If you live in a rented house or apartment, your current space may not yet meet your everyday needs. Although you may not be living in your dream forever home, you can still make the space both functional and cozy by redecorating. These five creative tips could help you get started.
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1. Set Aside a Dedicated Remote Home Office Packed With Professional Tools
If you currently work from home, a dedicated home office may be a necessity. It’s important to reduce potential distractions within or near your office to stay productive and practice good time management.
To set up your office, choose a secluded yet well-lit corner of your home. Outfit the office with a desk, a lamp, and a comfortable chair, and then flesh it out with professional supplies, such as a computer with double monitors, legal pads, or dry-erase boards.
2. Create a Playroom for Your Kids to Minimize the Mess
For families with children, reducing messes by redecorating part of the house as a playroom can be a helpful move. If your rental agreement permits it, consider adding:
- Bright, lively paint colors on the walls
- Kid-sized tables and chairs for arts and crafts
- Woven bins to store toys and games
- Soft, patterned carpets, blankets, and throw pillows
- A mini television or radio and some books
3. Transform Your Kitchen and Living Space Into an Entertainment Oasis
If you love to entertain, focus your decorating on the kitchen and living room. Transform your home into an entertainment oasis by:
- Placing an eye-catching welcome mat at the front door
- Laying out color-coordinated placemats and table settings
- Placing a coffee table in the living room and center seating around it to foster conversation
- Installing air fresheners to liven up the kitchen
- Adding a range hood in your kitchen to remove smoke and odors
4. Help Your Family Relax by Incorporating Several Soothing Features
According to one study, your home environment can influence your mental health. You can help yourself and your family relax by adding a few soothing features to your rental.
When in doubt, opt for neutral colors for your furniture covers, blankets, and wall art. Place one or more plants in every room for a pop of color, and consider changing your curtains to let in more natural light.
5. Explore New Spaces If Your Current Home Just Isn’t Cutting It
If you’ve tried everything but redecorating hasn’t been enough to make your current space adequate, try finding a new space. Make sure you do your research on the local market if you plan to buy a home. If you’re interested in renting a different house or apartment, you could:
- Browse current rental property listings virtually
- Filter results for your desired number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Ask your realtor for properties that feature your desired amenities
- Search in a location convenient for your family and your work location
- Try out 3D tours to narrow down your options, if available in your selected listings
When your rented apartment or house isn’t meeting your daily needs, it may be time to redecorate. These five creative tips can help you avoid a cookie-cutter look while transforming your rental into a functional and welcoming space.
About the author:
Suzie Wilson is an interior designer (and will very soon be a published author), who created Happier Home as a side project to help people near and far learn how to enhance their homes so that they’re picturesque and peaceful.
