Hey!! Are you in a temporary living situation but still want to have all the comforts of a forever home? Let’s transform your temp space into a comfortable reflection of yourself through these 5 tips to make your rental feel like home!
If you have read How To Prepare for a Cross Country Move then you know I move around a bit. We have moved almost 5,000 miles within the last year and a half.
We move from rental to rental and it can feel like real life is on hold, to be honest. Living in these temporary locations can be an amazing adventure but also can feel unsettled. But no more!
It only took a couple of moves for me to realize I needed to do something different. I don’t want to always look for the time when we can finally settle somewhere so I changed my mentality.
There are 5 tips that I recommend for you to try out if you are in a similar situation and want to make any place of residence a HOME.
5 ways to make a temporary space feel like home
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1. Decorate those walls!
When a place feels temporary, it is easy to feel like there’s no point in doing much decorating to simply take it all down when you move again. If you are guilty of those feelings, like me, then let’s make this change together!
Hanging up personal pictures or artwork that reflect your style will create a space that you will feel proud to show off. This is IMPORTANT because if you are not proud of your space then you will not likely be inviting people over. If you are in a new city you need to make connections and friendships! Making a space that you are comfortable in will make a difference on a number of counts.
If you aren’t allowed to put holes in your walls then try some command hooks! We have this kit with a variety of styles to fit your different needs. We bought it on sale and have not had to buy any others since we bought it a couple of years ago.
2. Invest in some stick ons
There are some quality options for stick on wallpaper and peel and stick countertops! This is a GAME CHANGER for rentals! The place we are in has a pretty ugly kitchen and stick on wallpaper can become a backsplash, if you have extra left over!
That combined with peel and stick countertops can completely transform the look and feel of your space when you are unable to paint or change those aspects. Amazon has a ton of countertop options including this white marble one that can be found here! I love the basic all-white kitchen look and think marble countertops are so dreamy.
In a rental, you actually have total freedom in this area. You might make more permanent decisions like painting walls in an owned space. In a rental, if you want to have a crazy wall, then get some funky stick on wallpaper and go crazy! You have the freedom to make these choices for a low cost. I have been obsessed with stripe details and herringbone patterns. One of my favorites can be found here!
Along with the wallpaper and countertops, there are also stick on tile and flooring! You could cover your cabinets and have a totally new look!
Anyone else basic and love subway tile? (Thanks Fixer Upper) There are even subway tile stick ons for you to create the super cute backsplash that you’ve been dreaming of! You can find one of my favorites here but they have different grout color options as well!
Did you know you could be this particular when decorating an apartment or rental home??
One thing to note is that textured walls might not be as easy to stick your wallpaper to!
Is it just me or do rentals LOVE textured walls?? Probably because they hide imperfections…? If you run into this issue, I would try and get creative as possible for ways to stick it. Maybe even try some clear packaging or matte tape on the corner seams.
3. Completely unpack
I am so guilty of not fully unpacking! Typing and thinking about that is giving me some anxiety.
I don’t love moving. Who does? I love the idea of seeing new places and starting fresh but the actual pack and unpack your boxes part- not my fave.
It can be very easy when you move around a bit to use a spare bedroom as a catchall for your boxes that don’t need to be unpacked.
(If you have items that can live in boxes for months without popping up in your mind- chances are those items should not have made the move.)
Anyone else so guilty about not fully unpacking? I tend to rely on family or friends coming to visit to finally get my tail into gear on unpacking. So when they don’t then I just tend to live with hidden boxes in my spare bedroom. Truth be told, sometimes they aren’t hidden. Sometimes they take residence in my main hallway and just get looked at every day. It’s been bad.
At our last apartment, we never fully unpacked. Every friend or family member that came and stayed with us never got the tour of our master. It was huge and unfortunately the catchall of the apartment.
So much stress can come from looking at that clutter or even knowing it exists.
Unpacking allows you to feel settled.
Feeling settled is the entire point of this post! In temporary living arrangements or rentals, we have to go above and beyond sometimes to make our spaces feel like a home. Being able to leave all of our doors open and see that beautiful bare floor will be a breath of fresh air.
4. Give every spot a purpose
If you have ever thought about your dream home, I bet every room or space in that place has a distinct purpose.
Sure, you didn’t design your current spot but you can make the most of it but formulating a purpose for every space that you have. Important to note that purpose does not mean clutter.
This step will get you thinking about your home and allow you to see it in a different light. Maybe you have a super tiny spare bedroom that’s deemed a bedroom but you’re not actually sure a human bed would fit in it- boom- let’s give it another purpose. It could be a craft room, a pet room where you set up lounging areas for your pets (? mine would definitely have one of these- so spoiled), a game room, an office, all of a sudden, you have a ton of potential!
This will enable you to use all of your spaces which can make you feel like you have more space.
5. Add some plants
You might not be a plant person or just don’t want that responsibility. I get it. The good news is that fake plants have really upped their game and are looking much more real! I have found that adding that green to a space changes the feel DRAMATICALLY.
I’ve never been a plant person, not until last year! When I bought my first plant and put it in my living room I would find myself looking at it every chance I could, from the kitchen or the hallway. Seeing that green and freshness just added a personal touch that my space so desperately needed.
There are beautiful plant options that are very low maintenance too but that’s another post! Even if you are unsure that they will fit into your style, it doesn’t hurt to try a plant and see if you like it in your space!
The purpose is to revive your space and make it uniquely YOU!
Conclusion
These 5 tips to make your rental or temporary residence feel like a home will allow you to view your space in a whole new light! These options are relatively low cost and can fit into your budget. You might think that it is unnecessary but how much better would you feel if you temporary space felt more like a home?
Don’t be like me. Don’t waste time in your house or apartment! Decorate and add your personal style to your home! You deserve a place that feels comfortable and to be proud of that space!
If you try any of these tips or have some of your own, let me know!
-Kailey
