Decorating Apartment without Paint

When moving into a new apartment or just trying to freshen up the look of a current apartment, one of the first things most renters want to change is the wall paint. Usually, painting is acceptable to the owner as long as you return it to the neutral when you move out.

If all of that painting and re-painting is not quite what you had in mind for jazzing up your place, just consider all other decorating options to make your home warm and inviting because it is your home, not just the space you rent.

Create a Beautiful Apartment Interior without Paint

To add in some color without picking up a brush, the choices are endless. You should start with a temperature: warm or cool. Then consider all your room has to contribute. Every spot of color should be in the same temperature. You don't have to have everything the same color. The trick is to blend and combine shades of the same richness and tone.

Warm Temperature

Warm temperatures would mean everything that is contributing interest in your room would be reds, oranges, and some darker yellows. Reds and yellows are energizing and are said to stimulate conversation. These are great for entertaining areas in the living & dining rooms and kitchen.

Vibrant throw pillows, artwork, lamps, and rugs all in the same warm family can create a unified and interesting room, drawing the eye from piece to piece.

Cool Temperature

Blues, greens, teals, and some purples are cool colors. Varying shades of these in a room brings down the energy and tend to be calming and relaxing. Depending on the shade intensity, these can also be refreshing and cheery.

Bringing cool into a bedroom or a bathroom are great ways to inject a cohesive palette and liven up the neutral walls and floors. In a bedroom, a bedspread and artwork with a similar toned lamp can create a soothing environment. In a bathroom, a beautiful shower curtain with artwork bath mats in the same color family will create a unified and relaxing bath.

Remember! Everything doesn't have to match exactly - just should be in the same family.

Lighting Brightens

Lighting effects mood and with limited ability to change the permanent fixtures in an apartment, a renter must think creatively with lamps. The first step is to supplement the permanent overhead fictures with more ambient background lighting. A big floor lamp in the corner over your reading chair creates big impact.

Accent is the next to consider. If you have a favorite picture or plant, highlight it with a small accent. A clip on spotlight works great for art on the wall. Small uplights are easily found to place on the floor next to a big plant.

You should also consider reflecting where you can. Mirrors are great. Reflective or shiny surfaces help a great deal. A glass table lamp provides sparkle, reflects and generates ambient light. A 3 for 1!

Silver picture frames and glass elements go a long way for reflecting what you have and bringing the eye around the room.

There are so many ways to create interest and vibrant living in an apartment with neutral walls and floors. Just consider it your blank canvas!