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It’s not easy to justify spending money on decor for a home that is only temporary, but you still want to make your space feel like your own! Decorating a rental apartment or house on a budget isn’t out of reach. Try these budget-friendly home improvement ideas for renters!

Cheap Ways to Decorate Your Apartment or Rental House

Area Rugs

A cute area rug can go a long way in a rental space. Area rugs are an inexpensive investment that you can easily lay down over carpet, tile, linoleum, or hardwood floors to spruce up your living room, kitchen, bathroom, or bedrooms. They come in all shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors so you can add your unique style to your rental!

Throw Pillows

Add some fun personality or a pop of color to the furniture in your rental space with a few throw pillows! This small home decor accessory can redefine your space completely. You can switch it up occasionally (or seasonally) with pillow slipcovers.

Floating Shelves

Make room for additional storage and add an aesthetic touch to your walls with floating shelves! Floating shelves are both budget-friendly and multi-functional, which is what makes them a great addition to a rental, especially a small one! You can showcase knick knacks, photos, plants, or art, or store books, kitchen utensils, toiletries, and other functional items.

Curtains and Blinds

Windows take up a lot of wall space and let in a ton of natural light. Dress them up with curtains or blinds to make your space more inviting! Hanging curtains or blinds is an easy, affordable way to style a room in your rental home.

Art

One cost-effective way to embellish your walls without paint or wallpaper is by displaying beautiful art or photos! A gallery wall is a great way to add some character to your rental home. If you’re worried about putting holes in your walls, use paint-friendly strips or wall hangers.

Contact Paper

Contact paper or peel-and-stick wallpaper is the perfect temporary, low-risk home improvement solution for your boring countertops, cabinets, appliances, backsplashes, shelves, and more. You can customize your rental home with this water-resistant, removable material that comes in all different designs and prints.

Lighting

Lighting can have a dramatic effect on your rental space. Whether you need to bring in more light or dim the lighting you already have, adjusting your rental’s lighting can make a huge difference. Replace the light fixtures with new ones that match your style or add trendy standing lamps to transform your space!

Mirrors

Get creative with your rental space aesthetic using mirrors! Mirrors can add dimension to your space, enhance light, and make your space look and feel larger than it really is, especially if you’re in a small rental apartment.