 2020, Tommy quickly became a reader favorite for his practical and easy-to-follow guides. He took the helm of our DIY section in 2019, consistently delivering content that empowers homeowners. Beyond his professional pursuits, Tommy is a passionate gardener and enjoys woodworking, skills enhancing his hands-on approach to home care.
