Although she was moving into a rental apartment, Alexa d’Argence was eager to put her personal stamp on it.
“Loving my space is more important to me than my security deposit. So I just went with paint, planks, window treatments and upgrading the medicine cabinet,” says d’Argence, who, as a senior designer at BAR Architects in San Francisco, knows a thing or two about creating a stylish space.
“My landlord actually appreciated the improvements. I’d say consider changes that add value, and they wouldn’t be removed if you moved,” she says.
Non-designers may not be comfortable with that, as most leases say you can’t change anything permanently. Another approach: Talk to your landlord to discuss possible changes and maybe even offer to pay the bill.
Or just make some temporary adjustments, small personal touches that can turn boring and simple into hip and homey with just a visit to the hardware store.
“Personalizing a rental is very easy these days; there are so many great accents that are meant to be temporary,” said Jessica Dodell-Feder, editor-in-chief of HGTV Magazine.
THE WALLS
Jessica Shaw, director of interior design at The Turett Collaborative in New York, is a fan of removable wallpaper. “I have used it in my own home. Etsy, where I found mine, has prints, murals, and custom options. Once your lease has expired, you can remove it gently and without residue,” she says.
And don’t forget the ceiling. On one project, she created a wow factor by placing a colorful, removable geometric shape of Flavor Paper on a bedroom ceiling. Night sky patterns or picture walls of forests can be especially fun for city dwellers.
Denver designer Rachel Hoback placed a striking starry mosaic wallpaper on her steps. “This was a very quick and affordable project that made a huge difference to the look of our stairs,” she says.
Removable wallpapers can also spice up kitchen splashbacks, bathroom walls and cabinets. Tempaper, for example, offers a range of designs, including designs that look like painted ceramic tile, terrazzo, marble or embossed metallics.
Liz Morrow of Tacoma, Washington, has temporarily wallpapered her refrigerator.
“A refrigerator can be ugly or boring, but removable wallpaper can easily turn it into the most interesting part of the entire kitchen,” she says.
Dodell-Feder agrees: “This is a no-brainer, fun solution for a blah kitchen.”
STORAGE
“We don’t tend to modify our rental storage spaces,” Shaw says, “but there are ways to improve their aesthetics and functionality.”
Set up custom organizers in closets to efficiently store wardrobe and household items. (The Container Store and California Closets are among the larger retailers with options.) Coordinating bins and baskets are inexpensive and ubiquitous in home decor stores.
Or create a spacious closet against a wall. You can take a clothes rack with you when you move. For example, Rebrilliant’s Liddle heavy-duty adjustable rack has rubber feet that anchor to the floor and ceiling
In a small kitchen, shelf risers and slide-in bins that pop onto cabinet shelves increase your storage capacity. And self-adhesive hooks are good for hanging not only works of art, but also pans and kitchen utensils.
Metal carts are available in a variety of colors; if you can paint, stencil or decoupage one yourself. They are useful for frequently used cookware or bar equipment.
THE FURNITURE
Gita Mirchandani, a public relations executive in New York City, has gradually added colorful and meaningful pieces from her favorite designers to her all-white apartment. There are Eames chairs, a George Nelson sofa, Jonathan Adler screens and Philippe Starck dining room chairs. “Everyone serves as an important milestone for moments in my life,” she says.
She has also personalized her bedroom and honored her heritage. “My headboard is a colorful hand-painted Indian screen that reminds me of my fascinating background every day,” she says.
Convertible furniture allows you to create defined spaces that weren’t there before. Murphy-style beds can be folded into a closet, with options such as an attached sofa or table. Tables like those from Resource Furniture turn into dining, office or coffee tables or consoles.
And a simple folding screen can be a workhorse. There are rigid frame panels and folding screens in colored canvas, woven, paper, metal and wooden slats.
THE WINDOWS
Curtains or blinds can bring texture, color and privacy.
If rods are not yet installed, the spring or pivot rods adapt to different window sizes and have protective rubber ends. The Kwik-Hang brackets can be tapped into the window covering without a drill. Or look for Redi-Shade’s peel-and-stick window treatments; some also offer enhanced lighting control.
FINISH
Paint — especially spray paint — is an affordable way to upgrade a space. Some varieties can be used on rugs and on decorative fabrics on furniture or curtains.
Buy some basic cabinet hardware or switch plate covers from a hardware store and paint them in your favorite shades. Follow product instructions for preparing and testing surfaces before painting.
Changing knobs and handles is another easy way to change the feel of a room, and there are many creative options out there.
Brighten up your bathroom by replacing your shower head with a colored one, or one that sprays like rain or in colors.
Read all Latest lifestyle news and Important news here