January is a huge month for moving, and sometimes that move means you’re in a rental surrounded by white walls, white ceilings and beige carpet.
Been there, done that.
You may think you don’t have a lot of options for adding color, but I’m here to show you a few easy, creative, and inexpensive ways to jazz up your rental (or any space for that matter!).
USE DECORATIVE FOLDING SCREENS
Decorative screens are surprisingly easy to make (click on the ‘source’ for the how-to), and the best part is you choose what fabric you want, making it a perfect way to add color and a cohesive, pulled-together look.
COVER LARGE OR SMALL CANVAS WITH FABRIC
This has got to be the easiest diy ever! Head on over to your local second hand store and buy an inexpensive piece of canvas artwork and cover it with your choice of fabric. Another alternative is to use a few different sizes of canvas and cover them each in different, coordinating fabric. Of course, you can always buy new canvases at an art store, but you’ll save some $$ buying old prints, and that’s always a good thing :).
Source
PAINT YOUR FURNITURE
Enough said.
USE AREA RUGS
For me, area rugs are an important element in a room, maybe the most important one. They define a space, add color and create a cozy feel to any room. If your rental has plain ‘apartment beige’ carpeting, the rug works great to help camouflage it.
Source
ACCESSORIZE WITH COLOR
Accessories help a room come alive, and here’s where you can really bring your personality into the space. Pillows, art, flowers, collectibles, drapes, etc. all help to liven up a space and make it your own.
HANG CURTAINS ON THE WALLS
You don’t necessarily need a window for a curtain. In the space below, the ‘illusion’ of a window behind the bed was created by using a wall of drapes.
So there you go my friends. Just because you can’t paint, doesn’t mean you can’t have a colorful, happy space that you’ll love, and the best part is, you can take these decorative elements with you when you move into your dream home!
In other news…
Here’s a picture I took while in Sanibel Island this week. I love the way the Egrets reflection is in the water. I was in a trolley taking a tour when I shot this and had to share!
Sanibel is a laid back, sophisticated place perfect for those of you who like to collect shells. I’m not a fan since I prefer soft, sandy beaches and I don’t collect shells, but if you do it’s worth a visit. The recent storms have also brought more shells to the shores, and we saw some really beautiful and interesting ones.
Speaking of weather, we had another tornado earlier this week. Yours truly just stayed in bed, oblivious to the dangers just outside, but about 100 of our neighbors here at the resort high tailed it outta here and took shelter at a nearby hospital.
I woke up the next morning under a trailer, with just my feet sticking out. Somewhere in the distance I heard chanting…ding dong the witch is dead.
It kinda hurt my feelings…
AnnMarie says
Great post with great ideas! Great surprise ending and funny! That movie is my all time favorite so I got a good chuckle!!
Brenda Kula-Pruitt says
Love these rental living ideas! The color behind the chair is genius. I do love screens, but have never had one. The apartment with color is my favorite!
Brenda
tammy j says
I always felt a little sorry for that witch. I think she was misunderstood.
except I think she wanted to make toto her lunch. now that is not nice.
and going through life with a green face has got to affect one’s self esteem.
and speaking of color…
this was a WONDERFUL post!
I have 3 turquoise throw rugs on my beige wren house carpet…
and I LOVE THEM! they are cheerful and beautiful. and you’re right about it all!
XOXOXO♥
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
That last picture is amazing with this wonderful reflexion in the water. Stay safe!
Jemma says
Doreen,
Great ideas and you and I have both been there and made the most of it!
Always ways to make temporary living feel like home.
Take care and keep having fun!
xo
Jemma
Debbie from MountainMama says
Ha ha ha ha you’re too funny!! Glad you’re ok my friend – and that photo of the Egret is gorgeous!!
Julie says
Hi Doreen,
What lovely ideas to add color to your home. It sounds like you are having a great time. I hope the weather improves for you. Take care and enjoy the week.
Julie
Cecilia says
Haha, oh Doreen. You’re too funny but I’m glad you weren’t hurt! I hate tornados…they are so scary!
Great ideas on how to spice up a rental!
Cindi says
Omg! You always make me laugh!
LOL!
Love that photo with the reflection.
Very cool!
Great tips for adding color to White.
Most of my house is white because… I LOVE White!
I accent it with wood tones and Black.
LOL!
but I lately added some green and upstairs the bathroom is a turquoise color!
It was hard for me to do…I was going to do WHITE but I made myself do a color!
