How to Redecorate Your Rental Apartment to Create a Space for Everyone

Patrick Young

The Mid-Century Meditations Blog welcomes Guest Blogger Patrick Young of the AbleUSA Blog - https://ableusa.info/blog/

​Edited and Formatted by Dawn Torres-Reyes

Redecorating a rental is about more than wall art and color palettes. Functionality is just as important as style. Your apartment is your home and should accommodate the needs of everyone living there. Even a strict rental agreement leaves space for crucial changes. Scan the internet for ideas and create a budget. If cost is your main concern, you can also turn to the DIY path to save money. 

Photo by Pexels

Before you start designing any space, think about what purpose it serves in your life. Consider the following five functions while forming your decorating plan:

For Relaxation

Home is where you should feel the most relaxed. You can create that feeling with a few simple solutions. Aim for a comfortable atmosphere in the living room using a deep-seated couch with plenty of cozy blankets and pillows. Keep the lighting warm and low using lamps and candles. Think about the colors in the room. If your landlord does not allow painting, you can put up wallpaper that can be customized and easily removed in a calming color, such as a light shade of blue. There are many unique designs to choose from, and you can even order your own customized wallpaper.
 
Use the lampshades or pillows to add more color but try to keep the furniture muted to promote relaxation. For beautiful one-of-a-kind antique furniture and pieces that are sure to brighten up any space in your home, visit Danish Modern San Diego!

For Work

If you work from home, you need a space designed for productivity. Try to avoid high-traffic areas in the apartment. That might be more difficult in a smaller apartment, but finding space away from the most-used areas of your home is important to help you practice time management skills without added distractions.  

For Entertaining

If you love to entertain but have limited space, remember that your apartment does not need to be always party-ready. Look for trendy folding chairs to store in a closet for extra seating. Even in a studio apartment, you can turn your bed into a place to sit and create a snack corner on the kitchen counter to give guests a place to hover. Buy furniture with built-in storage so that you can put away items that will get in the way when you have a party. Decorative Moroccan poufs can serve as seats around the coffee table, and the coffee table can become the central spot rather than a large dining table. 

For the Kids

Personalizing a kid's room does not need to be limited just because you are not able to paint or build dramatic installations. You can turn a plain wall into a beautiful mural with a decal and paint the furniture a fun color. Create a gallery wall with images of things your child loves and use a bold statement rug to create a focal point in the room. A coat of paint and some new hardware can quickly refurbish old shelves and dressers, and bins under the bed make for great storage.

For Moving

If your current apartment cannot accommodate all your needs, think about finding a new apartment or even purchasing a home. Shop online for rentals that have all the space and amenities you want. Many properties even have a 3D tour option online. If the next step is purchasing, take the time to research the housing market in your target area to know when and where to buy. 
 
Sometimes landlords are strict, but you can always find ways to personalize your space. Whether you create separate spaces with a partition or hang everything with Command strips, you can use the challenges to get creative and make your rental home your own.