Everyone deserves to have the home of their dreams. If buying your own place is still not in the cards at the moment though, fret not! Content creator Bing Vargas has proven that you can convert your rented space into someplace homey and meaningful.
At first glance, it may be hard to believe that this is a rented unit. Who would have known that you could customize one this much? The once-bare apartment is now furnished with coordinated white-and-wood furniture and decor, and the walls are adorned with framed photos and art.
"We were so lucky that our landlord didn't really have a lot of rules," Bing told Preview in an email interview. "The only thing that they reminded us [of] was to make sure not to do any permanent changes or significant alterations on the unit. We were allowed to drill holes, paint the walls, or change some of the hardwares and light fixtures."
One thing we noticed about the unit was how clutter-free it was! It definitely pays off to have a strategic organizing scheme, and to be judicious about shopping. According to Bing, she practices "shopping from your own home," which means repurposing and switching around existing decor, instead of needlessly buying new things per room.
"I'm all about living better with less. I try my very best not to purchase things that are not necessary and I always shop my [own] home when I refresh a space, (like, I could switch the wall art on my photo ledge with the ones I already have). Believe me, I do not own a lot of home decor except for cushion covers and blanekets. (What even is "too much" pillows and blankets, right?)"
Surprisingly, this immaculate space is a family home! "I have two kids aged 7 and 11, but I have taught them the importance of "clean as you go" so our apartment stays relatively clean with things in their places," Bing said. They don't have any pets, though!
A staple decor piece in Bing's home is the dried flower or leaf. It's a chic and whimsical piece that can do wonders for the overall aesthetic of your place.
"I like them so much because they are so pretty, inexpensive, and they only require minimal to no maintenance at all. I have pampas, bunny tails, and dried eucalyptus in our shower. Best thing about dried florals: I can use them as decor no matter what the season is, plus they last for years! I even DIY-ed a pampas sun for my bedroom. I always receive compliments on it!"
Bing also took the time to share tips on how to make a rented space entirely your own!
"If you are a renter like me, don't be scared to create a space that makes you feel happy, that makes you feel at home. I'm sharing some easy tips to make your rental feel cozy and homey without upsetting your landlord and forfeiting your security deposit:
1. Invest in a rug as it is an easy way to open up the room and make it feel larger.
Choose something that doesn't easily go out of style.
2. If you can't paint the walls, some great alternatives can be removable wallpaper or lighter decorations hung on the wall.
3. Pile in plenty of pillows.
This is the most budget-friendly way to make any space look dreamy and cozy.
4. Lastly, clean your place and make it smell nice!
Be it [with] air diffuser, candles, or plug-ins. This is a great way to provide an automatic relaxing effect on your mind and body.
It doesn't mean that when it's not yours, you can't make it your own and get creative while you're at it."
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