Many apartment dwellers feel trapped in their apartment. White walls, tan carpets, and appliances and furnishings that don’t belong to you that you can’t change for fear of losing that pesky deposit, can make you feel like a guest in your own home. But it doesn’t have to feel that way.

There are many ways to make an apartment yours; to give it color and personality that will make you want to stay because you feel at home, not just because it’s easier than moving…again.

1. Residents often ask if they can paint their apartment walls. That’s often time consuming and the response is usually “No” or “Yes, but you have to paint it back before move-out,” which is more money and more time consuming. There are several other options to give your apartment color without all the hassle.

girlinthegarage.net

*Use temporary, self adhesive wallpaper to add color instead of painting and then re-painting. It was created for movie sets, but now there are tons of products perfect for apartment renters.

*Paint your furniture instead of your walls. A little pop of color on a dresser or your kitchen chairs will make you forget all about those white walls.

*Add a different look to the kitchen and bathroom walls with tile tattoos. These are temporary stickers that cover old tiles, are easily removable, and give your kitchen a little personality.

2. Tan carpets and tan tiles drain all the life out of you. Brighten up your floors with colored rugs: runners for hallways and small rugs for kitchens and bathrooms, or splurge and go for a large area rug to give the living room a whole new look. There are great deals at stores like Marshall’s and IKEA (coming soon to St. Louis) or order online from cheap sites like Overstock or Ebay.

3. Accessories can make or break the warmth and personality of an apartment. There are many great accessories you can use to draw your attention from the boring, neutral tones or unflattering walls.

*Curtains: Instead of sticking with already installed blinds, pick up some curtains at your local department store or online. Try dark, rich colors like navy blue or maroon, or go bold with a floral or stripe to give it something extra.

*Collections: Pick an item to collect; for me it’s magnets. Every time I visit a new place, whether it’s a small town in Wisconsin or Hawaii, I find a new magnet to represent my trip. My magnets are displayed all over my refrigerator and it gives me that feeling of “this is mine.” If you have a postcard or figurine collection, get some funky shelves or frames and hang them on the wall. They’ll stand out against a white or neutral backdrop, but more importantly, they make you feel at home.

Do you have a room in your apartment that makes you feel at home? Share what makes it feel like home to you (and feel free to include a photo!).