If you're renting an apartment and can't paint the walls the color you wish, but want to dress up your rooms, accessorize with big, colorful pictures for the walls, some snazzy throw pillows, and bold colored furniture.
A great way to liven up boring white walls is to hang a quilt or make a fabric wallhaning. It can be very simple--just rows of different colors or prints, whatever. I made a beach scene, using different beiges for dry and wet sand, different blues for the sea, and a cloud print. Those were sewn in rows, but cut with curves to represent the water coming onto the sand, etc. It was really very simple, and a striking wall solution.
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I live in an apartment where I am not allowed to paint or wallpaper or do anything that will remove the paint from the walls. I need some ideas on how to do this.
I would love to get some peel and stick decals that would not harm paint, but do not know where to get them.
Your ideas will be greatly appreciated!
By Cheryl D.
I have lived in rentals off and on since 1964 and consistantly since 1983, and I just hang pictures, etc. on the walls. That is about all you can do. Check with your landlord, and see if he/she would allow you to paint, as long as when you move, you restore the walls to the origional color.
Some places will allow you to do that. The apartment complex that I live in has started painting one wall in the living room an accent color, when a tenant moves out. I have heard that if a tenant asks to have it done, they will do it when we are still living in the apt.
I have got to the point that as long as I live in rentals, I don't care what visitors think, because there is no way I can have things go with the carpeting that is furnished or whatever is furnished with the apartment. Economically, and for ease, wall hangings are about all you can do.
You can also get self adhesive wall paper that peels right off. I used to have a neighbor in the complex where I currently live that was always changing the border in her various rooms.
You can go to Whatisblik dot com. They have very cool wall decals.
I finally have my own apartment and have no idea what to do with it. It's a 2 bedroom, small kitchen, and big living/dining room. I can't paint the walls that are white/beige, there's laminate wood flooring all around the apartment. The living room has big windows and a glass door that opens up to a balcony.
I know I should start by picking a color scheme, but am having trouble when I like neutral colors and my bathroom is pink. Kinda stuck, I don't know how to incorporate pink into a color scheme. I don't want to repeat that color anywhere else in my apartment (I hate pink with a passion). Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
By Ericka
The bathroom doesn't have to match any other part of the house. Mint green is a color that goes nicely with pink as well, if you don't like the other ideas people have suggested.
For the rest of the house, the place to start is with the color of your sofa. This is the biggest piece of furniture. Since this is so neutral a place, you can go with anything you like. Choose drapes or blinds and perhaps a throw rug to co-ordinate with the sofa.
I do not believe that artwork should "match " the furniture. You should choose artwork that you love, preferably original work, but prints are nice if that is what you can afford.
Look in decorator magazines and at the displays in furniture and decorating stores for ideas.
Throw rugs, art work and drapes can add color, but I would suggest a neutral for the sofa as that can be moved from apartment to apartment. Actually, you can throw a large table cloth or even a length of material over it for color. I use a old linen table cloth on my mine during the summer for a cooler look. If you like small items, an open shelving unit against a wall can add color. Also consider end tables, shelves, etc. that you can paint and repaint when you move. This should be fun for you and suit you, not anyone else. Enjoy your new home.
Anyone have any ideas on using curtains instead of painting a room?
I am thinking of purchasing curtains or making curtains to put on the walls in my bedroom instead of painting my walls. What do you guys think? Please give me your ideas, both bad and good. Thanks to you all whom chose to help me out.
Yes! Better Homes and Gardens had an article once on using King size sheets and hanging them from floor to ceiling all around the room. I did this in a bathroom and it was great. I had a 100+ year old house with 12 foot ceilings and large mouldings. I bought cheap dowels, ran them through the open end seam of the sheets and then let them drape down the walls.
You could also buy cheap fabric that sticks to the walls instead of painting. All you have to do is soak the fabric in liquid starch for a few minutes and hang on your wall with a big hard bristle brush to get out the wrinkles and straighten out like wall paper. Peels off when you get tired of it and want a change. This method does not damage walls. My daughters always want to change the look of their rooms and this a cheap and reasonable look to do it with. Hope it helps.
Anchor rods on ceiling and use rod pocket inexpensive curtains/drapes. They also work great for room dividers, and to cover over unsightly closet doors. You can actually take the doors off allowing for easy access and more closet space and drape the entire wall. Substitute roman shades or bamboo shades for the eclectic look.
I have used material to do my kitchen. I wanted half paint and bottom half of walls fabric. I made a glue with liquid starch and water,painted it on with a big paint brush and then adhered the fabric to the wall.
No mess when want to remove.It is permanent enough to last but will come off easy.
Looks nice also.
I went and got a remnant fabric so the cost was cheaper if I had painted the room fully.
Carolyn
You could also use 2x2 lumber to frame the sheets and use them stretched out flat, as huge pictures. I would use some solids and some big florals, maybe. Or hang the sheets as suggested and have big overlapping curves, suggesting theatre curtains opening. There's something about great swaths of fabric that gives an opulent rich look. Best part is, easy to undo whatever you're tired of!
I have a daughter who lived in military housing. They are not allowed to paint the white walls in her home. You can cover panels of wood with material you like. Use these for headboards or use long narrow ones to add color you like to accent. You can make a faux window with a scene on it and hang draperies from ceiling to floor. I have a friend who has hung sheers on her porch and used tie backs to make her 60 yr old home look more Victorian. I think it looks breezy and cool.
I THINK THAT USING SHEETS IS A VERY GOOD IDEA. THERE IS AT LEAST 3 YARDS OF MATERIAL IN A SHEET AND THAT IS THE CHEAPEAST WAY TO GO. I would love to see what you come up with.
