Decorating Guides
Renting & on a Budget? 7 Ways to Ace the Unfurnished Apartment Game
If you're worried about overspending on decor in your rented home, these smart hacks have you covered
Moving to an unfurnished apartment can entail some big spends — a rental deposit, packing and moving charges, and society fees to name a few – besides furniture, furnishings and decor, of course. And while some expenses might not be in your control, you can certainly up your home’s style quotient on the cheap with a little inventive thinking. Need a little inspiration? Get going with these easy-breezy budget hacks.
Uru: Lounge chair
Tip: Although renting furniture might be a money-saving option in the short term, buying may be more cost-effective in the long run. If you know how many years you are likely to stay in your current home, calculate the trade-off between renting and buying before making your decision.
Find furniture and accessories suppliers in Houzz professionals
Find furniture and accessories suppliers in Houzz professionals
Trendy Cafe Chair
2. …Or go second-hand
Small, portable pieces could be worth buying, because you can rest assured that you won’t have trouble fitting them in, as you move from home to home. Scour second-hand websites offering aesthetic refurbished furniture to see what suits your taste. A swish accent chair, a classic side table or something else equally striking can add meaningful layers to your decor.
Browse for ideas through these eclectic living rooms in Houzz photos
Small, portable pieces could be worth buying, because you can rest assured that you won’t have trouble fitting them in, as you move from home to home. Scour second-hand websites offering aesthetic refurbished furniture to see what suits your taste. A swish accent chair, a classic side table or something else equally striking can add meaningful layers to your decor.
Browse for ideas through these eclectic living rooms in Houzz photos
Cider Sofa Bed
3. Go for multipurpose pieces
Whether you decide to buy or rent, make your furniture pull double-duty by going for versatile pieces that take on various avatars. A coffee table that evolves into a dining table, or a sofa that transforms into a bed, can make functional additions to your space while saving you from doubling furniture. Also, multipurpose furniture can leave you with generous channels of floor space, making your home appear larger.
Here’s what you need to know before buying multifunctional furniture
Whether you decide to buy or rent, make your furniture pull double-duty by going for versatile pieces that take on various avatars. A coffee table that evolves into a dining table, or a sofa that transforms into a bed, can make functional additions to your space while saving you from doubling furniture. Also, multipurpose furniture can leave you with generous channels of floor space, making your home appear larger.
Here’s what you need to know before buying multifunctional furniture
4. Insta-furnish your kitchen
With an unfurnished home, it’s likely you don’t have any kitchen cupboards or units for storage. Invest in floating shelves and modular racks and crates that can take on various heights and forms. These can serve as excellent storage units for your utensils, appliances and essentials.
With an unfurnished home, it’s likely you don’t have any kitchen cupboards or units for storage. Invest in floating shelves and modular racks and crates that can take on various heights and forms. These can serve as excellent storage units for your utensils, appliances and essentials.
Conceal your under-counter racks with curtains to add instant charm to your cooking area while keeping your storage out of view! The best part — your racks will never go to waste; you can reuse them to host shoes, bathroom essentials and utilities in the future.
Here are some golden tips to convert your rented Indian-style kitchen into a modern space
Here are some golden tips to convert your rented Indian-style kitchen into a modern space
22" Patchwork Round Floor Pillow round floor Cushion embroidered Bohemian Patchw
5. Use the floor
For a more boho-chic aesthetic (or merely to save a good deal of money), why not go furniture-free? Leverage the floor and build your decor scheme from the ground up.
Get beautiful decor products from Houzz, which you can take away with you
For a more boho-chic aesthetic (or merely to save a good deal of money), why not go furniture-free? Leverage the floor and build your decor scheme from the ground up.
Get beautiful decor products from Houzz, which you can take away with you
A stylish air mattress, a seating area composed of floor cushions, a nightstand made of stacked books, or even an old car tyre repurposed into a coffee table (paint it, or wrap it with ribbon, yarn or rope and you have a winning piece) can make for quirky and practical decor.
6. Conjure your own closet
Who said wardrobes and dressers were the way to go? On the contrary, with minimalist, carefully chosen storage pieces, you can give your home an upscale, boutique-esque spin. Go for spiffy open clothes racks to hang your clothes (economical options are available dime a dozen online and in home stores), and invest in stackable storage boxes to house smaller garments and accessories. It’s also worth investing in sleek standalone shelving units that can move with you to your next home.
Who said wardrobes and dressers were the way to go? On the contrary, with minimalist, carefully chosen storage pieces, you can give your home an upscale, boutique-esque spin. Go for spiffy open clothes racks to hang your clothes (economical options are available dime a dozen online and in home stores), and invest in stackable storage boxes to house smaller garments and accessories. It’s also worth investing in sleek standalone shelving units that can move with you to your next home.
7. Repurpose old pieces
Have mismatched chairs from various sets? Paint them the same colour to create an eclectic arrangement. Old saris a cause for clutter? Tailor them into curtains! An old suitcase gathering dust? Have a carpenter mount it on some wooden blocks, or stack two or three together, to create a bespoke table.
Have mismatched chairs from various sets? Paint them the same colour to create an eclectic arrangement. Old saris a cause for clutter? Tailor them into curtains! An old suitcase gathering dust? Have a carpenter mount it on some wooden blocks, or stack two or three together, to create a bespoke table.
Alternatively, keep your suitcase open (consider changing the lining first) to create a head-turning bar or display unit.
Also, a great way to spruce up your walls on a budget is to use pages of old novels as wallpaper. Try Blu Tac as an adhesive. This way, you can cleanly remove your wall decor when it comes time to leave. By thinking of innovative ways to repurpose old pieces, you can save money and infuse vintage charm into your decor scheme.
Give your outdated stools, headboards, doors and more a new avatar with these quirky ideas
Read more:
7 Decor Tips to Make a Rented Apartment Feel Like a Home
7 Ways to Decorate Your Rented Flat
Tell us:
Are you renting an unfurnished apartment? How have you upped your decor game? Tell us in Comments below.
Give your outdated stools, headboards, doors and more a new avatar with these quirky ideas
Read more:
7 Decor Tips to Make a Rented Apartment Feel Like a Home
7 Ways to Decorate Your Rented Flat
Tell us:
Are you renting an unfurnished apartment? How have you upped your decor game? Tell us in Comments below.
Think about it – this isn’t your permanent home. So why invest in permanent furniture? Not only is quality furniture expensive, it can end up becoming a liability in the long run, especially when you’re not sure about the footprint of your next home, or the home after that. You can still maintain your current quality of life by renting furniture. Opt for a subscription service (there are several of these available in India) to rent heavy-duty items such as a sofa, bed, coffee table and nightstand. Many services offer a rotational furniture swapping facility, allowing you to freshen your home’s look to suit the season.