Most design savvy individuals know that there are countless ways to customize an actual rental apartment, whether that entails painting, installing removable wallpaper, switching out kitchen hardware, or hanging new light fixtures. I’ve made many of these upgrades myself, but usually with the intention of staying in a space for a couple of years. So what’s one to do when the space they’re staying in is super temporary or isn’t even truly their own? Some may find it silly to even consider jazzing up intern housing or a semester-long rental space, but taking small steps to make a room or apartment feel a bit more custom can truly make all of the difference. “Oftentimes, when people are in a temporary living situation, they’ll set up the bare essentials since they’ll only be in the space for a short time,” designer Stephanie Purzycki explained in an email. “But, it’s the extra details that will make it feel like a home, and usually, these details aren’t that expensive and take just a few hours to set up.” Even when I knew I’d only be living somewhere for a couple of months, I always made an effort to print and hang my favorite photos (as we all did in the early 2010s!) and display a few favorite books and trinkets. However, there’s so much more that you can do to make a temporary spot feel more like your own—keep reading for designer-approved tips that you’ll be able to easily implement this week. Not sure how to source chic art without breaking the bank? “If you’re just starting an art collection and are on the hunt for affordable prints, check out printable art shops like The Crown Prints, Juniper Print Shop and BFF Print Shop,” design blogger Kate Dreyer suggested in an email. “For budget-friendly frames, try Michaels and Target.”
