Renting doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style! Your apartment might not be your forever home, but it is your home right now, and you deserve to love the space you live in.
The good news is, you can absolutely transform your rental into a stylish and comfortable haven without breaking your lease (or the bank!). Below I dive into top trending design with DIY-friendly projects and decorating tips, perfect for renters.
Trending: Biophilic Design
(Bringing the Outdoors Inside)
What Is It?
Biophilic design is trending due to our innate human connection to nature and the desire to bring its benefits indoors. In our increasingly urban lives, this design approach integrates natural elements like plants, light, and textures into our spaces, improving well-being, boosting creativity, and increasing productivity.
Beyond its health benefits, biophilic design is aesthetically pleasing, often incorporating sustainable practices and creating visually interesting and calming environments that foster a sense of connection to the natural world.
Easy Ways to Achieve the Look:
Natural materials: Incorporate natural materials like wood or stone decor, or even by adding a textured wallpaper. Rattan furniture is a great way to bring in a natural material, like this rattan console table.
DIY Project
DIY: Indoor Herb Garden
This project combines several biophilic design elements.
- Greenery: incorporates living plants, bringing nature indoors.
- Natural Materials: Like wooden planters or containers.
- Sensory Experience: Engaging the sense of sight, smell, and sometimes even touch (if you grow herbs like mint or rosemary).
- Connection to Nature: Allows you to grow your own food and connect with the natural growing process.
Here’s how to get started:
- Choose a location: Select a sunny windowsill or a spot with good indirect light.
- Gather materials:
- Small pots or containers – Planters Window Sill – Set of 3
- Potting mix
- Herb seeds or small seedlings
- Optional: Decorative pebbles or moss to top the soil
- Plant your herbs: Follow the instructions on the seed packets or plant labels.
- Water regularly: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- Enjoy your garden! Watch your herbs grow, and use them fresh in your cooking.
Tips:
- Vertical gardening: If space is limited, consider using a vertical herb garden system or hanging planters.
- Get creative with containers: Repurpose old jars, cans, or teacups as planters.
- Add natural elements: Decorate your herb garden with small stones, seashells, or decorative moss.
This is a simple and rewarding project that brings a touch of nature indoors and provides you with fresh herbs to enjoy.
Recommendations:
Trending: Japandi Vibe
What is it?
This trend blends the clean lines of Scandinavian design with the warm, natural elements of Japanese aesthetics. Think minimalist chic with a cozy touch.
Japandi’s popularity stems from its ability to create calm, serene spaces through minimalist design, natural materials, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. People are drawn to Japandi’s focus on functionality, connection to nature, and the overall sense of peace it cultivates, making it a desirable style for those seeking a simpler, more intentional way of living.
Easy Ways to Achieve the Look:
Swap out harsh overhead lighting for warm-toned table lamps and linen or paper shades. Choose minimalist wall art that use simple shapes and muted colors. Upcycle old furniture with a fresh coat of white or light gray paint. Incorporate natural fiber baskets for stylish storage.
DIY Project
DIY: Natural Branch Wall Hanging
Materials:
- A fallen branch (clean and dry)
- Twine or string (natural fibers like jute or cotton are ideal)
- Optional: Dried flowers, leaves, or grasses
Instructions:
- Clean the branch and remove any loose debris.
- Cut several lengths of twine.
- Tie the twine to the branch at varying lengths.
- If using dried elements, tie or glue them to the ends of the twine. Keep it simple and sparse.
- Hang the branch using a longer piece of twine tied to both ends.
The key to Japandi DIY is to keep things simple, functional, and focused on natural materials and a calming aesthetic.
Recommendations:
Maximalist Personalized Interiors
What is it?
Maximalism embraces a “more is more” philosophy, celebrating a rich mix of colors, patterns, textures, and curated collections. In a world that often emphasizes simplicity, maximalism offers a vibrant and personalized approach, creating spaces that are full of character, visual interest, and a sense of playful abundance.
Maximalism is a trending design style because it allows for bold self-expression and a departure from the starkness of minimalism.
Easy Ways to Achieve the Look:
Craft a stunning gallery wall that showcases your favorite art, prints, and photographs. Mix textiles like this Floral Printed Throw Blanket with a geometric patterned chair. Or Vintage Velvet Throw Pillows with a chunky knit. Grab some eye-catching wallpaper that encapsulates the essence of your style.
DIY Project
DIY: Create Your Own Gallery Wall
artwork: Create your own unique art pieces using paint, fabric scraps, or even pressed flowers. The key here isn’t matching, it’s vibe!
- Gather a variety of frames (thrift stores are your friend!)
- Select prints, photos, pressed flowers, mirrors, and decorative objects – think vintage finds, travel souvenirs, fabric swatches, and wallpaper swatches.
- Arrange your items in a way that embraces the organized chaos of maximalism.
- The result is a personalized, visually stimulating focal point that reflects your unique style and adds a touch of maximalist flair to your apartment.
Recommendations:
Sustainable & Upcycled Creations
What is it?
