Steep Your Rental in Color — Without Painting the Walls
Let your favorite hues loose without skirting your lease, with these room-by-room ideas for apartments and other rented homes
This ideabook is for color lovers who need alternatives to painting the walls. Even if your landlord has a strict no-painting policy, or you know you will be moving before long, you can still have a home that is vibrantly colorful and utterly you. Check out these ideas and inspiration to fill every room in your home with rental-friendly color.
If you have a breakfast bar or counter, pull up a few colorful stools or add new cushions to the ones you've got. Be consistent with color and choose tea towels, oven mitts and even pots and pans that play well together.
Living Room
Pillows are one of the easiest ways to add color to your living room, and they can be swapped out occasionally when you crave change. A neutral couch in white, gray, beige or chocolate is versatile and can handle any cushions you pile on.
Style tip: Choose a theme (for instance, botanicals and florals) to keep even an eclectic collection of pillows feeling pulled together.
Pillows are one of the easiest ways to add color to your living room, and they can be swapped out occasionally when you crave change. A neutral couch in white, gray, beige or chocolate is versatile and can handle any cushions you pile on.
Style tip: Choose a theme (for instance, botanicals and florals) to keep even an eclectic collection of pillows feeling pulled together.
It might not be for everyone, but a not-neutral sofa can prove to be nearly as versatile — and much more cheerful, especially in a small space. If you do choose color for your sofa, stick with a solid hue rather than a pattern for the most versatility.
Patchwork Kilim Rug
Rolling out a colorful rug is a wonderful way to add warmth, color and pattern to your living space, all in one go. If you find a colorful rug you love with a high price tag, consider buying a smaller size and layering it over a larger (and cheaper) natural-fiber rug.
Painting wooden furniture, whether it's a piece you've had for ages or one you scooped up at the flea market, is a satisfying and fairly easy DIY project. For a creative twist, try tinted chalkboard paint, natural milk paint or tints of a single color to make ombré stripes.
Beach-Themed Picture Frames, Robin's Egg Blue, by Dirt Road Decor
Of course, you can add color to your walls with artwork and vibrant photography, but why not also bring in a splash of color with your frames? Paint a bunch to match and hang them as a gallery wall.
Dining Room
Dining areas in apartments tend to feel a bit bland and impersonal, so this is an area where color can make a huge impact. Try adding your own curtains in a bright, cheerful color like lemon yellow.
Style tip: If you go with bright curtains, choose a neutral rug; if you pick a colorful rug, stick with neutral drapes.
Dining areas in apartments tend to feel a bit bland and impersonal, so this is an area where color can make a huge impact. Try adding your own curtains in a bright, cheerful color like lemon yellow.
Style tip: If you go with bright curtains, choose a neutral rug; if you pick a colorful rug, stick with neutral drapes.
Bedroom
If you are in the market for a new bed, consider splurging on one with an upholstered headboard. Take your time and choose a fabric you really love — this piece will be the focal point of the room.
If you are in the market for a new bed, consider splurging on one with an upholstered headboard. Take your time and choose a fabric you really love — this piece will be the focal point of the room.
Salvation Jane Removable Wallpaper, Spot
Don't want to buy a whole new bed? Try some of the new removable wallpaper. Apply it like a wall decal and remove it before you move out.
Have your heart set on real wallpaper? Another Houzz ideabook gives step-by-step instructions for creating a wallpapered panel you can take with you.
Have your heart set on real wallpaper? Another Houzz ideabook gives step-by-step instructions for creating a wallpapered panel you can take with you.
Woodland Shower Curtain
Bathroom
Draw attention away from outdated tile and fixtures with a fresh, colorful shower curtain and a stack of fluffy towels. If you have the space, you can also add color by bringing in a painted piece of furniture, like a stool or small cabinet.
Draw attention away from outdated tile and fixtures with a fresh, colorful shower curtain and a stack of fluffy towels. If you have the space, you can also add color by bringing in a painted piece of furniture, like a stool or small cabinet.
Home Office
Small storage containers are a great way to introduce color in a workspace. Scoop up a bunch of matching file boxes in a color you love, cover a pin board in coordinating fabric and roll out a rug that ties it all together.
Small storage containers are a great way to introduce color in a workspace. Scoop up a bunch of matching file boxes in a color you love, cover a pin board in coordinating fabric and roll out a rug that ties it all together.
Outdoors
Even if your patio or balcony is pint sized, you can always punch it up with color. Try colorful seat cushions in an outdoor fabric, an indoor-outdoor rug or painted metal furniture. Even adding just a few colorful plant pots can make a huge difference.
Tell us: How do you deal with a rental where you can't paint?
Even if your patio or balcony is pint sized, you can always punch it up with color. Try colorful seat cushions in an outdoor fabric, an indoor-outdoor rug or painted metal furniture. Even adding just a few colorful plant pots can make a huge difference.
Tell us: How do you deal with a rental where you can't paint?
There is no need to settle for a bland kitchen just because you are renting and can't change the big stuff. Focus first on your breakfast area, if you have one, and pack in the color.
Paint a set of wicker or bamboo outdoor furniture, throw a vibrant cloth over your table and hang a colorful framed photo or print.