I don’t know about you but one of my apartment pet peeves is bland walls. When people live with décor-less walls and spaces, it truly boggles my mind. If you’re like me and you don’t want to feel like you’re living in a jail cell, here are a few tips on how to liven up your apartment walls in a cheap and creative way.
Picture Frame Collage
You can see this decorative idea in many home style magazines and TV shows. It’s possible that you’ve even seen it in the home of someone you know. Well, did you know this high end looking wall upgrade is super easy and cheap to execute? All you need are some picture frames that complement each other, a picture hanging kit, and a hammer from your trusty tool kit. If you’re not confident in your frame hanging abilities, get a handy friend to help. Or if you really want to give it a go on your own, there are many YouTube videos and web posts on the subject of hanging things on a wall. It’s possible that your apartment may not allow tenants to put holes into the walls but there’s a way around that! For example, 3M makes handy picture frame hanging strips that will hang any size frame without causing damage to the walls or paint.
Homemade Art
You know all those art pieces you see for sale in home goods stores? The overpriced ones that are so generic, you probably know at least five people that own a few? Yeah, don’t even bother with those. Why would you when you can make your own? I promise it’s not as hard as it looks. An easel, canvas, and the paint of your choice are all you need for your next custom-made art piece. The best part about it, you can get all of the supplies for less than $40 and it can be tailored to your style and decor. The sense of accomplishment after finishing your first art piece will be priceless. If you don’t consider yourself to be a creative, no worries! There are so many videos and posts online on how to make your own art in any style you wish. YouTube and Pinterest are great places to start your search.
Decals/Wall Stickers
If you want your wall to look extravagant without the money and labor it takes to paint it, decals may be the way to go for you. Decals come in a all shapes, sizes, colors, designs, and fonts for your designing pleasure. You can get anything from a tribal print to a life sized dolphin in a decal. They’re fairly easy to install but you should think of it as a semi-permanent staple on your wall. It is removable, but it takes heat application and patience to do it without removing any paint along with the decal. As long as your apartment walls were painted properly and the paint is fairly new, you shouldn’t have any issues. If you don’t think you will want to stick to one design, wall stickers can give you a similar effect sans the high quality finish. The upside to wall stickers is that when you’re starting to get bored with your original choice, you can easily switch them out. Be careful though, decals & wall stickers can get pricey depending on the size and amount you use. As long as you do some research and you stick to a budget, you’ll walk away with a great deal.
These few tips should get the wheels turning in your head and point you towards the direction of a more stylish, homey feeling apartment. Just because you’re renting, doesn’t mean you can’t make the space your own. So go forth, and decorate! If you have any more ideas for your fellow readers, share them in the comments below.