7 Designer-Approved Living Room Upgrades for Your Rental Right Now
Don’t let living in a rental stop you from creating a welcoming, cozy living room you’ll actually be excited to spend time in. If you’re not feeling super inspired at the moment, that’s okay. I spoke to a handful of designers and asked them to share seven easy, affordable, renter-friendly living room upgrades that will help you majorly transform your space. You’ll wish you’d thought of these the day you moved in, but it’s never too late to make a change!
Bring in an Area Rug
No living room is complete without a rug, and the right one can work wonders, explains designer Elana Mendelson of Elana Designs. “Area rugs are a game-changer — they define spaces, conceal less-than-ideal flooring, and introduce warmth, texture, and personality,” she says.
You don’t need to break the bank when sourcing an area rug either. Retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart offer stylish, sizable options that come in at $200 or less, and you can find plenty of inexpensive online rug stores as well.
Designer Taylor Johnson likes to layer Turkish rugs for a collected look. “They are on the thinner side, which makes them easy to layer, and they add lots of personality,” she says.
Add Color and Pattern to Your Walls
Even if you can’t paint your room’s walls (though in most rentals, you should be able to do so with landlord permission), that doesn’t mean you have to leave them totally bare. “Artwork and mirrors are equally transformative, providing an affordable way to add color, character, and visual interest,” Mendelson says. “You don’t have to use nails,” Johnson adds. “3M Command strips will be your best friend in a rental!”
Visit your favorite flea market or shop online for affordable art in search of vibrant prints that will add instant personality and character to your space. “Art is a great investment because it is easy to bring with you wherever you may find yourself next and can be moved around to different areas of the home if it doesn’t work in your next living room,” adds designer Allison Garrison, the founder of Allito Spaces.
Another resource designers often rely on in rentals is peel-and-stick temporary wallpaper. “It’s an easy way to add a pop of color or pattern while keeping things flexible,” says designer Paige Dick, the founder of Paige Designs.
Swap in New Light Fixtures
Renting doesn’t necessarily mean you’re stuck with your unit’s builder-grade lighting. “Lighting is an easy way to update a rental property and can be removed as easily as it is installed for a quick fix that makes a major difference,” says designer Kelley Gable, the founder of Gable Interiors.
Say goodbye to those blah boob lamps and install a dazzling vintage chandelier instead. You’ll be amazed at what a difference a seemingly small tweak will make in your living room. Just be sure to tuck away original fixtures for safekeeping so that you can reinstall them when your lease ends. And if you want an even simpler solution, consider the Tulip, a replacement shade that snaps onto existing boob lights to disguise them with nice fabric.
Reevaluate Your Lighting Scheme
On a related note, you’ll want to upgrade your lighting scheme in general to make sure your living room is a warm, inviting space. “Layered lighting is something I will never stop singing the praises of,” says designer Andrea Sinkin. “I personally like to have a brighter overhead light and then task lights throughout the room and sconces.”
If you’re short on outlets, try some battery-operated LED fixtures. “My personal favorite for these is Pooky, a British company with great value and style and so much personalization available,” she says.
Use Every Inch of Space
Get creative with how you’re using your living area and be mindful to really maximize every inch of square footage, suggests designer Meghan Jay. “Consider all corners in your living room, not just the central grouping of furniture,” says Jay. “It’s fun to think outside the box in rental spaces and use every inch.”
Installing floating shelves in small niches, as designer Susan Galvani of Spruce Interior did in this home above, is another tactic to fully maximize a space. This is an excellent way to enjoy some extra storage and visual interest, too.
Purchase Multipurpose Furniture
If you’re tight on space in a rental, you’ll want to look for items that can pull double and triple duty. That way, your pieces are working harder for you, and one day, down the line if you move, it’ll be that much easier for you to rehouse a given piece of furniture, since it can serve so many purposes. Think a storage cube used for living room seating winding up at the foot of a bed one day, where it could store blankets. Or a thin console table behind the sofa being used in an entry way.
Jay loves a game table, as shown here, which can also be a spot to have a snack or drink — or a serving table for a party. “Nesting tables and ottomans are a great way to increase storage and provide a stylish touch,” adds designer Payal Bansal. “They are easy to transport and store and are lightweight.”
Carve Out an Entertaining Nook
Turn your living room into the place where everyone wants to be by setting up a cocktail or coffee bar in there, suggests designer Melissa Mahoney of Melissa Mahoney Design House. “Everyone loves to gather in the kitchen, no matter how small it is, but utilizing your living room for any portion of your entertaining, daily routine, and functional storage is sure to give your kitchen more grace.”
No built-ins? No problem! “A cool cabinet or deep drawer dresser with counter height surface space will help you shift all of the goods for your coffee and/or cocktail bar away from your kitchen,”adds Mahoney. You can also try a freestanding bookshelf, or group a few together, as shown here, to fake the look of a custom piece. This upgrade can make your living room seem all the more fancy and truly more functional, as long as you have the space to support it.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
