If you’re a renter you might ask:

“Why should I bother decorating my apartment or rental house? They won’t let me make big changes, and I don’t want to invest my time or money in a place I don’t own”.

As a renter I also used to think this way! In fact, I’ve spent every day of the past three years in my current apartment wishing I had curtains on the windows in my living room. In retrospect, that was more than *a thousand days* I missed out on having my place feel like my own home!

Finally I stopped wishing and just did it! I realized:

• Life’s too short to miss out on simple joys like having curtains when you want them
• Just because it’s a rental doesn’t mean it shouldn’t feel like my home
• I didn’t have to spend a large amount of money to get a few panels and rods
• Putting up curtains took no time at all! And it was FUN!

If you’re a renter you’re probably comfortable with the idea of buying furniture for your space, but you’re hesitant to touch your walls. This is totally understandable, especially since you might lose your deposit if you make the “wrong” choice and end up doing something that upsets your landlord! That said, you may find you have more options in your space than you originally thought. Luckily, there are lots of temporary design ideas that are quick, cost effective, and can transform your space!

“Hang” Framed Photos and Art

Hanging photos and art on your walls is one of the fastest ways to personalize a space and make a room feel more like home. If you’re not able to put nails in the wall (or if you’re just trying to make as few holes as possible), try out some of these alternatives:

• Leaning Frames Against the Wall: If you have tall dressers, bookshelves or entertainment centers, leaning larger framed photos against the wall is a great way to include art in your space without sacrificing the walls. Just use a little museum putty to keep frames in place at the base. Feel a little uneasy about the idea of leaning items on top of furniture? You can buy simple shelves like these picture ledges from Room and Board that can help you achieve this look (though note that *will* require a few holes in the wall).

• Photo Display Walls: Want to show off a lot of photos and easily change them out for new ones? Using clips instead of multiple frames not only saves space, but also reduces the number of holes you put in the wall. Photo wall panels come in all shapes and sizes – you can hang a small, simple one like this from Urban Outfitters, or create a big installation like this art trellis as featured on Apartment Therapy:

• Temporary Hooks: Last but not least, consider trying removable hooks like this Picture Hanging Set to hang art right on the wall. These are temporary, removable hooks that can withstand a fair amount of weight (but *do* pay attention to the weight limits, and maybe don’t hang something priceless from them… just in case). You just stick them on the wall (let them set for the time indicated on the package), and hang your item. When it’s time to move out, carefully pull the hanging tab to remove and voila! – no holes to fill! Hooks come in all shapes and sizes so you can find the perfect hook for your project!

Add color directly to your walls

Regardless of if you’re able to paint your walls or not, there is a design solution for every situation!

• If you are able to paint your walls, the sky’s the limit! With a little painter’s tape and imagination, you can even make one (or all) of your walls a focal point by creating a painted design (like stripes, boxes, etc.). This is also a great option for the renter who doesn’t want to hang many things up, but still wants some visual interest on the walls.

• If you’re not able to paint the walls, try removable wall murals and decals! These easy-to-place, easy-to-remove stickers come in all shapes, sizes, design styles and price points, and you can use these in every room of the house! Want a mural in your dining room? A new backsplash in your kitchen? No problem! Take a look at this awesome wall-paper style wall mural from A New Wall:

And at this awesome feature wall octopus decal from HomyVinyl on Etsy:

I’m so much happier now that I have the warmth of curtains in my living room. Since accomplishing that, I now see the potential for tons of other changes in my apartment that will add to my happy home without risking my deposit. It’s an easy step that comes with a lot of reward, and the best part is I can take the curtains with me when I move to my next place! So don’t be afraid to invest in your rental because it just might pay off in the end!

May your home (or apartment) Always be happy!