Improving a Rental Apartment Without Big Expenses: A Checklist of Practical Solutions

Often, rental housing is just a space to live in, not a reason for pride. The vast majority of such apartments can only boast of cosmetic repairs, and talking about design is out of the question. Still, it's quite possible to make rented apartments comfortable for living. We've prepared 7 life hacks for you to achieve this.

1. Wallpaper and Stickers

Wallpaper can fundamentally change the interior: smooth proportions or add volume. Sometimes it's enough to cover just one wall to zone the space and create necessary accents.

Decorative stickers can also be used for decoration, as they do not damage the surface and are easy to attach.

Design: Olga Zhdanova

2. Rearrangement

You can start by moving the wardrobe and wall unit — it's better to place them near the door. All bulky items should be removed, and furniture shouldn't be arranged along the walls. For example, a sofa looks better across the living room rather than along the wall, and placing the dining table away from the wall will dramatically change the look of the kitchen.

Design: Larisa Gavrilova

3. Camouflage Household Items

Small accessories clutter the space, so they should be distributed into boxes, attics, or tucked under the bed. Stacks of boxes should be placed behind the sofa, and the top ones covered with a board. This will create a functional console.

Design: Marina Stashkova, Elena Borovkova

4. Correcting Imperfections

Loose cables and radiators can be neatly masked. Wires wrapped with tape or rope make a great interior item, and a radiator painted to match the wall beautifully complements the original color scheme.

Design: Marianna and Nikita

5. Painting Doors

Doors can be painted black, which helps hide cracks on wooden surfaces and creates contrast in the apartment. Moreover, this shade blends well with other colors. This approach is clearly more effective and economical than buying new doors.

@alenaolenevod

6. Lighting

In older buildings, there is often only one chandelier in the center of the room providing very little light. Side lighting can improve this situation in the living room. Table lamps and floor standing lights create soft light and a vintage atmosphere, instantly transforming the interior.

Design: Tatiana Lebedeva

7. Fairy Lights

A lot of local light fixtures harmonize the space and make it feel more organic. If you can't arrange that much lighting, fairy lights will do — hang them on windows, mirrors and wardrobes or ceiling and door frames.

@takinada