11 Apartment Decorating Ideas for Renters Who Don’t Want to Lose Their Deposit

With housing costs at an all-time high, more people are turning to rentals as their living solution. Unfortunately for aspiring interior designers and renovation DIYers, these property owners are generally not friendly toward significant changes. You may get lucky with a landlord who lets you paint, but that’s typically the extent — probably no knocking down walls or installing new flooring. 

Are you doomed to live in a dismal apartment that reflects your personality as well as a black hole? Absolutely not! You have plenty of renter-friendly options for decorating your apartment. Decide on your budget and use these tips to transform your space into something uniquely you.  

“Do I Really Need to Ask My Landlord Before I Decorate?”

Short answer: Yes.

Many renters prefer to ask for forgiveness rather than permission when decorating their apartments. However, doing so could get you into a lot of legal trouble, especially if something you do is explicitly forbidden in your lease.

If you want to avoid any potential legal troubles, you must have an honest conversation with your landlord. Ask them to clarify your lease and be explicit about the changes you can and can’t make in the apartment. The good news is that most landlords will allow any temporary adjustments if you return the place to its original state when you leave. Some may even let you paint.

Renter-Friendly Apartment Decorating Ideas

With your landlord’s approval, these apartment decorating ideas will help you put your stamp on your living space. You’ll feel more at home every time you come in the door, and you’ll be able to wow any guests with your interior design savvy. 

 1. Create an Entryway

When you first walk into your apartment, you want the space to feel welcoming and provide storage. Most apartments on the smaller end of abodes lack this vital area. While you won’t be able to knock down walls or install eye-catching architectural features, you can spruce things up and make your entrance more convenient. 

Install self-adhesive hooks to hold hats and bags. A small entryway table is an ideal spot for your keys and wallet. Finish with a cute mat and strategically placed artwork or a mirror.  

2. Explore Peel and Stick Tiles

Peel and stick tiles have many uses in renter-friendly DIYs. You can update the kitchen backsplash, add visual interest to your bathroom wall or change up the look of your floors. With this handy material, you can achieve a new look without harming the surface underneath. When you move out, simply remove the tiles. 

3. Use Personality-Infused Furnishings

If your landlord is entirely against any changes to the apartment, you can always infuse your personality with your furniture. Colorful or distinctly-shaped pieces add a sense of fun and flair. Neutral, traditional items give a minimalistic, modern or sophisticated look. Play around until your space feels like home. 

Alana Marie, an LA-based interior designer known for blending vintage with contemporary design, offered this advice to purchasers who may be afraid to rely on their own tastes:

Often times people feel they should only purchase vintage that is a known piece. There are so many incredible artisans and makers out there that were never made it to mainstream manufacturing, which makes their pieces even more unique. Similar to art, if you like it and it speaks to you (and isn’t falling apart when you touch it!), buy it!

4. Add “Built-Ins”

Restored old apartments have stunning architectural details you can’t find anywhere else, like plaster arches, exposed brick walls and handy built-ins. In a modern space, you must add these features or live without them. Since built-in shelves are such a useful addition, you’d do well to add some to your unit. 

Create the look of built-ins by buying tall shelves and adding crown molding to the top to meet the ceiling. Stain or paint them the same color. It will blend in like it was always there, yet you can remove it easily when your lease is up. 

5. Use Area Rugs to Zone Your Space

Area rugs tie a space together, visually partitioning from other parts of a room without creating vertical clutter. This tip is especially useful in studio apartments, where you have no walls to help you establish a division between working, playing, sleeping and eating. 

6. Inject Color With Accessories

If you don’t have the budget to change your furniture to personality-driven pieces, inject color into your apartment with accessories instead. When living in a condensed space, it’s generally a good idea to stick to a color scheme throughout. Pick one or two colors that mesh well and decorate with those. Throw pillows, vases, picture frames and blankets are easy apartment decorating ideas to start with. 

Krista Nickols, associate licensed broker at SERHANT, offered this unique advice on how you can pick a color scheme that’s personal to you:

Stuck on a color palette? Look to your closet, it is the clearest indication of the colors you are drawn to on a daily basis. What you wear should make you feel good, and what you see should, too.

 7. Hang Curtains the Renter-Friendly Way

The right curtains can utterly transform a space. They can add personality to a room and make your walls look longer and ceilings higher. However, not all landlords are ok with drilling holes in the wall. Luckily, you have plenty of options for renter-friendly curtain hanging, like tension rods and command hooks or twist-and-fit curtain rods. 

