Moving into an apartment can be tough, especially if your lease is relatively short. You may find it difficult to make it feel like your home and it is even worse if your property manager is strict about what you can do to decorate your space. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for you to put your own personality into your rental apartment without breaking any rules.
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Removable wallpaper
Wallpaper may seem like a thing of the past, but removable wallpaper is becoming more and more popular. This allows you to add your own colors and patterns to your walls without ruining the paint that is already there. You can even change out your removable wallpaper depending on how you feel. Be sure to find quality wallpaper that will be easily removed without any damage.
Artwork
Hanging artwork that you or a friend made is a great way to add some personality to your space. If you do not have any of your own, work with your roommates to make your own art or commission an art student to make you some. This allows you to be creative and work with others to add a fun pop of color to your walls, especially if you are not allowed to paint them. If you are unable to use nails to hang your art, use something like a Command hook that can be easily removed without damaging the walls.
Colorful accessories
Even if you are unable to paint your walls, you can still find fun ways to add pops of color throughout your apartment. Put throw blankets over the back of your couch and use colorful décor pillows to liven up your space. You may even opt to add color by putting a rug somewhere. Try to experiment with different colors and prints. Accessories and artwork can be taken with you to your next apartment or house, so it is an investment that is well worth it.
Plant life
Adding a plant or two to your apartment can help bring your space some new life. You may opt for a live plant or a fake plant. Some plants, like succulents, do not require much care, while fake plants do not require any care. Be sure to figure out how good you are at maintaining plant life before committing to a more complicated plant. If you have a busy schedule or are prone to killing plants, consider a succulent or a fake plant. Plants are a simple and cost-effective way to personalize your space. Your flower pots or plant holder can be a great way to add a pop of color to your space as well, even if the plant itself is just green.
Make your own décor
While it may seem more straightforward to buy your own décor items, creating your own can help your personality shine through even more as they are items you made yourself. Have a craft night with your roommates and friends and have supplies on hand so you can all create fun décor items for your living spaces. Create a wreath for each holiday or season you celebrate or make photo letters of your favorite memories. Decorate a mason jar for your desk to hold pencils, pens, and other office supplies. There are plenty of things you can create and even more ways to personalize these creations to fit your favorite colors, patterns, and styles.
Furniture essentials
Unless you moved into an apartment that was already furnished, you have the freedom to use your furniture pieces to personalize your space. Buy furniture items that are simple yet colorful and use things like throw blankets and pillows to add even more personality and color to these pieces. Use décor items that you made or refurbished to decorate table tops and drawers. Arrange your furniture in a way that fits your lifestyle, whether that means having a desk for an apartment office or a space to entertain guests when they visit. If you have furniture from a thrift store or another secondhand source, a simple paint job can help liven the piece up and add your own personality to the piece.
Fruit bowl
Fruit bowls are a great way to liven up a kitchen. It is likely that you buy fruit as a staple in your diet on your usual grocery runs. Even if you do not eat fruit regularly or do not want it sitting out, you may opt to buy artificial fruit to display in a fruit bowl. This is a great way to personalize what kinds of fruit you have on display, highlighting what you like and leaving out what you do not. You can add as many or as few colors as you would like.
It can be tough to personalize an apartment when your landlord has harsh restrictions, but there are ways to make your space lively and personable with décor items you love.
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