- 🛍️ Install floating shelves for more storage and decor options.
- 🎩 Use a coat rack if closet space is limited.
- 📚 Utilize space over doors with shelves for extra storage.
- 🎨 Apply removable wallpaper to add color.
- 🧽 Upgrade your backsplash with peel-and-stick tiles.
- 🔲 Use removable floor tiles for a quick floor makeover.
- 🏮 Divide rooms with a shoji screen.
- 🛏️ Hang curtains for added privacy.
- 📦 Create faux built-ins for additional storage.
- 🗄️ Use drawer organizers to keep items tidy.
- 📺 Mount your TV to save space.
- 🖼️ Create a gallery wall for personalized decor.
- 🛋️ Decorate with throw pillows and blankets.
- 🌞 Install temporary window treatments for style and function.
- 🚮 Use pull-out storage under sinks.
- 🤹 Store items out of sight with clever solutions.
- 🪞 Use mirrors to make spaces look larger and brighter.
- 🎨 Hang a drop-leaf table from the wall.
- 🛋️ Make furniture multitask for more functionality.
- 🔌 Add plug-in sconces for extra light.
- 🛠️ Cover or top radiators for a fresh look.
- 🚿 Replace your showerhead for a personal touch.
- 🚰 Change out the faucet for a quick upgrade.
- 🌿 Decorate with houseplants for a healthy ambiance.
- 🍃 Start a container garden on your windowsill.
- 🧺 Use baskets for versatile storage solutions.
- 🗄️ Upgrade cabinet pulls for a fresh look.
- 🚪 Remove cabinet doors for an open-shelf decor.
- 🏠 Replace doorknobs to match your decor style.
- 👠 Use over-the-door shoe holders for bathroom storage.
- 🎨 Paint the walls, but check with your landlord first.
Who says renting means you can’t make your space feel like home? Transforming your apartment into a stylish and functional sanctuary doesn’t have to risk your security deposit. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to personalize your rental apartment with 31 amazing and reversible decorating ideas that balance style, function, and landlord-friendliness.
Embrace Shelves and Storage Solutions
1. Install Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are the unsung heroes of apartment decor. These simple yet elegant additions can hold between 15 to 40 pounds or more, depending on the brand. Use them to display vases, books, photos, plants, and candles. They’re not just for living rooms—let them bring functionality to bathrooms, kitchens, and foyers too.
2. Utilize Space Over Doors
Maximize your vertical space by installing shelves above doorways. This often overlooked area is perfect for storing items you don’t need to access frequently, such as spare blankets, seasonal clothing, or books.
3. Create Faux Built-Ins
If built-in storage isn’t an option, you can mimic the look by grouping together several bookcases and painting them the same color as your walls. Add peel-and-stick molding to cover the gaps for a seamless appearance.
4. Use Drawer Organizers
Big storage drawers can easily become cluttered. Invest in drawer organizers to ensure every item has its place, making your space more functional and tidy.
5. Hang a Drop-Leaf Table
Living in a small space often means multitasking furniture. A drop-leaf table mounted to the wall gives you the option to work from home without sacrificing your dining area. Fold it down when not in use.
Enhance Walls and Floors
6. Apply Removable Wallpaper
Temporary wallpaper is an excellent way to add personality to your rental. It works best on smooth walls, allowing you to refresh any room easily and peel it off when you move.
7. Upgrade Your Backsplash with Peel-and-Stick Tiles
Say goodbye to outdated backsplash designs. Peel-and-stick tiles can be applied to clean, smooth surfaces and are resistant to heat and humidity, making them ideal for both kitchens and bathrooms.
8. Use Removable Floor Tiles
Peel-and-stick floor tiles come in various designs, including ceramic, faux wood, and checkerboards. As with backsplashes, ensure you follow the removal instructions to avoid damaging original floors.
9. Create a Gallery Wall
Combine different shapes, colors, textures, and styles to form an intriguing gallery wall. This is a surefire way to add a unique touch to your apartment and showcase your personality.
