When you live in a rental home, investing valuable time and money into making it your own may seem pointless, especially if you aren’t sure how long you’ll be living there or where you’ll be moving next. Regardless of if you plan on staying in your temporary home for a few months or a few years, putting your own personal mark on it is important. After all, you deserve to relax and entertain in a place that you’re proud of. Check out these helpful tips from the design team at Ashley Homestore to make decorating your rental home a breeze.

Change Boring Light Fixtures

Walk into any standard apartment or rental property and you’re sure to notice one thing: boring light fixtures. The way you choose to illuminate your living spaces can make all the difference in helping a plain, bare apartment feel homey and inviting. Fortunately, replacing dull light fixtures with contemporary ones is easy enough for just about anyone to accomplish. If you’re intimidated by the process, however, incorporating alternative light sources is a simple way to elevate a dull room in an instant. To keep every corner of your home well-lit while making a statement, be sure to use a combination of accent, task, and ambient light sources. The result will be a well-balanced space that reflects your own personal style. 

Invest in Multi-Functional Pieces

It’s probably safe to say that whatever home you’re renting, for the time being, won’t be the place you live forever. Because of this, it’s wise to choose furniture and decor that can easily transition from one home to the next. After all, who wants to buy all-new furniture when it’s time to move to a new house? By choosing versatile pieces that can serve multiple purposes or seamlessly transition with you through different phases of life, you’ll be able to save yourself valuable time, effort, and money when the time comes to move on from your rental home. Need ideas for a few fabulous multi-functional pieces? You can’t go wrong with a sleeper sofa, storage ottoman, or dining room table with removable leaves. Pro tip: when you go to shop for furniture, always think of how well the pieces you’re attracted to will serve you in the future.

Choose the Right Window Treatments

Along with light fixtures, the window treatments that come with apartments and rental houses tend to be plain and inexpensive. In other words, they can be pretty “blah.” The good news is that bringing life to your home through fresh window dressings is simple, fast, and doesn’t have to break the bank. If your windows are bare, wooden blinds or Roman shades can give them a clean, modern vibe without overwhelming the space. On the other hand, curtain panels can add a pop of color and texture to a room that’s lacking personality. Whichever option you choose, be sure to optimize the natural light in the room as much as possible to make it feel spacious, bright, and homey.

Make the Most of Removable Wallpaper

For many renters, painting the walls of their temporary home is not an option. If this is the case for you, don’t think that means you must resign to living in a stark home for the foreseeable future. When it comes to bringing color and charm to the walls of your home, wallpaper is your friend. With an array of different options available in countless colors, styles, and prices, changing up the look of your home has never been easier. Best of all, many types are removable and reusable, making them an ideal decorating option for folks living in rental homes.

Paint Furniture, Not Walls

Another great way to make your apartment your own without putting color on the walls is painting a few pieces of furniture instead. A dark blue bookshelf or bright yellow coffee table would look gorgeous and bring in an unexpected pop of color against the stark white walls in your rental house. Likewise, painting furniture is an easy way to make a room look new without spending a lot of money. Looking for interesting items on resale sites, in consignment stores, or even in your own garage to cover with a splash of paint is a wonderful way to keep your rental home decor interesting while pinching pennies. All you need is a little creativity! 

Dress Up the Floor

The walls, windows, and light fixtures aren’t the only apartment feature that tends to err on the boring side. The floors in rental homes usually leave a lot to be desired as well. Whether your rental house boasts cheap laminate flooring or drab carpet, they’re nothing an interesting area rug or two can’t fix in an instant. Area rugs are the perfect solution to effortlessly incorporate much-needed color, pattern, and texture into virtually any space of your home. With this in mind, be sure to choose rugs that will not only keep your toes warm but will pull your home together with warmth and charm.

Bring in Greenery

Regardless of the size or style of your rental house, every home looks and feels better when plants are present. Not only can they add a gorgeous splash of color in spaces that lack depth, but houseplants are also great at keeping the air in your home fresh and clean by removing toxins and releasing oxygen. If you think you must have a green thumb to have plants in your home, think again. Many houseplants, such as snake plants or succulents, are relatively low maintenance and will serve you well for years without much fuss. On the other hand, you can’t go wrong with artificial plants that nowadays look as supple and realistic as their living counterparts without the trouble of keeping them alive.

No matter how quaint or spacious your rental home may be, the friendly team at Ashley Homestore can help you every step of the way in making it your own. Contact us or stop by our two showroom locations in Green Valley or Tucson today to see how easy and enjoyable decorating your temporary home can be!