Believe it or not, I have always found moving to be quite an enjoyable experience. While it can be a bit sad to leave a home that you have lived in for a while or for just a bit, there is something prosperous and inviting about moving your life into a new space. If staying home a bit over the past year has taught us anything, it is that making the best of your space is essential, and creating an environment you love to be in makes life simpler. While the space I work, sleep, and relax in all have a personal touch and feel like home to me, I am actually in the market for a new place to call home and am excited about the journey. Can I take you along?
Over the past month or so, I have been searching for a new rental property in a new area of the state where I can move all of my belongings to. Just because you don’t “own” the space, does not mean it makes it any less of a home. Recently, I have been spending lots of time scrolling through social media, pinning different design boards, and clicking through the internet to find the perfect tips and tricks to design the space to your liking (and not ticking off the landlord). After hours of research, I can’t wait to share these awesome tips with my favorite readers on the internet (you of course)!
If you like what you see, plan to incorporate it into your own home, or even already have done so, feel free to connect with us on social by using #SharpHome on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Removable Wallpaper
One of my biggest flaws is decision-making, I have to admit. In fact, just thinking about what I was going to write in this article was a bit difficult to narrow down. But when I saw this concept from “The Design Twins“, it was a no-brainer to include it. Yes, peel and stick wallpaper. Now before you close this article and stop reading, I want to warn you that the days of peeling are over. The adhesive is designed not only to ease the process of putting up and taking down, but was also designed for people to constantly make changes to your space without damaging walls or leaving the stickiness behind.
If you have a really big wall and are looking for something else to make the room pop, this may be just the answer. I have seen removable wallpaper, also known as peel and stick, in places such as powder rooms, serve as a backsplash in the kitchen, or anywhere else in the home you deem fit. Check your favorite home decor online retailer or local store and see if they have any design options you like, keeping an eye out for the peel and stick feature. To apply it, follow the directions from the manufacturer. I think you are going to be supposed at how simple this just may be, and the huge effect it will have on the space.
If any of that hasn’t convinced you yet, or you are still skeptical about it, think about when you move out or you have a change of heart. You will not have to communicate with your landlord about painting your walls or will have to cover all the furniture, get your clothes messy, and spend days living in a mess just to change your wall color. Plus, you can have more of an inclusive design. I’m not sure about you, but I am sold!
Ugly Knobs? Change Them!
I recall first moving in to the home that I live in now, and I remember the kitchen was an eyesore for one reason. Surprisingly, it was not the cabinets or the appliances. It was the ugly knobs that hung on each cabinet drawer and were across each drawer underneath the countertop. While we did have a light theme to the kitchen, the knobs were just utterly distasteful, that we weren’t even in the home 24 hours before we changed them. And it probably took about a whole 10 minutes to go throughout the whole kitchen. No large power tools, no cutting, just replacing screws. Here is what you can do.
While you may be a bit skeptical about changing the knobs on the cabinet, you may be surprised to find out that the job isn’t as difficult as it sounds. In fact, most knobs designed for kitchen appliances are universal and you could probably get away with leaving the original screw-in, just swapping out the old for the new. I highly recommend after deciding the color scheme of your new space to decide on what kind of knobs you may want. Think about the furniture patterns, rugs, pictures, and makes sure it all comes together. Then grab your mask and get in the car or log online to find the perfect knobs for your kitchen. Most come in multi-packs, which is even better because you can get a bang for your buck. If you know me, I love a good deal!
One last tip, while I can almost guarantee that your landlord will absolutely love the minimal work you have done to your kitchen and give you a pat on the back for the little task that had such a huge result, you may want to keep the original ones. Just in case something happens or you move out, I highly recommend just placing all of the old knobs in a bin or a drawer this way you can replace them 1, 2, 3 if an issue arises. And if you are still worried about the wholes or adding new screws, a command strip or small adhesive can be your best friend.
Roll Out an Area Rug
This one may seem quite simple, and why I don’t usually use the motto “let’s save the best for last”, may be an exception. To keep it short and simple, a large area rug may be the best fit and the perfect focus point of the room. When searching for a property, you should fall in love with it because of the floor plan, space, and location. So what if you don’t like the floors, you can always hide them (or complement) them with a beautiful and large area rug. This could be the perfect time to decide what kind of design theme you want for your home, and I personally believe that an area rug makes a home look even more like your sanctuary.
Grab a tape measure and measure the space you are looking to fill with an area rug, taking note of those dimensions. Once set, then go online and find something within the size and your budget. You’d be quite surprised how affordable some may be and how much of a transformation it will make.
When deciding on an area rug, make sure to take into account your current furniture and your design theme. Does your couch or love seat have patterns on it? If so, you may want to accompany that with a solid color so the designs don’t clash with one another. I bet you can’t wait to roll out the new rug to ring in your new life in your new space!
