Design for your rented apartment: What not to do

Home is sweet no matter the status, location, or square footage. You have to love where you live as that is the fuel that gets you going every day. In order to do so it’s vital that you are able to express your design ideas keeping in mind that, at some point, you will have to leave everything behind, regardless of the money, time, and effort you put into it. Here are the top five don’ts when decorating a rental.

1. Don’t hold off buying nice furniture. Just because you don’t own a place doesn’t mean that you should fill the rental with substandard pieces of furniture that will fall apart by the time you think of starting a family. Go ahead and spend money on good quality furniture, on those that you really like.

2. Don’t wallpaper. Maybe, somehow, your landlord agrees with your wallpaper idea, but you don’t really want it. It can be pretty pricey and keep in mind you’ll have to take it down before you leave. Use wall decals instead, available at most home décor stores.

3. Don’t invest serious money in structural features. Crown moldings, hardwood floors, counters, etc., all are beautiful, but it’s not worth pouring money into them when you don’t own the place. On second thought, maybe you can compromise with the counters, but only if you’re planning on living in this rental unit for many, many, many years to come.

4. Don’t invest in built-ins. The idea is to think about what can go in a truck, no matter how desperate you are for storage space (all renters are). Built-ins are just too costly and there is no way you can take them with you. Instead, open shelving units can be a valid option, pieces of antique furniture, or freestanding wardrobes.

5. Don’t sacrifice your personal design style. Put the emphasis on accessories, curtains, and artwork, on investments that you can take with you no matter when you choose to trade the rental for another rental or for your own.