Who Doesn't Want Their Rental to Look Like a Million Bucks? Here's How It's Done
Decorating a rental apartment can be tricky business. Landlords love to scare you into keeping your space as bare as possible with rules and the menace of losing your security deposit: Don't paint the walls; don't hang nails; don't make any changes to the flooring, doors, or windows. You'd think they secretly wish you'd move in a futon and a TV and call it a day. Disclaimer: That will never happen. Sadly, rental apartments rarely have all the bells and whistles that we'd love to have in our home: built-in bookcases, beautiful floors, or elegant lighting fixtures. To top it off, when living in a space that isn't permanent, we tend to err on the side of budget-conscious—why should we splurge on a space if we're to start again in a year or two?
Contrary to popular belief, however, it is possible to love your rental and decorate it how you see fit without spending a fortune or losing your security deposit. How is it done? With just a few clever workarounds, you can make your space feel custom and comfortable without breaking any rules. Give your rental living room that custom look you love—here's how it's done.
Layer Your Lighting
Invest in Versatile Pieces
Hang Art With Ease
Don't Neglect Storage
Consider Light-Filtering Curtains
Layer Expensive Rugs
Swap Ceiling Fixtures
Next up: the number one small-space hack New Yorkers swear by.