Below you'll find some simple, yet unique ways you can make your rental walls feel like home.
Nothing makes a home quite like hanging pictures of your friends and family up, but some people just hate hanging them. You have to make sure they're level, the spacing is right, and if you aren't happy with it then you're stuck with a hole in the wall that is usable. It's especially hard when you get charged for each hole you place in the wall when it's time to move out.
Once you have the framed pictures in front of you, trace the size of each frame onto separate pieces of scrap paper and cut each one out. Use these to tape onto the wall and arrange in a formation that you like. It will probably take a few tries before deciding on your final formation. You can get some ideas for different wall formations here.
Once you've settled on your picture formation, do you decide to go with nail holes or find a way without nail holes? What's the best course of action?
No Hole Option:
Command Strips are a wonderful invention that allow you to hang up your pictures and frames without putting a hole in the wall! They also allow you to not damage the paint on the wall. They have a variety of different kinds depending on the weight of your frame or if you want to hang it versus attach it to the wall. When in doubt, use multiple Command Strips. They also have shelves you can attach to your wall and then place your photos on.
Hole Option:
If you decide to go with making holes in the wall, just remember you get charged with any damage done to the wall when you move out! Okay, now that you've been warned here are simple steps you can follow to make sure you know exactly where to place your nail holes so you don't have any mishaps.
In case you’ve missed the craze, washi tape is decorative Japanese tape that most crafters are obsessed with, but you can use it too, crafty or not. The tape has a plethora of different uses, many of which can brighten up the dull walls of your rental living situation. Washi tape comes in every pattern and color you can imagine. It can be used in your home for:
…and just about anywhere else you can imagine. See for yourself here.
You're probably living with those plastic blinds most rentals have, or at least are stuck with drab white blinds of some kind. Adding some window treatments can instantly brighten your home and make it feel more finished. You don’t even have to be a sewer. Hometalk has a great board with ideas to help you:
If you like the more traditional floor-length curtain look, there are even some unique curtain rods you can make or purchase if you want to be a little daring!
Rental living doesn’t mean your walls have to be white, blank and boring. Try some of the out-of-the-box techniques above and show your personality. It’s your home after all!