10 Tips to Make Your Rental Apartment Feel Like Yours

Whether you’ve just signed the lease on your first rental or moved into your fifth sublet, there’s something about rental apartments that can feel… temporary. If the white walls, bland fixtures, and sometimes even the furniture isn’t quite your style, this can make it tricky to feel truly at home. But just because you’re renting, it doesn’t mean your space has to feel boring and generic.

With a few smart, renter-friendly design choices, you can turn any rental into a cozy home that reflects your style and personality (without risking your deposit). Here are 10 tips to help make your rental apartment feel like yours.

How to Make Your Rental Apartment Feel Like Home

1. Start with a Color Scheme You Love

Even if you can’t paint the walls, you can still infuse your space with your favorite colors. Choose a color palette that makes you feel calm, energized, or inspired — whatever mood you want your home to reflect. Use it in your textiles, like throw pillows, curtains, rugs, and bedding. Consistency in color creates a sense of cohesion and belonging.

Removable wallpaper in your favorite colors and patterns can add a big dose of personality. And the best thing about them? They peel right off when it’s time to move.

2. Upgrade Your Lighting

Many rental apartments and rooms come with outdated fixtures or harsh overhead lighting that can make everything feel clinical. But you don’t have to live under fluorescents! Swap out basic light fixtures with ones that reflect your style (just save the originals to reinstall later). Even easier — layer your lighting. Add floor lamps, table lamps, or wall-mounted plug-in sconces to create a warm, inviting glow.

Warm bulbs, dimmers, and smart lighting systems can make a major difference in the ambiance of your space.

3. Hang Art That Speaks to You

Nothing says “you” like the artwork on your walls. Even in rentals where you’re not allowed to hammer nails, you can still create a gallery wall using hooks or picture-hanging strips that won’t damage the paint.

Mix framed prints, photos, canvas art, or even 3D pieces like baskets and tapestries. Don’t worry about matching perfectly — eclectic collections often look more curated and interesting.

4. Get Creative with Storage

If your rental doesn’t come with enough closet space or cabinetry, take it as an opportunity to get stylish with storage. Open shelving, vintage trunks, and attractive baskets can hold your things while doubling as decor. Consider investing in multifunctional furniture, like ottomans with hidden compartments or beds with drawers underneath.

If everything has a place, it instantly makes a space feel more like home.

5. Personalize with Textiles

Textiles are the fastest, most reversible way to inject your style into a space. Think curtains, rugs, bedding, and throws — each piece adds color, patterns, and comfort. Layer textures like linen, velvet, or wool to add depth and warmth.

Even changing out curtains or throwing down a brand new rug can dramatically shift the vibe of a space from “rental” to “refined.”

6. Switch Out Hardware

You’d be surprised how much of a difference changing hardware can make. Swap out dated cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, or even faucet handles for something more your taste. Gold, matte black, or brass fixtures can make the room feel more elegant, while quirky vintage finds add character.

Just keep the original pieces safely stored so you can switch them back when you move out.

7. Incorporate Plants

Greenery has a magical way of making a space feel alive and welcoming. Whether you go for leafy monsteras, easy-going snake plants, or a kitchen herb garden, plants bring color, life, and a sense of serenity.

No green thumb? Faux plants have come a long way and can still offer that fresh, homey look.

8. Define Spaces with Area Rugs

Many rental apartments have wall-to-wall carpet or hardwood floors, but rugs can help define areas and add softness underfoot. Use rugs to separate open-plan areas or just to bring in color and pattern.

Layering rugs is also trending! Try placing a smaller, eye-catching rug over a larger neutral one for a high-end designer look.

9. Make the Most of Wall Space

If square footage is tight, don’t forget about the walls! Vertical storage and decor can help you make the most of your space and make your home pretty. Tall bookshelves, hanging planters, floating shelves, and even leaning ladders can all look good and give you the function you need.

Add personal touches like framed photos, meaningful objects, or travel souvenirs to make it feel truly yours.

10. Live with Like-Minded People

Your environment isn’t just about furniture —it’s about the people you share it with. Living with roommates who have similar tastes, lifestyles, and respect for the space can make your apartment feel much more like home. Whether you’re new to a city or just looking for a fresh start, finding the right housemates is key.

If you’re living in the city and searching for someone to share your space with, check out roommates in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, or anywhere else. SpareRoom makes it easy to find potential flatmates who fit your vibe so you can build a home together — not just coexist under one roof.

Final Thoughts

Your rental might come with limits, but it doesn’t have to limit you. With a few simple changes, some creativity, and thoughtful touches, you can transform your apartment into a sanctuary that feels completely your own. It’s about making the space work for you. Your home should reflect your style, your habits, and the people you love to be around.