When the seasons change (including PCS season!), it’s common for renters to get the itch to spruce up their space. You could add a new rug here, a touch of paint there, or take on a complete overhaul when you reach your next rental property. The trick is adding personality without spending too much money on someone else’s house and staying within your lease agreement’s terms. 

If you’re new to decorating on a budget in someone else’s home, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• Rugs make everything better. Even if they’re inexpensive and replaceable after two to three years, they add color, warmth, and comfort to every room, especially bland military housing. In most cases, bigger is better, so don’t skimp on the size. 
• Go ahead and paint. Instead of dreading the beige, spend $100 bucks or less to love your home. Double check your lease for the landlord’s painting guidelines before starting. 
• The military spouses that have come before you are genius home decorators. In fact, there’s an entire Facebook community with nearly 120,000 members called White Walls that will solve any military and rental housing design or decorating conundrum you can think of. So learn from their advice and give it your own spin. 

Even if you have a few PCS seasons under your belt, there’s always space for another hint to slip into your home decorating box of tricks. So, newbie and veteran decorators, check out these tried and true decorating tips. 

1) Brush Up on Your DIY Skills 

It doesn’t take a lot of DIY skills to change out overhead lighting, shower heads, and kitchen hardware. It’s also easy to add removable tiles to update an old backsplash or ugly bathroom floor. All of these improvements add up to create an extra layer of affordable comfort.  

2) Add Plants to Your Space

Ideally, you’ll inherit a gorgeous plant or two from a fellow PCSer who can’t bring their babies along. If not, consider buying a couple to liven your space and literally add some fresh air into the room. Tall plants are perfect for awkward corners and visually lowering high ceilings. Popular choices include the Swiss Cheese Plant, Rubber Plant, Kentia Palm, and Peace Lily. 

There’s a well-known decorating divide among designers on whether or not faux plants add charm or if they’re tacky dust collectors. If you go fake, choose high-quality foliage and use them sparingly and mixed with real plants for the best effect. 

3) Join “Buy Nothing” Groups 

After you’re confident you can claim your next PCS destination, jump into the tremendously popular and location-specific Buy Nothing Group on Facebook. It’s a treasure trove of neighbors who freely and generously give away everything from leftover granola bars to like-new sofas. Buy Nothing is the perfect place to find a new rug, curtains, furniture, and decorative items. You can even “wish” for a specific item and see if a neighbor is ready to offload it. Although Buy Nothing is trending now, don’t forget about The Freecycle Network and free listings on Nextdoor or CraigsList. 

4) Refresh Your Curtain Box 

It’s time to cull the herd! These panels have served you well, but it’s time to update outdated patterns and colors. You can donate to the previously mentioned groups above while searching the posts for new inventory for yourself. 

5) Use Removable Velcro and Adhesive Strips

These were the best thing for renters back in the day, and they’re still great in most scenarios. They aren’t paint-friendly 100% of the time, but they work on so many other surfaces that they make up for it.

Use them for bathroom accessories in the shower or to hang towels (buy the moisture-proof variety). You can hang an assortment of decorative items and reorganize your kitchen by hanging up utensils and everyday objects. Plus, when stuck strategically above your windows, the hooks can double as curtain rod hangers for light fabrics. 

6) Buy Kwik-Hang Curtain Rod Brackets 

Best described as the single best invention for perpetual renters, the Kwik-Hang brackets leave zero holes in your landlord’s wall and attach to just about any window frame and molding. You can choose from different sizes and colors like bronze or nickel, and they’re one piece. No more searching for separate brackets and screws scattered and tossed into separate moving boxes. 

7) Don’t Forget About Measuring Tools

• Flexible measuring tapes: They’re easy to use and easy to lose, so buy two. In a pinch, they can measure just about any dimension. 
• Your phone’s utilities app: Most have a measure and level tool installed. They’re perfect for tricky dimensions and when you don’t have a level on hand.
• Painter’s tape: Of course, it helps you paint perfect crisp lines, but its hidden superpower is that it’s ideal for laying out the dimensions of your furniture on the floor before it arrives. Simply measure the length and width and create coordinating rectangles and squares on the floor. The preplanning saves time and avoids moving heavy furniture over and over.

There are many ways to decorate and improve a space you don’t own. Remember, a lot of small improvements add up to make a big difference in your quality of life. All you need is a little imagination, inspiration from other military spouses, and the blessing from your homeowner for big non-removable projects!

From MilitaryByOwner Advertising, Inc. 

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