Trying to make a rental your own can be quite the challenge. Though you want to settle into your space, the fear of losing your security deposit and the knowledge that someday down the line you'll move once again holds many people back from making any big changes.
But no matter how long you'll be living in your rental, making it comfortable and homey is key – it's your home for now, after all. If you're unsure how to make those clean, white walls feel a little more welcoming, interior designer Nate Berkus just took to Instagram to share his top three tips for decorating a rental and ensuring it feels like home. Here's his best advice.
3 ways to make your rental feel like home
You aren't stuck with white walls and temporary storage solutions just because you've decided to rent an apartment or whole home. These are Nate's three simple tips for taking your rental space to the next level.
1. Opt for paint and temporary wallpaper
One of the easiest ways to refresh a rental is giving it a new coat of paint – or, even better, temporary wallpaper. Nate says this simple refresh instantly makes your home feel more welcoming, giving it character and personal charm. He suggests painting or adding wallpaper to any room that needs a bit of extra love, even if it means you'll have to repaint or remove upon moving out.
'White walls feel automatically like it's not really your space. Temporary wallpaper is a huge, huge thing. There's really amazing wood grain out there, there's stripes, there's pattern. Do the whole room, don't just do an accent wall. Instant personalization,' Nate says in the video.
2. Invest in furniture you love
'Buy things – furniture and decorative objects and vintage lighting – that you're going to take with you when you build a home or buy a home. Just because you're renting, that doesn't mean you can't own beautiful things,' Nate says, explaining his second renter-friendly tip.
The home might not be permanent, but your furniture and decorative accessories can stay with you for a lifetime if you make careful, considered decisions. While you're renting, build up your collection of treasured homeware. When it comes time to move, you'll have a head start on the furnishing process.
'Friends of mine here in New York City rented for 25 years, but they were surrounded by antique furniture, amazing rugs, beautiful textiles that they made into pillows, framed photos and all their books. They lived their day-to-day lives with things that really matter,' adds Nate.
3. Always stay organized
When you're living in a rental for a short period of time, it's easy to let the organization fall by the wayside. But Nate says staying organized is a surefire way to make your rental feel more like home.
'Just because it's a rental, you don't have to have custom millwork and custom closets. You can buy store-bought cabinets and bins to organize everything. Your kitchen can be beautifully organized,' he says in the video.
Nate's line of organizational products from Nate Home makes this process simple, with all the tools you'll need to make your kitchen work for your daily needs.
'For me, knowing what's behind every door, or every drawer, or every kitchen cabinet, is something that definitely makes me feel like home,' he adds.
Keep these three tips in mind if your rental is in need of a personal touch. Even if you're moving soon, your happiness and wellbeing matter every day – and making your space your own has an immeasurable impact.