8. Embrace Your Apartment’s Style

Many renters have one type of decor they prefer. Anywhere they move, they bring that same look with them. However, many apartments have their own style. Instead of fighting against it, work with your space to create something new and unique. Embrace the pink bathroom tile or exposed ductwork. 

9. Strategically Place Mirrors

Most apartments lack good natural light, usually only having windows on one or two sides. The innermost parts can get dark and dreary. Placing mirrors strategically can bounce sunshine into the recesses of your home. Ensure you put them in places that make visual sense and not just for the scientific experiment of refracting light — this isn’t National Treasure, and you’re not Laura Croft. 

 10. Accent With Removable Wallpaper

When you can’t paint, you can change your walls’ appearance with removable wallpaper. It’s taking the interior design world by storm and is a favorite for renter-friendly DIYs. You have an endless supply of print and color options. You can find this product under various brand names at your local hardware store, big box chains and even craft sites like Etsy. 

11. Swap Out Hardware

Never underestimate the power of swapping out your kitchen and bathroom hardware. Cheap or worn handles and knobs are small enough to store in the back of a drawer until you move out and need to reinstall the originals. You can buy gorgeous replacements to reflect any desired style.

What to Do If…

…Your Landlord Says “No” to Everything?

Focus on the things they can’t say no to: furniture, rugs, curtains, and freestanding items. Invest in statement pieces like a bold sofa, large plants, or a decorative room divider. Layer in removable solutions like peel-and-stick wallpaper (test in a closet first), tension rods, and leaning mirrors. Your lease controls the walls—not your style.

…You Accidentally Damage Something While Decorating?

Document it immediately with photos and notify your landlord right away. Offer to fix it yourself (with their approval) or hire a professional. Being upfront usually results in better outcomes than trying to hide it. Small nail holes are typically considered normal wear and tear, but larger damage could affect your deposit—address it now, not at move-out.

…Command Strips Take Paint Off the Wall?

First, don’t panic—this is fixable. For small areas, use a paint pen or dab of touch-up paint (bring a paint chip to a hardware store for color matching). For larger patches, you may need to repaint the entire wall. Pro tip: Always test command strips in an inconspicuous spot first, and use the correct weight rating to avoid this issue.

…You Have an Inspection Coming Up?

Do a walk-through 48 hours before and remove anything questionable. Take down unauthorized shelving, hide extra-long nails, and ensure no DIY projects look permanent. For semi-permanent changes you got verbal approval for, have that documentation ready (emails, texts). Most inspections check for safety issues and major damage—not whether your gallery wall is perfectly aligned.

…You Want to Paint, But Your Lease Says No?

Try removable alternatives: peel-and-stick wallpaper, large tapestries, or wall decals can add color without breaking rules. Another option: ask if you can paint if you agree to return it to the original color (and get it in writing). Some landlords will say yes if you’re willing to do the work twice.

…The Previous Tenant Left Damage You’re Being Blamed For?

This is why move-in documentation is crucial. If you didn’t take photos when you moved in, gather any evidence you have (move-in inspection report, emails). Explain the timeline to your landlord and ask to see their documentation. If they can’t prove the damage happened during your tenancy, you have leverage to dispute any charges.

…You’re Not Sure If Something Counts as “Damage”?

When in doubt, ask. Send your landlord a quick email with photos of what you want to do. This creates a paper trail and protects you later. Generally, normal wear and tear (small nail holes, minor scuffs) is expected, but anything requiring repair or repainting could be considered damage.

…Your Removable Wallpaper Won’t Come Off?

Heat is your friend. Use a hairdryer on low heat while gently peeling at a 45-degree angle. Work slowly—rushing causes tearing and makes it worse. If residue remains, try a magic eraser or a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Test any removal method in a small corner first. (This is also why buying quality removable wallpaper matters—cheap stuff is harder to remove.)

…You’re Moving Out and Worried About Your Deposit?

Start your exit strategy early. Take “before” photos when you move in, and “after” photos when you leave, showing the space in good condition. Fill nail holes with spackle, touch up scuffs, deep clean everything, and remove all personal items. Leave the apartment in equal or better condition than you found it, and you’ll maximize your chances of getting that deposit back in full.

Consider Your Allowances and Budget

While having your own space is exciting, you can easily ruin it by exceeding your budget or your landlord’s allowances. Once you’ve had an honest discussion with your landlord about the terms of your lease and their expectations, you need to stay within those boundaries no matter how much you want to change something. You also need to watch your spending. The thrill of creating your space can lead to frivolous budget-breaking. These apartment decorating ideas will help you work around aspects you don’t love and save money.

Note: This article was first published on July 27, 2023, and was revised on March 19, 2026 to reflect the most current information.