Thankfully, there are plenty of landlord-approved ways to make a place feel like yours, and a rug packs a big punch in this regard. Whether you call a small studio space home, share an apartment with roommates, or have a dream place in the city, rugs make it easy to personalize your space without swinging a sledgehammer.
Start from the Ground Up
In most of today’s rental apartments, you’ve got cold floors, and your landlord probably doesn’t want to hear about any capital improvements to change this. A rug adds literal and figurative warmth. There’s nothing like textured wool to soften the blow of hardwoods or tiles underfoot; a flatweave rug provides an interesting texture to your room without overwhelming its underlying aesthetic. This is exponentially better than chair rails and accent paint because it creates a mood.
Turn a bland bedroom into a haven with a neutral rug in soothing hues. Your landlord will love it, but you’ll be the one to benefit. For a pop of personal style in the living room, add a graphic print to the floor, ideally in one or more colors you can easily work into furnishings and accents.
Divide and Conquer
It’s no wonder that rentals offer open-plan design solutions. Rental spaces in big cities don’t include an overabundance of square footage, and when it’s nice outside, you’re hardly ever inside, so why create more walls than you really need? All that said, having a living room that’s connected to your dining room and kitchen is a recipe for chaos, which is why the best rugs are for decorators.
Rather than functioning as room dividers, let a large rug define the boundaries of the area where you host meals, while a smaller rug goes beneath the dining area. Two rectangular or square rugs used this way in two spaces create different physical and mental spaces. Bonus: No plaster, drywall, or mudding required.
Your Style, Your Way
The great thing about rugs as part of your decoration is that they let you shine by effortlessly tying the room together. Since they aren’t permanent, your apartment is a coastal escape, an Australian boho suite, an urban retreat, or whatever style you like. All you have to do is pick the perfect patterns.
Don’t know where to start? Embrace the easy-living and very on-trend options by Serena & Lily. Their rug collection spans an array of natural fibers and features hand-knotted designs. Renters who love luxury without long-term commitment should look no further than this collection.
Move-In Friendly, Move-Out Easy
One of the best things about decorating with rugs is that they move with you. That Moroccan-inspired flatweave that tied your whole apartment together? It will look just as good in your next space. If the space you’re using it in changes, so can the rug. In the bedroom last year and the entryway this year, rugs redefine functions. They’re problem solvers too. Scratched up hardwoods? A less-than-adventurous tile choice in the kitchen? A great rug hides a lot of issues and adds a lot of appeal in the process.
Rent But Make It Yours
Someone else’s home may be your rental apartment, but that doesn’t mean it can’t feel like home. With the right rug, you can make a rental your own, add a little warmth and style, and shape it to your taste without getting yourself into trouble. Sometimes, all you need to do to love where you live is to introduce a little design from the ground up.
Read more home decor at ClichéMag.com
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