partial view of couch and house plants

Simple Ways to Spruce Up Your Rental

Harmonic is a partner of Dwellsy.

One of the biggest challenges of living in a rental is that people have a hard time making it feel like home. Since you don’t own the space, when it comes to decorating and customizing you have limited options. Most rental leases don’t allow tenants to make significant changes or alterations, such as drilling holes in the walls, changing the interior paint color, replacing the flooring, and many other .

Not just that, but spending a lot on décor doesn’t make sense either, especially if you are going to eventually vacate your rental.

However, this doesn’t mean that you still can’t make a few minor, temporary changes here and there.

Ways to Upgrade Your Rental

There are many simple ways to spruce up your rental, a few of which we’ve listed below. Check out these easy renovations and get creative!

Self-Adhesive Removable Wallpaper 

This is one of the easiest and most hassle-free ways to spruce up your rental without causing any permanent damage.

Renter-friendly, removable wallpaper is your best option, especially if you happen to be surrounded by dull, boring walls and you wish to do something creative with them.

With self-adhesive removable wallpapers growing increasingly popular among tenants, you are likely going to find unique designs that aren’t just stylish but also super affordable.

Just make sure to follow the instructions exactly as provided by the manufacturer to prevent any kind of damage to the surface of the walls. In case there’s any residue on the walls after removing the wallpaper, you can easily clean it with soapy water or a mild adhesive remover.

Tile Tattoos 

If your rental has boring or ugly tiles in the kitchen or bathroom, for instance, tile tattoos are a great option to give them a makeover.

These are removable decals that have specially been designed to apply on tiles which you can easily remove later as per requirement.

Most tile tattoos come with a very easy application where you simply just need to peel the back of the sticker and stick them onto the tiles. You might have to lightly sand the tiles, though, so that the tattoo sticker has something to stick to properly without leaving any grit or grease behind.

The best part about removable tile tattoos or stickers is that they come in numerous different sizes, colors, and decorative patterns that help add a splash of color to a dreary-looking room.

Washi Tapes for a Touch of Color  

Washi tapes are commonly found in kids’ arts and craft supplies, but as it turns out, they are also one of the most creative ways to spruce up your rental!

With so many different styles and designs to choose from, there’s so much you can do with washi tapes to add a touch of color to plain walls.

These are basically decorative tapes made from rice paper and are super flexible and durable. What makes washi tapes a safe option for your rental is that they are easily removable, don’t leave any sticky residue behind, and are ideal for home décor purposes.

Decorate With Elements from Nature 

A sure shot way to make your rental feel like home is to decorate it with elements from nature which ought to do the trick well.

You can add different types of textures to the interior of the rental by adding a variety of plants and pots. This will not only freshen up the space but will also add a lot of greenery to it.

You can also get some colorful decorative planters for increased visual appeal by placing them either towards different corners of the rental or on the window sill.

Decorative Throw Pillows 

Serving both functional and aesthetic purposes, throw pillows are a must for any and every rental space. These are the ultimate home décor accessory that helps add color, personality, and appeal through their colors and fabrics.

Decorative throw pillows blend in the various color accents within a room, but they also enhance the look and feel of the furniture at the same time. 

The best thing about these pillows is that they are an added accessory which means they don’t inflict any damage, and you can add, remove or rearrange them as per your choice.

Bamboo Blinds

If you wish to spruce up your rental by adding some extra dimension and light to it, bamboo blinds can help a great deal with that!

Bland and boring blinds can actually make a space seem really cheap and tacky, so why not replace them with bamboo blinds in your rental? 

Also, these blinds are super easy to install, clean, and maintain, so you won’t have to go out of your way to worry about their upkeep. Above all that, bamboo blinds feature a natural element that compliments any type of décor, be it rustic or bohemian, to name a few.

Paintings and Frames 

These are another must-have décor accessory to enhance your rental and breathe some life into it.

With the help of paintings and frames, you can add an artistic touch to the interior without damaging the walls or the wallpaper.

You can either order different paintings online or make your own if you’ve got the time. In one corner, you could create a gallery wall and group together different paintings. In another corner, you can hang some frames with your family photographs which will also serve as a memory wall.

Key Takeaway

There are so many amazing, creative ways through which you can spruce up your rental without causing any kind of damage to the space.

In case you are feeling hesitant or unsure about a particular change, you can always discuss it with your landlord to check if they are okay with it.

A useful tip that you should keep in mind when upgrading your rental space is you must focus on low-budgeted reusable items. This is to ensure that you get to use them again later if you move to another rented apartment and things that you can make use of in the new home.

Dwellsy was built for renters like you, find your next home!

Looking for more renter tips? Check out this article here!

author avatar
Lena Stevens
Lena Stevens works as a Content Marketing Coordinator for Dwellsy and has been with the company since 2020. She graduated from Vassar College in 2021 with a double-major in Film and Media Studies. As a life-long renter, Lena knows firsthand how stressful and frustrating it can be to search for a rental home, especially when you’re under time restraints. Her primary goal is to spread the word about Dwellsy to renters everywhere that are looking for a reliable platform with active, relevant, and trustworthy rental listings. She hopes that one-day Dwellsy will be recognized as a platform that is truly “Built for renters.”

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