Ben Everett Moore rented in Philadelphia for 15 years and transformed every place he stayed.
In his Center City apartment, he spent six hours hand-painting patterns on the walls using stencils, gold spray, acrylic paint, and small brushes. The landlord loved it.
“Normally we're supposed to repaint the walls, but she's like, 'I don't have the guts to do that. Just leave me alone,'” Moore said. He is currently an interior designer.
According to the Census Bureau, approximately 2 million households in the Philadelphia metropolitan area are renters. And many people are looking for advice on a design that won't get them in trouble with their landlord. A Philadelphia woman who shares how she renovated her apartment has more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and her Instagram.
“Life is very difficult,” Moore said. “And when you get home, you should have a sanctuary.”
Moore and her husband, Jimson Wilson DeSouza, run Everett Wilson Designs, an interior design business and home decor store based in Collingswood, New Jersey. He teaches his clients and customers about what he calls the “holy trinity”: window treatments, lighting, and rugs.
For those thinking about decorating, Moore recommends starting by choosing a color palette based on a beloved piece of art, a rug, or even your location, and using those colors throughout your home. “It gives you direction,” he said.
Moore and other local interior designers offered plenty of renter-friendly makeover tips.
“Don't let the fact that you're renting hold you back from making your space your home,” says Rashida Gray, founder and principal designer of Gray Space Interiors, an interior design firm based in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. says.
Needs and workarounds
Renters often have limited space to work with, so “the first thing you want to think about is making the most of the space you have in terms of storage and functionality,” Gray says. Masu.
Get a sofa with storage. The ottoman can be used for both storage and seating. It can also be placed out of the way under the entrance table, allowing renters to place items like mail and keys instead of hanging shelves or hooks on the wall.
Renters cannot make drastic changes like homeowners, so they must look for workarounds.
If renters can't change the amount of natural light coming in, but want plants to make the space feel more inviting, high-quality artificial plants could be the solution, Moore said. .
If renters can't change the flooring, “go crazy with area rugs,” says Gray.
That means using a very large plain rug as a base and layering a patterned rug on top or over carpet.
be careful of the wall
Painting walls provides “maximum impact for minimum cost,” Gray said. An accent wall or painted ceiling is better than nothing, she said.
Moore said renters can also use stencils to create feature walls.
“It gives a beautiful illusion of wallpaper, but when you're ready to go, all you have to do is get some white paint and a roller and it takes about two seconds,” he said.
Peel-and-stick wallpaper on walls and bookshelves is “a great way to introduce pattern, color and personality into a space,” says Gray. A peel and stick backsplash will take your kitchen to the next level.
Gray recently redecorated her son's dorm room, adding leather panels to the walls to create a headboard. This is another way to make walls visually interesting, she said.
The same goes for adding personality to your space by creating a gallery wall with photos and artwork.
“People make the mistake of trying to construct a gallery wall that is too symmetrical and perfect,” Moore says. Asymmetry is key and we recommend using pieces of different sizes and frames with different finishes.
Change your space with furniture
“Bring some personality to your space by being a little bold with your furniture,” says Gray. It includes lots of patterns and colors.
And don't buy cheap, Moore said.
“You don't have to spend a fortune to look gorgeous and expensive,” he said. “All you need to do is find the right items. If you're on a budget, going to flea markets, estate sales, garage sales and junkyards is another option.”
There is no need to fear flawed works. Because those pieces tell a story and give the space a lively and comfortable feel, he said.
“Don't just wave the white flag and say, 'I'm just going to Wayfair because I can afford it.' No, go to Goodwill, go to Habitat for Humanity, go to Vintage, really beautiful, high quality. Go to all the places that have the best items.”
Avoid clunky and heavy furniture, he said. Choose one that is light on the legs and has an unobtrusive silhouette.
And not everything matches. “Don't buy a bed with a headboard that matches the dresser, chest of drawers, or nightstands,” Moore said. “It's like you weren't thinking about anything, it was just a snooze fest.”
Please switch the lighting
Renters do not have to be particular about the lighting fixtures chosen by the landlord. You can use battery-powered lights or replace your existing light fixtures.
Monica Miragrilo, a designer and co-founder of Miragrilo Properties, a Philadelphia-based construction company, wanted to improve her mother's Philadelphia apartment by replacing an existing chandelier with one she bought on Amazon. did.
Moore says to use the same color lighting throughout the house and layer light from different sources.
window treatments are key
“Renters should invest in window treatments if they want their rooms to look beautiful and complete,” says Miragrilo. “It takes the room to a completely different level.”
In a Center City apartment by Gray's firm, curtain panels took the focus away from an unattractive radiator.
Curtains should touch the floor and reach all the way to the ceiling if possible to draw the eye upwards and make the room feel larger.
Moore said renters can stick railroad tracks on the ceiling or put up wavy curtains on either side of the windows, but “it looks like they've hired a designer and spent a lot of money, but once the lease is up, It can be withdrawn,” he said. It's time to get up and go. ”