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When you live in a rented apartment or your own home, whether it’s your first place or your fifth, you have the chance to create the space that you want. With the help of modern decorating trends and some inspiration, you can ensure that your living space feels like home. Below are six ways to get started on redecorating a home to make it feel more like yours, courtesy of Chantel Keona.

Repaint the Walls

If you want a fresher, brighter feel in your living space, give the walls a fresh coat of paint. You don’t need to overhaul your space; simply pick a new shade and add color. Picking out paint is one of those simple tasks that can be overwhelming if you have no idea where to start — but there are plenty of resources online to help you decide on color with tools like Behr’s Color Visualizer.

Get Rid of Boring Rugs

Having a rug in your home is a terrific way to give yourself and others a comfortable area to sit, work, and relax. But some rugs can be incredibly boring and lack color or design. Don’t feel like you need to keep something just because it came with your living space; if you don’t have any love for a rug that came with an apartment or house, then get rid of it.

Add New Accent Lighting Fixtures

Accent lighting can be highly effective in giving a space a more sophisticated look. The right accent lights can add an entirely new dimension to how your living room, dining room, or kitchen looks. And while some accent lighting is purely decorative, it can even be functional. For example, under-cabinet lighting in a kitchen allows you to see what you’re doing while cooking without having all of those harsh overhead lights beaming down onto your workspace and into your eyes.

Use Plants to Freshen Up an Airy Space

Plants are inexpensive and, if you choose the right ones, easy to maintain, so they’re a great way to add some green to your life. Put plants in all four corners of your home and watch as these living objects help fill up an empty room.

Keeping your home clean and fresh can be a challenge, especially if you have a busy schedule. However, there are several cleaning tips that you can use to maintain a tidy living space. Firstly, decluttering regularly can help prevent the buildup of unnecessary items that can make your home feel cramped and disorganized. Secondly, incorporating natural products such as vinegar and baking soda into your cleaning routine can be an effective way to eliminate odors and disinfect surfaces. Additionally, creating a cleaning schedule and tackling one room at a time can make the task of cleaning seem less daunting.

Create a Dedicated Home Office

If you’re like most people, you spend much of your time at work and away from home. To create a place for working without having to travel, dedicate some space for a home office. Choose a spot with natural lighting to avoid the glare of your monitor all day, and fill your office with beautiful ergonomic furniture to make it a functional space that you also enjoy being in. Creating an office is one way of making your living space feel more like it’s yours, even if you don’t have control over the paint color scheme.

Final Options

If all this sounds like a bit much, another option is to familiarize yourself with what an interior designer does. An outside perspective might be just what you need to spruce up your home to something that will be a better fit for your needs.

Alternatively, if you don’t have permission from your landlord to make the required changes to your living space, there are alternatives. Look for a new house or apartment to suit your style, with your desired number of bedrooms, that’s perfect for the whole family. The US housing market is currently a buyer’s market with single family houses dropping $36,280 nationally. When purchasing a new home, research the housing market in your chosen area.

Living Space Reflects Your Personality

Home decor tells a unique story about you. It also helps you create an environment more conducive to work as well as rest. So, get creative! If you’re renting, just remember to consult your landlord before beginning any renovations.

What are your tips for redecorating your space? Let me know in the comments.

–Chantel Keona