5 Tips for Decorating Rentals

Recently I told a few of my friends that I've been busy decorating since we moved a few weeks ago, and they mentioned they don't usually bother decorating a rental, because after all, "It's not MY house." They don't want to expend time, energy, or resources on something they don't own, and I understand where they're coming from. But personally, I always do it. ALWAYS. I've accepted it - that's just who I am!

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Don't get me wrong - I'm definitely NOT investing much money into anything I can't take with me when I leave. But there are lots of little, inexpensive things you can do to make ANY place feel like home sweet home. Because after all, any place I live IS my house for now, and any place you live is yours.

My "somewhat small but still cute and cozy" single girl apartment back before I met my now-husband.

Many years ago, the very first friend that I made in South Florida had a magnet on her tiny graduate school dorm apartment's fridge: "Bloom Where You're Planted." I think she said her mom gave it to her. That was such a poignant time in my life; I was 21, just moved to SoFlo and didn't know anyone, and was working as a nanny for a wealthy Palm Beach family that hired me online and brought me there from my little town in Pennsylvania - ummm, can you say culture shock?! A number of memorable moments happened in my friend Michelina's apartment. She is the one who taught me that you don't need a towel at the beach - you can just lay in the sand. She said she liked how it felt in the sun. Her apartment was where I was headed, when an ex-boyfriend made a pit stop at a tattoo parlor and suggested I get my nose pierced (Spoiler: I did, and fainted), then we hopped back in the car and went to Mich's place for pizza. She's the first friend I ever made down here.

Well, I still have the nose piercing, but I don't even have Mich's number anymore. This was 15 years ago, before social media, before iPhones that saved your contacts in a "cloud" forever. I have a handful of photos of her, and my memories. I've tried googling her, but apparently she is like me - not on social media, private online, etc. (I know, I say I'm "private" yet I just started a blog about my family home?? Haha, trust me, I'm private otherwise!)

Michelina, this post is for you, wherever you are! I'm blooming where I'm planted, and decorating makes me feel planted. After all, everywhere we live becomes part of our lives. I don't want a single day to feel like it doesn't count toward my "real life," so I decorate wherever I live with love, even if it is temporary.

Without further ado, here are my TOP FIVE tips for decorating your rental:

1. Use Live Plants. Living plants make your rental feel fresh and homey, not to mention they help clean the air. There are dozens of colorful blooms and mini potted herbs available in most home improvement stores for only a few dollars. And if you live somewhere with no grass or outdoor space, no worries. You could set a pot of flowers by your front door, and put a few herbs on the windowsill.

Speaking of the front door, make it your own! That brings me to my second tip:

2. Hang a Wreath & Lay Out a Welcome Mat. You will love coming home to a personalized entrance area versus any old generic apartment door, and your guests will love the welcoming touch. The nice thing about this tip is that you probably already have these items, and if you don't, you can buy them on the cheap and take them with you when you move. If you live somewhere like a high rise that doesn't allow rugs or any items in the hall, you can probably still hang a wreath!

BONUS TIP: I have a basic green wreath that I stick a few floral or decorative picks in depending on the season. That way, I only have to unpack one wreath, and can leave the others in boxes until I get to my next place with more storage.

3. Choose a Color Scheme and Stick to It. Okay, this is actually a tip I use for any home, rented or owned. But it's too good to leave off the list! It seems that especially in rented apartments or houses, it's tempting to skip the thoughtful details that we may put into a home we own, and just throw everything together. But a few details can go a long way, such as coordinating a few cheerful throw pillows and blankets, an area rug, and a couple tschotskes.

Using the same color family throughout will make the place seem designed, as opposed to just decorated.

4. DON'T Paint. I'll say it bluntly: Painting a rental is a waste of time and money, not to mention, I love a white wall anyway. Most rentals come with neutral paint throughout, so embrace it, and go simple-chic in your decor. You can totally request touch-up paint of the existing color to keep things looking sharp, but no need to add "accent walls" or wild colors. Seriously. No need. Also, if you don't paint it back (which can be a tricky project especially if you don't have matching paint) a lot of rentals charge a hefty fee and take it out of your deposit.

I saved the most controversial tip for LAST...

5. DO Hang Up that Artwork! When we moved into the rented house we're in now, I originally planned not to hang much on the walls. My artwork was carefully packed, plus I didn't know if it was worth the holes in the walls. But my husband reminded me of a couple benefits to hanging up that wall decor: First, every piece that you unpack and hang is one less thing in storage or one less box in your closet. Second, in our case we are living here for a year, and may as well enjoy the art we have. It's probably better off inside in the AC than in the garage, anyway! And third, a nail or screw doesn't leave much of a hole and most rentals are forgiving of small nail holes.

One warning: While nail holes are probably no big deal, a wall anchor leaves a large hole and may be a different story when you move out, so maybe avoid hanging anything too heavy.

So there you have it! If the temporary digs are going to be home for however long, go ahead and make it look like home. I recommend always decorating wherever you live with love.

With Love,

Molly

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