As much as you may enjoy apartment living, most renters are usually not allowed to decorate extensively. With no paint or major renovations allowed, it can be difficult to truly make the space feel like it’s your own. But it’s not impossible, and it doesn’t have to be extensive or expensive. Kathleen Perkins, a New York City-based associate broker with Douglas Elliman who also has experience decorating homes, shared the tips renters can use to inexpensively decorate their apartment walls. Above all: Pick a style that reflects your personal tastes.
1. Travel Photos
To make your space look glamorous, Perkins suggests printing out pictures from your personal travels or of destinations you think look visually appealing (hello colorful shots of Thailand). Next, head to IKEA or a similar store to get cheap frames. Get creative with the frames.
“Frames can be uniform or they can be varied in sizes. Personally, I love the mix of different sized frames. There’s no right or wrong in the design, just get them on the wall,” she says. “Some people like photos lined up perfectly and all frames the same size; that’s OK too.”
2. Find a Theme You Like
If you’re not crazy about the travel theme, Perkins suggests hanging photos of your family up instead. If you don’t have a ton of family photos handy, just pick a theme and stick with it. Maybe you like flowers or cityscapes. Just pick one you like and stick with it.
3. Add Mirrors
Mirrors are another great way to decorate. For starters, they can make a small space seem larger — a common problem many apartment dwellers face. Hang as many or as few as you like.
“I love mirrors and collect vintage ones of all sizes and shapes. They are a little more unwieldy than photos and a little more difficult to get on the wall, but you can mount them with specific mounting hardware that’s not rough on the wall,” Perkins says. “I once had a dining room where I used the mirrors like wallpaper; there were mirrors everywhere, and when I had a dinner party, it was so reflective and cool when the candles were lit.”
If you’d rather not hang multiple mirrors, just one — vintage or not — can make a big difference.
“If you don’t have the energy to put together a proper feature wall, you can always find a large vintage mirror and hang it, or if it’s super large, just lean it against the wall,” she says. “IKEA has great huge mirrors that are pretty inexpensive that I use all the time. Getting them home is always challenging, but you can’t beat the price.”
4. Collections
If you collect items, maybe cat figurines or other knickknacks lying around, try grouping them in one spot in your house.
“One of my friends copied all of her grandmothers’ recipes and framed them all and made a beautiful feature wall in her kitchen. It was beautiful and so sentimental,” she says.
5. Theme Walls
A cheap and easy way to make your apartment look glam? Make a theme wall. Hang plates in the kitchen. Or find a group of photos you like — maybe some of the Southwestern landscapes — and hang all of them up in one specific place.
Perkins once bought vintage frames from flea markets and then framed photos of houses by lakes.
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6. Textiles
If you’d rather not hang photos, try hanging up textiles. Perkins suggests old flags or other striking large objects. Quilts also can work out well. You could use a tapestry as a headboard too. To keep it from looking too college, leave the push pins on the store shelves and try using Velcro instead. Hanging a tapestry from the ceiling can also make for a dramatic effect.
7. Surfboards or Other Large Objects
If you’re on a tight budget, try buying one striking object to draw attention to and instantly elevate your space. Perkins suggests a surfboard. Search Craigslist or hit up the local thrift stores to search for the perfect find. Maybe you’ll get a great coffee table or antique chest.
8. Vintage Door or Windows
Lean a distressed door frame on a wall or put a window on a dresser to make a simple statement. You could hang the windows up too. Scour Pinterest if you need inspiration for this look.
For other décor tips, check out these tips for decorating without paint or this list of four other renter-friendly items to hang on your walls.