Alex’s 72 Hour Apartment Makeover | Before

By Mandi 07/29/2015

Decorating a rental can be seriously hard. Most (ok, ok, all) of the projects that I do don’t reeeeally involve rentals…at least rentals that cant be altered. So I guess I could say that theoretically decorating a rental is hard.

Until now. I’ve earned my patch.

My brother in law Alex just moved to a new apartment in LA and at the very last minute (like the day before) we decided to take a road trip and help him spruce it up.

It is the beigest of beige and exactly what you picture when you think of a typical rental. Popcorn ceilings, bad linoleum, oatmeal carpet, beige walls, and the worst thing…vertical blinds on every window.

48 Hour Apartment Makeover-7

48 Hour Apartment Makeover-5

 

There are a few things that were working for him. The ceilings in the main room are really tall. Like super tall. When you open the blinds there are some massive windows hiding behind them. He also had a few pretty good pieces of furniture, but it wasn’t doing him any favors.

In a perfect world I’d repaint, rip out the carpet, and throw those stupid blinds into the ocean.

But in the real world? The paint and carpet cant be changed. The popcorn ceiling has the privilege of staying intact. The windows are west facing and the blinds have to be closed the second 1/2 of the day or else its 9000 degrees in there. So no ocean.

48 Hour Apartment Makeover-3

 

All of that coupled with the fact that we were only in Cali for 72 hours and completely unprepared with tools and supplies made for a whirlwind room makeover. The plan was to throw down a few rugs and freshen up the couch with new pillows. Psssh. You don’t need tools for that.

Of course that didn’t happen. Though I don’t know why, I’ve come to grips with the fact that I cant do small things. A few pillows? Its just not real.

Here’s the thing. Renting is real life. But just because you cant alter the actual space doesn’t mean that you cant have a beautiful home. And I am seriously sorry if I’ve ever made you feel like if you cant repaint you are S.O.L. There is SO much you can do…you just have to get creative.

48 Hour Apartment Makeover-2

 

I cant wait to show you what we did! But I have to know, looking at this space, what would you do? How would you make this feel like home?

LoveYourGuts14

29 thoughts on “Alex’s 72 Hour Apartment Makeover | Before”

  1. Oh, how I understand this dilemma! My husband and I just moved into a new rental home in a new state. We’ve moved a lot over the last 5 years, so I’ve never put much effort into making a rental feel like home since I knew we’d be leaving it before too long. But, I am tired of not feeling “at home.” I’m tired of the generic walls and spaces. So I have decided that I am making this one home – fresh paint on the walls (lots of white because I want crisp, clean, uncluttered, and I adore how white bounces natural light), lots of plants and elements from Nature, photos and art on the walls, and going through the painful but necessary process of getting rid of things we don’t need and or/use. I love the quote by William Morris that says, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” That is going to be my motto with this house and my driving inspiration. Can’t wait to see what you were able to accomplish in 72 hours! I’m sure I’ll be inspired!

  2. Damn those popcorn ceilings! I recently moved into an apartment and have had the hardest time finding budget-friendly tutorials for apartments. Can’t wait to see what you’ve done in just 72 hours!

  3. OMG! We have the same vertical blinds that must be closed in the afternoon in our west facing rental. Since we moved in 3 years ago, I’ve hated them, but I couldn’t figure out what to do. I literally cannot wait to see what you did so I can copy it immediately! 🙂

  4. I can’t wait to see what you do to this space. I saw this pictures and thought, “Yep, looks like our place!” Beggers can’t be choosers when you’re renting in SoCal. We too have popcorn ceilings, vertical blinds (ick) and beige carpet (more ick). I dream of this place with wooden floors and better window coverings but have just learned to accept that it is what it is.

  5. In our last rental we hung fabric on the bedroom wall to add some color. It was lightweight, so we just put some tacks in it across the top and it ended up looking pretty great!

    I can’t wait to see what you do!

  6. Ahhh! I am so excited. This has been the story of my life since I’ve been married, and while I can’t wait to someday do what I want, I still want our rentals to feel like us. I’m so excited to see what you did 🙂

  7. Art and textiles and add personal items, things that have meaning. And plants of course. That is for starters anyway. Nice place.

  8. Renting is the pits when you feel like you’re boxed in with restrictions. Awful blinds, inability to paint the walls, old carpet, etc. can easily become discouraging, but there’s always a way out and a way to make your space your own. In our case, we added a wood feature wall behind our TV by making a simple floor to ceiling frame and nailing cedar planks horizontally to the frame. picture hooks were used to keep the “wall” in place. All we needed was a hammer and some nails! We then added floating shelves and brought in color with the various art and paintings on the shelves. Turned out great! Along with that, a rug and some pillows helped bring in some extra color! SUPER excited to see this reveal!

  9. Artwork, artwork, artwork! Does wonders for blandly beige walls. Area rugs are a lifesaver too. They cover up that fugly builder-grade apartment carpet and lend a little pattern and color to the proceedings. Oh, and plenty of plants if he has a green thumb. So anxious to see the finished product! I am moving from Vegas to Prescott AZ in a couple of months and will be renting, so hopefully I can glean some fresh ideas from your makeover!

  10. One of the first things I do in any new space is hang something on the wall. I loath bare walls! I also have many plants so that warms up a space very nicely. If you have really tight restrictions about holes in the walls there are wonderful alternatives by 3M that allow you to hang most anything and remove it without a trace. Command hooks rule! Plus so many options for removable decals creating even more possibilities. Can’t wait to see what you do, no doubt it will be fabulous!

