4 Landlord-Approved Ways to Spruce Up Your Space
Spring cleaning is something I do more than seasonally; it’s important to reassess the space in your room in order to keep it streamlined and clutter-free! Once I’m done, a clean room feels like a blank canvas to me, and I get pumped up about personalizing it.
Unfortunately, most dorms and apartment complexes require that tenants adhere to strict regulations regarding changing the property. But while new flooring or a coat of paint may be out of the question, the following ideas are some non-permanent ways you can give your room or apartment a facelift.
Hanging Canopy
Product Information: White Four-Point Canopy, Purple Hoop Canopy, White Hoop Canopy
Sheer hanging canopies are great for adding a romantic, relaxed vibe to your space. These pieces, which are usually made of netting or lightweight cotton, and come in a variety of colors, can be a cheap and effective way to give your bedroom an expensive-looking aesthetic.
Don’t have a four poster bed? You can create the illusion of one without the hassle of buying new furniture by using a four point canopy (above left). Or, if a smaller version is more appealing, try putting up a hoop canopy. Because hanging canopies aren’t heavy, installation is simple and non-invasive; ceiling hooks (the kind you use for hanging plants) can be purchased at any hardware store, and often times, come included with your canopy.
One word of warning: If you live in a dorm, make sure to check your building’s rules before you buy a canopy – many schools prohibit student residents from attaching things to their ceilings, so it’s best to check beforehand to avoid breaking any rules.
Wall Murals/Decals
Product Information: Olive Tree Decal, Brooklyn Wall Mural, Scroll Decal
Stuck with a bedroom window overlooking an alley, or worse, facing someone else’s apartment? Give your room some life with a wall mural!
With their large size, wall murals have a similar effect as painting the walls, but are a lot easier to apply and remove. Most murals come with a paint-safe adhesive that can be easily peeled off when you’re ready to move out. Forests, city skylines, and fine art are a few examples of wall murals that can be easily found. Similarly, wall decals can make a big impact with little effort – some can even be saved and repositioned at a later time (or at your new place!).
Area Rugs
Product Information: Peace Sign Rug, Floral Rug, Pink Flokati Rug
Dorm rooms and student apartments can get pretty badly abused, and carpets are usually the first place to show it. To keep up with constant turnover and high traffic, the carpet used in most student dwellings is often low-pile in a forgiving (read: dingy) color, and may be riddled with stains from previous occupants.
While you can’t rip out the carpet in your dorm room and replace it with hardwood, padding your place with area rugs is a treat for your feet, as well as a great way to cover up any unsightly stains from past residents. Plus, an area rug in a bright color will help your space feel cheery and unique. Even better? Area rugs can be taken with you when you leave, and will also prevent you from damaging the actual carpet, which can eat up your security deposit.
Lighting
Product Information: Black Chandelier, Lime Green Chandelier, Pendant Lamp, Dachshund Lamp
While most dorm rooms and student apartments come with (horrific) overhead flourescent lighting, there’s no rule that says you have to use it! Instead, buy a few inexpensive lamps and create your own lighting scheme.
Feeling glamorous? Many chandeliers can be hung from the ceiling and simply plugged into an outlet. If you’re wary of (or prohibited from) hanging things, try a table lamp in a fun shape or color – this dachshund lamp is a little kitschy, but reminds me of my four-legged best friend.
Want more?
If you’re inspired to start sprucing up your space, check out these other CF articles on dorm room decorating for more ideas:
- 9 Ways to “Green” Your Dorm This Semester
- How to Give Your Apartment a New Year’s Makeover
- Dorm Decorating 101: Making Your Room as Stylish as Your Wardrobe
- Dorm 101: Must-Haves for Dorm Room Organization
- Dorm Room Decorating Inspired by Blair Waldorf
- How to Find Your Interior Decorating Diva
What Do You Think?
How do you personalize your space? What’s your favorite style of home decor? How do you personalize your space without violating your dorm or apartment rules? Does your style clash with your roommate’s? I would love to hear your thoughts!
Posted on on March 23, 2011 / Filed Under: Dorm Room / Tags: Decor, Dorm, Featured, Furnish, Personal Style, Spring Cleaning
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Courtney Maki
Really cute ideas! There are some amazing wall clings out now, phrases, scenery, flowers like the plant photo shown! Those are fun because they’re low cost and you can change them when you get sick of em!
Gracey
I really love canopies, they are sooo pretty and cute! So are wall murals, I have been trying to decide which to put in my room for a few months now!
Becca
I really liked this post it is already giving me so many ideas as to how I’m going to decorate my apartment next year!! Thanks so much!
Brittney
I loved this! My tips would be:
1)If you get flowers from anyone, DRY THEM! they make great decor and you dont have to care for them! :)
2)invest in handy-tack. it will hang tons of pictures! I have the wall in from of my desk covered in pictures just at they came! its like a major collage!
3)If you ahve a loft bed, buy cheap christmas lights! They can be stung up on the ceiling above your bed for fun lighting or if you desk is under your bed you can string them on the underside of your bed for a funky look :)
4)lastly: if you buy blackout curtains, decorate them with ribbon! it makes them extra cute!
Sheri
Is there a place to get cheaper wall murals? I’ve been wanting a big wall poster of outer space, but the ones on the website you posted are $100-200. Maybe not THAT big, but a bigger size than poster size that is suitable for above the couch?
sarah Dee
…need a wall mural NOW!!!
LOVE!!!!
Ashley
http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/how-to/how-to-make-a-string-tree-wall-mural-home-hacks-109655
My roommates and I made one of these for our apartment!
You might want to double check with your landlord that push pin holes are okay (usually they are, you can just paint over them).
Helen
i tried the links, cause i WANT that black chandelier, and none of the links work……
Zephyr - CF Editor
Helen – Just tested all the links and they all work fine on my end. Can you tell me what you see when you click a link? Do you get an error message? No idea why they aren’t working for you.
Lizzy
LOVE THIS – goign to be moving into my own apartment soon and you made this at the PERFECT time! Thank you!
CA
Helen it’s from Target. Go to their website.
NB
This is a great article! Another thing I find, especially as a younger college student, is that pictures are your friend. With tack (like Brittney said) you can cover your walls with familiar faces. Or even go out and take pictures during summer of your favorite spots from home so that you always feel comfortable in your dorm. If you’re from far away, then buy postcards! Often times, postcards can be found for less than 25 cents, and they’re a great way to show your home state pride. And don’t forget snail mail. :) Encourage your friends (by maybe writing them first) to send you letter, and you can post those up as a reminder of all of your close friends at home!
Your ideas, of course, are much classier, but it’d quick and easy to cover your walls in pictures, especially if you’re concerned about storage for the summer. But I LOVE the canopies. I always wanted one as a little girl, and I think I might just invest! :)
One last tip: If you have cinderblock (I think that’s what they are? cement or concrete) walls, clean them before applying your tack. My roommate’s pictures often fall down because the tack accumulates the dirt that’s probably been on the walls for years. If you just take a wet paper towel or a Lysol wipe to the walls, your tack will stick better and your decorations will have less of a risk of dying!
Courtney - University of Idaho
Love your tips and input! In my experience, pin holes haven’t been a big deal as long as they weren’t excessive or very large, but Handy Tack is great idea if you’re unsure.
Wall murals are usually printed on panels, which is one reason they are more costly. Giant posters are an affordable option in a similar size (55 x 39). AllPosters has a great selection of them for about $17 (just type “giant poster” into the search field) …I love the photograph of Phuket, and also Van Gogh’s classic “Starry Night”. You can try stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby to find an appropriately sized poster frame…or the materials to make one, if you’re feeling crafty!