😉
Great post!
xoxo
kelly says
Oh my goodness! You are too funny! I remember hearing on the news about some tornadoes hitting FL. Is that rare? I didn’t think they usually got tornadoes. Glad that y’all are ok!! It would be very scary being in a motorhome during a tornado. I’ve been to Sanibel island before. It’s very beautiful since it’s so rural.
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
You are too funny, Doreen! I think I’d just faint if I was anywhere in Tornado territory. The egret photo is stunning! I went to Sanibel once years ago, but it was really chilly so I couldn’t really enjoy it. The rental “color” tips are great – love that third photo.
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
If I rented I would do several of these tips for sure! Especially fun art work and colorful furniture. Love it!
I love that photo and the reflection- looks like a gorgeous place. But holy moly – you dodged a tornado Lady!! Glad the Angels were watching over….but the end of this made me do a spit take laugh with my drink thank you very much! Lol!! You’re such a nut! 😉
Blessings Doll. xoxo
rue says
Ding dong the witch is dead… HA! I’m glad you’re okay.
That picture you took looks like a painting. It sound like your having fun despite water issues and tornadoes 😉
Be safe, my friend.
xoxo,
rue
Feral Turtle says
Hahaha you are funny! Glad you survived 🙂 I love your picture, a gorgeous shot. Great tips on adding color.
Doreen says
Hey you! How are things? Nice to hear from you, and you’re sorely missed in blogland. xxx
Red Rose Alley says
Doreen, this picture of the Egret is awesome! I love the way it shows the reflection in the water. I think this is the Great Egret, cousin to the Snowy Egret. You have tornadoes, oh my! I like these inspirational rooms, especially the one with the splash of Red. I think red in the home is so cheerful, elegant, and charming at the same time.
Have a good rest of the week.
~Sheri
Benita says
I really like the idea of covering the canvases with fabric. I’ve seen some cool idea on Pinterest that involved canvases…all beautiful. I love these ideas!
You crack me up….glad you are safe!! Hugs!!
Pinky says
Good tips! I wish SO much I could get to Sanibel, I have a large shell collection and would love to get some there!
Doreen says
Hi Pinky! Nice to see you here! The weather has apparently made shelling even better Pinky. Marco Island is just as good if not better, and we’re just minutes away from there. Our neighbors went there last week and returned with some unbelievable shells!
Pinky says
I have a friend who lives in Fort Myers, maybe she could get me some neat shells:):)
Vera says
Doreen,
All your ideas of adding color are spot on. Sometimes its as simple as switching out pillow covers on your sofa for a color punch and adding a vase of colorful flowers. Not much expense and what a difference it makes. I really enjoy your posts and welcome back from vacation. Your shared photograph of the Egrets reflection is stunning and deserves to be made into note cards.
Happy weekend wishes,
xoxo,
Vera
Doreen says
Hi Vera, and thanks so much for the visit! We are not back home just yet…we aren’t going to be until the end of March. Heading to Venice Monday.
Have a great weekend!
Dewena says
Woke up under a trailer–don’t scare me that way, Doreen! And goodness, what does it take to get you to head to shelter with the rest of the tourists? Still having fun down there in FL?
That red painted chest is gorgeous! Great job on the egret photo!
Doreen says
Good morning Dewena! Well, I pretty much slept through the whole thing! Apparently some of our neighbors have storm alerts for their phones but we don’t, so we just thought it was ‘windy’ and that was that. We didn’t find out until the next day what happened. It was around 5 am when everyone was leaving. Our neighbor said he thought about waking us but decided against it.
We’re still enjoying Florida and we don’t miss Massachusetts at all!
xxx
Kimberley says
Hi Doreen,
Ok, my kooky sense of humor thought that was funny about your feet sticking out under a trailer…but not so funny for you to ever get hurt (insert lecture here)…you need to stay safe next time there is a tornado coming through there! 🙂
Loved all of the adding color to a rental ideas…especially love the folding screens with the fabric!
Your photo is beautiful and I have always wanted to go to Sanibel Island…I love seashells!
Happy weekend! Hugs!! Kimberley
Al says
Because you’re obviously ok, that’s pretty funny. I can’t imagine sleeping through a tornado. Your egret photo is stunning. It looks so warm and peaceful, and makes me a little jealous. I hope you get back to a nice sandy beach soon.
Sue says
Stop it ding dong witch, you are so fun. My sister went to Captiva Island this year and I am surprised she came home and she will probably move there and somewhere like it in her near future.