Decorate Your Apartment on a Budget

Just because you’re a renter doesn’t mean you can make your apartment feel like your own space. Decorating your apartment, whether it’s leased or not, is one of the surest ways to enjoy your living space – especially if you can make it reflect your tastes and values. Read on for some savvy tips on apartment decorating that suit any budget.

Wait – before you do anything, do this

The only catch about decorating a rented space is that you may be responsible for restoring the space back to its original state when you are ready to vacate. Because of this, it’s a good idea to videotape your residence before you start changing anything.

You can also do this with photographs, but whatever your method just make sure you get a thorough record of exactly how your apartment looked before you started touching up.

Find out what you’re allowed to do

It’s also wise to approach your landlord for guidance on what you are and aren’t allowed to do within your rental space. You might also find the stipulations you need to know in your copy of your rental agreement.

Some landlords are very easy going about what’s allowed to make an apartment feel like home. Provided you promise to restore the apartment to its original state, you may get the freedom to make drastic changes.

Alternately, your landlord might at least grant you permission to make some approved changes, such as painting the walls a color that will still make the apartment attractive to a new renter (so in other words, no bright or trendy colors!).

Pick a color palette

Once you’ve taken a neat record of the original state of your apartment or you have your landlord’s blessing to make some changes, it’s time to get down to business.

Start by choosing a color palette for your home. Really, the colors you choose should reflect the feel you’d like to have within your apartment.

For example, neutrals or cool colors will give you a relaxed, calm atmosphere. In contrast, bright energetic colors will add liveliness and fun to the room.

Add the big stuff

The next step is to purchase your larger items, based on your color palette. Go for a few simple pieces of furniture that are both functional and match your color scheme. It’s a good idea to go for inexpensive pieces since you’re likely to move some day and you may need different furniture for your new home.

Next, add some rugs. Rugs are a great way to bring color into a room and don’t cost a lot of money (although they certainly can cost a lot of money!  –but your job is to find an inexpensive one that has the colors of your choice – home improvement stores often have a nice, cheap selection).

Turn your eye to the walls

In most cases, you won’t have the option to paint the walls. But no worries – you still have plenty of decorating possibilities.

For starters, you could buy a collection of simple picture frames and then frame large pieces of artwork or fabric that suit you and add color. For that matter, you could actually purchase a large piece of fabric and then tack it to the wall so it looks like you painted.

Work to put things on the wall that aren’t simply flat. Hang things with texture and depth. Frame things you would never usually frame, such as a piece of decorative soap or a pine cone.

Touch up old bookcases

Long rows of bookcases are one of the best ways to add pizzazz to an apartment. Start by looking for cheap, old suitcases, then sand and paint them a color of your choice.

After the bookcases match your color scheme, take and arrange them flush with the wall. Fill the spaces will all kinds of things – from books to sculptures to containers of pasta. Your goal should be to create an unusual assortment of things that draws the eye in and makes a statement about you.

Add window treatments

Window treatments tend to make any place feel homey and comfortable, so shop the fabric store sales until you find a print your really love. Once you do, it’s not that hard to throw in a couple seams and then tack the fabric to the wall around the window.

Remember you have the right to make it your own

Just because you’re a renter doesn’t mean you have to live in discomfort. Take the steps to claim your space and you’ll find your rental experience to be much more pleasant than you ever expected.