Easy tips to change your Apartment

Are you stuck in an apartment rental dreaming of the day you will live in a "real" home? Guess what? You already do! Home is where you choose to make it, and your apartment can be every bit as cozy and inviting as the house of your dreams if you're willing to invest some time, money and imagination into your current space.

1. Tame the Mess.

Even though living in an apartment can be tight, nothing reminds you of how tight the space is than having to deal with a constant mess. Throw out all the non-essentials and purchase some organizing systems to help you deal with what's left. Floor space is limited to begin with so organizing your apartment means taking advantage of vertical spaces wherever possible. Install shelves and purchase tall, shallow book shelves instead of short, wide units for housing all kinds of essential items.

2. Invest in Yourself.

For those who have just moved from a dorm room or your parents house, your furniture is usually sparse and what you do have is probably mismatched or from thrift stores. And if you've been on your own for years, but are still using bricks and plywood as a bookshelf it is definitely time to start buying some real furniture. Even though you may not be able to afford to replace all your furniture at once, you can start by making a plan and starting with a matching couch and chair, a kitchen table and chairs or even a matching dresser and night stands. Avoid anything too trendy or stylized. In the small scale of an apartment, show pieces can look odd and out of place. Choose well-built furniture that will work in your current space and transition with you in the future.

3. Light it Up.

A single bulb ceiling fixture as the only point of light in your apartment can feel cold and impersonal. Use floor and table lamps to add warmth to your rental apartment and make it feel more like home. If you've got a particularly plain or ugly fixture overhead, buy a ceiling fan or a better looking one. Carefully wrap and store the original fixture and replace it when you leave.

4. Add Color.

Changing the wall color is often forbidden in an apartment rental, but you can add a dramatic splash of color to any wall with a simple craft project. There are lots of options that don't need any paint or nails that still change a room dramatically. Cover a square of foam board with quilt batting and then again with fabric in the color of your choice. All it takes is a single, solid fabric color, one with patterns or you can even mix and match. Adhere the materials to the board with masking tape. Make enough colorful panels to fill a whole wall or just display a few. Secure them to the wall with hook and loop adhesive strips and you have a brand new room without breaking any rules.

There are many limitations to decorating when you live in a rental apartment, but don't let those limitations dissuade you from doing what you can to improve your environment. Try one of these decorating tips to make your apartment rental look and feel like home sweet home.

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