If you're renting your home or apartment, you're in good company. With real estate being incredibly expensive lately, renting is becoming a more popular option for many households. This is especially true of households that move frequently - 33% of renters move each year. If you're regularly changing apartments or houses, it can be difficult to really settle in and make it feel like home. Use these tips to help you decorate in a way that's affordable, convenient, and perfect for transforming your rental into a home.
Storage is key
Most renters struggle in some capacity with the size of their rental space - it can be hard to start decorating when you're already in a space that feels too small. If this sounds familiar, creative storage solutions are going to be key to your decorating success. Storage that looks attractive serves a few different purposes in improving your space. Not only will you be adding visual interest to your home, but you'll also be making it easier to move in the future. As a rule of thumb, you should generally add an extra 25% more moving materials than you think you’ll need, but including storage solutions in your home can cut down on this number. Instead, you'll be able to just move your storage bins, drawers, and more, as opposed to purchasing packing materials.
Add some color
Generally, when it comes to rentals, you're stuck with the paint colors the landlord has chosen for you. This is especially true if you're going to be moving again shortly anyways - why put in the effort and time to paint if you're going to leave soon? However, this doesn't mean you have to be stuck with a boring beige home. Look for removable wallpapers to create an accent wall in your home. You don't just have to use them on the walls either - try decking out your kitchen cabinets with contact paper. Kitchen cabinets can last up to 50 years, and they're almost always able to stand up to some contact paper that you can safely peel off when it's time to move.
Work with wall space
In any rental living situation, you have to get creative in order to make the most of limited space. One space that is frequently ignored in rentals, often due to clauses in the lease, is the walls. Adding art and decor to your walls is a great way to make use of the vertical space in your rental. Additionally, these items are generally easier to move between different rentals, meaning you'll be able to take your decorations with you easily.
One wall decoration you should look to first is window treatments. These affordable additions to a space can actually be even more economically friendly than you might expect. When it comes to a home’s wall space, about 15% is taken up by windows, meaning window treatments will add a fair amount of decoration quickly and easily. Plus, they can help you save on your utility bills if you're paying for heating and cooling in your rental space.
Decorating your apartment when you move frequently is a challenge - it can be difficult to pick out what decor to prioritize when you're going to be relocating soon anyways. However, frequently moving doesn't mean you have to be stuck with your landlord's lack of style in your interior design. Use this list to get started and turn your rental property into a home today.