Back HomeMaking a Rental Feel Like Your Home
When you’re living in a rented apartment or house, it can be tricky to make the place fully feel like yours, particularly if you’re limited in terms of changes your landlord will let you make. However, with a bit of creativity, you can make any place feel like home. Here are some tipsto get you started.
Bring Your Style
Even if you can’t change the walls or the floors, you can certainly bring your style to a space. Whether you’re modern, traditional, contemporary, or eclectic, the way you arrange your furniture and adorn your walls and floors can make the space uniquely yours. According to Better Homes and Gardens, consider how you’ll use your house or apartment when designing room configurations. For example, is your living room centered around a TV, or do you prefer conversation areas and reading nooks? Consider downloading an online room configuration app to help you visualize how things will look from room to room before you start moving furniture.
Add Color
Most rental spaces are fairly neutral in their tones, but that doesn’t mean you can’t liven up the space and make it yours with lots of color and texture. Use no-damage hanging supplies to outfit your walls with your own favorite artwork. If the space is small, consider putting up mirrors to reflect light and make the space seem larger. According to Apartment Therapy, you can also use throw rugs and area rugs, colorful throws and pillows, and unique types of lighting to make the space feel homey. Live plants can also go a long way toward bringing life to any given space.
Design for Use
These days, households are being used for everything from working at home to learning from home, as well as traditional purposes, like entertaining and having space for rest and relaxation. Design with your personal needs in mind. For example, if you have kids who need to study from home, quiet work alcoves or bedrooms outfitted with study areas can be beneficial. If you like to entertain, you may want a large area in your kitchen with extra seating. If you have a nice patio or deck, landscape lighting, a comfy patio set, and a fire pit can all go a long way toward making the space feel like yours.
Add a Relaxation Room
Many people are finding the benefits of learning to relax at home by creating meditation or yoga space. You could convert a small space for this purpose, even a large walk-in closet if you don’t have another need for it. Make the space comfortable with low seating, yoga mats, a fountain, and scented candles. If possible, situate the space far from household traffic so you can truly rest and relax. You could outfit your bathroom in the same way by turning it into a home spa. A heated towel rack, colorful bowls for your favorite soaps and bath bombs, and fluffy, plush towels can all make you feel like you’re at a five-star resort.
Design a Home Office
Whether you’re working from home or just need a private space for bill paying, a well-appointed home office can give you privacy for getting tasks completed. The home office should be in a private area of the home for maximum quiet and productivity. Include a desk, task chair, computer equipment, and shelving, as well as good lighting. An oversized armchair can also be nice for reviewing documents and reading. Keep the space off-limits to the rest of the household, as offices can become default catch-all spaces if you let them.
Living in a rental might have some limitations, but you can do a lot with imagination and creativity!
Author: Derek Goodman