One trend that is standing out, for its eco-consciousness and budget-friendliness: sustainable and upcycled creations! It’s all about breathing new life into old items, reducing waste, and creating unique pieces for your home and wardrobe. Not only is it good for the planet, but it also allows you to express your individual style without breaking the bank.
Easy Ways to Achieve the Look:
Thrift Store Treasures: Thrift stores are a goldmine for finding hidden gems – old furniture, vintage clothing, and unique accessories just waiting for a makeover.
Free Finds: Keep an eye out for curbside finds or ask friends and family if they have any unwanted items you can repurpose.
Fabric Scraps & Leftovers: Don’t toss those fabric scraps from sewing projects! They can be used for quilting, patchwork, or even creating textured wall art.
Repurpose Existing Items: Look around your home for items you can repurpose. Old jars can become vases, t-shirts can be transformed into tote bags, and crates and boxes can be turned into shelving and stylish storage solutions.
DIY Project
DIY: Teacup and Found Vessel Planters
This charming project gives new life to old, vintage, or found tea cups and adds a touch of whimsy to your apartment. It’s a great way to upcycle forgotten tea cups or thrifted finds and create unique planters for small plants or succulents.
What you’ll need:
- Tea cups or other found vessels (make sure they are clean and have drainage holes)
- Potting mix
- Small plants, cactus, or succulents
- Optional: Decorative pebbles or moss
Instructions:
- Prepare the tea cup: If the tea cup doesn’t have a drainage hole, you can carefully drill one using a small drill bit.
- Add potting mix: Fill the tea cup with potting mix, leaving some space at the top for the plant.
- Gently remove the plant from its original container and place it in the tea cup, making sure the roots are covered with soil.
- Add a layer of pebbles or moss on top of the soil for a finishing touch.
- Water the plant according to its needs and enjoy your unique tea cup planter!
Tips:
- Choose the right plants: Opt for small plants or succulents that don’t require a lot of space or frequent watering.
- Get creative with vessels: Look for unique tea cups, mugs, bowls, or even old tins to use as planters.
- Group them together: Create a collection of tea cup planters for a charming display.
- If your vessel doesn’t have a drainage hole, you can add a layer of pebbles at the bottom to help with drainage.
This project is a simple and fun way to add a touch of greenery and personality to your apartment while giving new life to old items.
Recommendations:
- Organic Herb Seeds
- Small plants, cactus, succulents
- Wear, Repair, Repurpose: A Maker’s Guide to Mending and Upcycling Clothes
Seasonal Swaps
What is it?
By incorporating elements that reflect the current season, you can create a dynamic environment that evokes the unique beauty and atmosphere of each time of year.
This is especially beneficial in apartment living, where space can be limited and visual stimulation is key to preventing monotony. Changing out textiles, artwork, and small decorative items can transform the feel of your apartment without requiring major renovations or large furniture swaps.
Easy Ways to Achieve the Look:
Textile Swap: Switching out throw pillows, blankets, and curtains (like these amazon curtains for $10) is a quick and easy way to transform the feel of your space. Incorporate seasonal colors and patterns – think warm tones and cozy textures for fall, light and airy fabrics for spring, etc.
Nature’s Touch: Bring the outdoors in with seasonal elements like branches, flowers, or foliage. Display them in vases, bowls, or even create a simple centerpiece for your dining table. Like these Artificial Purple Lilacs or Artificial Cimicifuga Ramosa Branches (Purple Foliage).
Scent-sational Ambiance: Engage your sense of smell with seasonal candles or diffusers. Think fresh linen or citrus for spring, and evergreen winter.
DIY Project
DIY: Spring Vase Centerpiece (Carrots + Tulips)
Create a dazzling spring-themed centerpiece using a glass vase to show off the carrots, spring flowers, and greenery.
- Choose carrots with vibrant green tops. About 10-15 should do, depending on the size of your vase.
- Spring Flowers: Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and delicate fillers like baby’s breath are great choices. Consider a color scheme that complements the orange of the carrots.
- Vase: A clear glass vase works best to show off the carrots. A cylinder or slightly rounded vase is ideal.
- Arrange the Carrots: Place the carrots in the vase, arranging them so they stand upright around the perimeter. You can use floral foam or tape to secure them if needed.
- Fill the vase with water.
- Add the Flowers: Trimming the flower stems to the desired height.
- Insert the flowers into the vase, gently tucking them between the carrots and using the carrot tops as support. Create a balanced and visually appealing arrangement.
Tips for Success:
- Get creative: Experiment with different types of flowers and greenery to create a unique centerpiece.
- Choose fresh carrots: The fresher the carrots, the longer they’ll last.
- Change the water: Replace the water in the vase every day or two to keep the carrots and flowers fresh.
Enjoy your beautiful centerpiece!
Recommendations:
- Artificial Silk Poppies
- Artificial Blush Roses
- Artificial Cimicifuga Ramosa Branches (Purple Foliage)
- VanCortlandt Farms Dried Flower Handmade Wreath
- Natural Dried Twig Yellow Forsythia Wreath
- Green Eucalyptus Branches
- Artificial Cherry Blossom Flowers – 40″
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