  11. I’m so excited to see what you did! I somehow always manage to convince the landlord that I’d be doing them a favor by painting the walls…and not to worry, I’d provide the labor for free! My negotiation skills are on point. 🙂

    Also….whoever is standing in the kitchen has the arms of a god.

  12. Just about the first thing I did in every rental I lived in was take down the blinds (mini or vertical) and the drapes if there were any. They were usually heavy beigy ugly drapes. I stored everything in the back of a closet or closet floor so that i could put everything back when i was ready to move. Then i would replace the window coverings with inexpensive bamboo blinds from Cost Plus, or make curtains from sheets. If needed i would buy sheers or blackout shades for under curtains. One place I lived had a huge living room with green shag carpet. An area rug was too expensive, so I bought a remnant at a carpet store and had it bound. I bought the carpet the size of the living room and just put it over the green shag. This was really really inexpensive….the remnant was priced to sell and the binding was pretty cheap. Lastly I used plants. The bigger (taller) the better for corners etc and smaller pots on shelves and tables. I had lots of spider plants and phillidendron…hope that is spelled right. Colorful pillows and bedspread also helped. I would also remove and store any louvered doors when possible.

  13. Oh man, so many possibilities!

    First off, a wet bar in an apartment?!?! I’d take those doors off (store them in a closet), some sort or temporary wall treatment (maybe distressedmirrors or something that looks like stikwood). Then fill it with fun bar ware. The vertical blinds are the worst. I have some in my house that I’m itching to remove, but not until I get some curtains. I would just get some drapes to cover them though. Those blinds break so easily that I woldnt even want to mess with them. A starched fabric accent wall would be fun to do. And not to beat a dead horse, but plants and art. So excited to see the reveal!

  14. I super can’t wait to see what you come up with! Come back to LA! I’m in SD and have a bunch of tools handy 🙂 Those blinds seem to plague everyone. We just bought our loft style condo and I see Mandilicious touches that need to exist EVERYWHERE. I covet a killer brick wall, a couple barn style industrial doors, some unique brass lighting. Can you see it now?! I just love your energy, my husband is less than gung ho to humor my many project ideas!

  15. In my rental world, I like bold bright accessories, painted furniture, and huge art that is interesting. I use lots of flowers and geometric curtains. Maybe I’m overcompensating because I can’t paint or change the flooring??? I CANNOT WAIT until we start house hunting in the spring!!!!!
    P.S. I loved your post about mid century Moroccan modern-it was the inspiration for my bold living room!

  16. I’d go for large mirrors and artwork. My room is covered in art but in a rental, I’d go for just a few larger pieces, less holes that way. I also love mirrors!!! You can find them anywhere and prop them up against the wall or hang them. I just hate plain walls!!!!

  17. I’d get some fabric with a geometric and pop of color to apply with starch to the area above the window with high ceiling and maybe use it on either side of the dining room window. MMS has a post about applying fabric with starch. You could paint a pattern on drop cloth if it’s not too heavy.

  18. speaking from experience — when you have a darkish room or a room where you can’t keep the windows open, painted walls, and white popcorn ceilings, the eye goes straight to the lightest element in the room — the ugly popcorn. So my first response would be to beg the landlord for permission and paint the whole thing bright white! clean, neutral, and the popcorn (visually) disappears! but very curious to see what you did…

  19. I don’t understand when someone says you can’t paint in a rental… I’ve painted all mine knowing I just have to paint it back before I move (Southern CA as well)

    When I move into a new place I get a paint chip from a hidden spot to keep for paint matching later… then I patch that little sucker up and paint the walls the colors I want them… just knowing I’ll have to paint them back.

    Has always been worth it… and few times my landlord even told me to keep it because they liked it better, or one place I had been in for 3.5 years, I was told not to worry about it because by law they have to re-paint for new tenants anyway.

  20. I’d try to embrace the wall color and think of what colors will go well with it. Your warm desert colors will go fine with beige/cream. Choose colors to suit, and treat each wall as an opportunity to create a balanced look with art and furniture. Add some greenery and bling (glass, metallics) to style it and call it good. Oh, – and factor in function with each decision. We want this place to serve it’s owner in a practical sense.

  21. I’d LOVE a bland rental like that. The last 2 houses we have rented have had ugly painted walls–deep reds, yellow, green, and even a stucco inside wall. (in northern Michigan!) How in the heck do you work with colors that aren’t yours? Painting isn’t an option either. Sigh. I’m looking forward to your makeover to glean the ideas that will work in my situation—You always have the best ideas.

  22. wow! So many possibilities!!
    I would actually take down the blinds and put in some awesome billowy layered curtains. I’d hang more billowy curtains across the part where the ceiling dips and hide the laundry room. I’d put a groovy room divider screen behind one of the couches in a beautiful deep teal or a color that brightens the room (coral?). I’d put a huge rug in the center of the room that ties in the room divider. I’d paint the walls anyway, coz’ who doesn’t want their own colors. Pay someone to paint it when you leave!
    I think one of your awesome string art projects on the big wall, with some mirrored framed photos, to add light. I think a couple of tall, tall, corner lights to bounce around more light.
    Whew.
    All things I’ve done in previous apartments coz I HATE beige.
    I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!!

Leave a comment!

Keep the conversation going! Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.