Functional and Aesthetic Additions
10. Decorate With Throw Pillows and Blankets
Brighten your neutral-toned apartment by adding colorful throw pillows, blankets, and rugs. Choose an anchor color to tie together the elements of your room.
11. Install Temporary Window Treatments
Drapes and shades do more than just add color—they offer privacy and help regulate temperature. Use tension rods, magnetic curtain rods, or adhesive hooks for easy installation and removal.
12. Add Plug-In Sconces
Wall sconces can free up nightstand space or create focal points in hallways, over beds, or next to mirrors. Opt for plug-in options to avoid hardwiring issues.
13. Hang Curtains for Privacy
For studio apartments or lofts with no bedroom door, hanging a curtain from the ceiling can create a more defined, private sleeping area. Choose between light, airy fabrics or heavier drapes, depending on your privacy needs.
Kitchen and Bathroom Enhancements
14. Replace Your Showerhead
A Bluetooth showerhead can turn your bathroom into a personal soundstage, while a massage showerhead promises a spa-like experience. Both upgrades are simple to install and remove when needed.
15. Change Out the Faucet
Elevate the look of your kitchen or bathroom by replacing outdated faucets. This project requires some plumbing knowledge, so consider checking DIY tutorials or getting landlord approval before starting.
16. Add Pull-Out Storage Under Sinks
Avoid the hassle of rummaging through items beneath your sink by installing pull-out storage. Mount slides that accommodate trash bins or cleaning products, making everything accessible and organized.
17. Cover Backsplashes and Radiators
If your rental includes less-than-charming features like old radiators, cover them with decorative screens or place a board on top for an instant shelf.
18. Start a Container Garden
A windowsill garden can be both aesthetic and functional. Grow herbs in clay pots, yogurt containers, or berry boxes to add greenery and flavor to your cooking.
Personal Touches
19. Decorate With Houseplants
Houseplants improve emotional well-being and add a fresh look to any space. Choose varieties suited to your light levels, such as pothos or Chinese evergreens, and spread them around to liven up your apartment.
20. Use Over-the-Door Shoe Holders
Versatile and space-saving, over-the-door shoe holders can also organize bathroom essentials like shampoos, conditioners, and styling tools.
21. Upgrade Cabinet Pulls and Doorknobs
Personalize your drawers and doors by swapping out handles and knobs. Be sure to keep the original hardware safe for reinstallation when you move out.
Creative and Practical Ideas
22. Make Your Furniture Multitask
Opt for furniture that pulls double duty. An ottoman with storage space, nesting tables, or a platform bed with drawers can significantly enhance the function of your small living space.
23. Store Items Out of Sight
Ingenious solutions can keep items hidden and out of the way. For example, attach fabric around a pedestal sink using Velcro tabs to create hidden storage.
24. Make Use of Mirrors
Mirrors not only add visual interest but also create the illusion of a larger space. Position mirrors to reflect focal points like a bed or couch, enhancing light and making rooms feel more open.
25. Screen Off Radiators
Turn those old-fashioned radiators into design features by covering them with decorative screens or adding a board on top for extra space.
26. Add Light with Sconces
Install plug-in sconces to add lighting without requiring electrical work. This can brighten up various spaces in your apartment and create cozy, well-lit areas.
27. Plant a Container Garden
Use a sunny windowsill to start an herb garden. Choices like basil, mint, and parsley not only brighten your space but also provide fresh ingredients for your kitchen.
28. Make Use of Baskets
Baskets are versatile storage solutions that can be hidden behind furniture or displayed proudly. Use them for laundry, blankets, or organizing miscellaneous items.
29. Remove Cabinet Doors
Achieve an open-shelf look by removing cabinet doors. This change can instantly modernize your kitchen while providing easy access to your kitchenware.
30. Hang Tables from the Wall
A drop-leaf table mounted on a wall can serve as a workspace, dining table, or extra surface when needed. Fold it away to save space.
31. Paint the Walls
Finally, if allowed by your landlord, paint is a powerful way to transform your living space. Choose colors that reflect your style and make your apartment feel more like home. Just remember, you may need to repaint back to the original color before you move out.
