Just because one piece serves a certain purpose in a certain room at this point in time doesn’t mean that it has to stay there forever doing the same thing it’s been doing the whole time you’ve had it. You can easily repurpose it to serve another function in a different room!

If you have a basket that currently doesn’t quite serve a purpose, for example, you can add wheels to it and make it into a mobile end table in your living room, which will help you contain your clutter. Maybe that old coat-hook you used years ago can become a rustic mail sorter with some paint or stain plaque. Or perhaps that scratched up, cracked, or broken antique platter can become a vintage mirror!

And you don’t have to be restricted to using indoor pieces indoors and outdoor pieces outdoors either! For instance, you could repurpose an outdoor wooden shutter as a functional wall organizer! All you have to do is refinish it and hang it on your wall, maybe over a hallway console, and voila! You’ve got a bona fide bulletin board! You can tuck in invitations and important notices and display your children’s artwork on your new “bulletin board!”

Sometimes you can even repurpose broken pieces of furniture. A table that’s lost one of its four legs can easily find its new purpose as a small console in an entryway or hallway after it’s been cut in half and refinished or painted. Even an old door, once refinished and painted, can become an inexpensive headboard for a bed. Trust us – you’ll barely be able to tell the difference!

And of course, repurposing doesn’t simply mean moving some pieces of furniture to another room and making it serve a different purpose. You can add a small piece of fabric or furniture to an existing piece of furniture to give a bit more life. A new slipcover on a couch or carefully stapling fabric onto dining room chairs can give the room a much-needed pop of color. Adding castors to a trunk or suitcase can make it into a rolling coffee table in the living room. You can even add a bit more zest and a new dimension to your bookshelves by adding fabric or wallpaper to the back of it!

Even small changes in your furniture can make the biggest difference. For example, you pretty much can’t go wrong with a coat of white paint. If you feel a certain room of yours is too dark or if you have mismatched pieces of furniture, consider painting some furniture white to brighten the room (and do paint all mismatched pieces of furniture white to unify them)! Stain and varnish can also work wonders on wooden pieces of furniture. Even something as small as different knobs and hardware can make a huge difference!

Do you have any questions about repurposing furniture? Would you like some advice on how to do it? Contact us. No job is too big or too small for us. Let us help you give your home a new breath of life now!

Unfortunately, a big disadvantage to renting your own space is that it isn’t really YOUR home, and you can also be very restricted into making it feel like your own home, depending on what is written in your lease.

Never fear! Here are 8 tips to help you personalize your rented space!

Paint – It’s no lie that a can of paint can do wonders for your space. It can transform a ho-hum home to an alive and personalized abode. Unfortunately, some landlords will not let their tenants paint, so you’ll need to check your lease first before you start picking out paint colors.

On the other hand, some landlords don’t mind if you paint at all, or they won’t mind as long as you paint the walls off-white before you move out. If you’re a lucky tenant to have that sort of landlord, then get your thinking cap on! You can paint every single wall you have in your home, or you can paint a couple of walls to provide a pop of color here and there (and reduce the costs!). If you have poor lighting, choose a color that will brighten up the room, like light yellow or light orange. Also, be aware of how colors can affect your mood. Blues are famous for providing calm and peace to those around it while red can get your blood pressure up if you let it!

Artwork and Wall Decorations – Before you pick up that hammer, make sure it’s okay with your landlord to use nails to hang up any art or decorations. If you’re able to use nails, your options are nearly limitless. You can hang pictures of your friends and family, either in individual frames or in collage form.

Don’t forget to hang your favorite artwork! You can find simple prints at Target or online. If you’re the artistic type, you can even hang your own artwork on your walls for a truly personal touch. If you’re unable to use nails, vinyl wall art can be a cool option, but it can damage the paint, so make sure it’s okay to use!

Furniture – Every home needs furnishings, including rented homes, even if they do have some furniture fixed or readily available in the space. Bring in your own chairs, couches, desks, and tables so that you feel more like home! Be sure that your furniture will fit inside your rented space, especially if there are stairs involved!

Rugs – Rugs both big and small can add a load of your personality and style to your rented home. They can hide ugly carpet or other flooring that you may not like. Patterned rugs can also really tie a room together, especially if there are very basic colors and designs to play with. Be sure, though, that the rugs you choose are not very difficult to take back to your home and fit within your home!

Plants – Be it potted, hanging, or faux, plants can add a lot of life and happiness to your home! Bring in your favorite potted plants to sit on your windowsills, or place a faux plant in the corner of a room. Not only will you feel happier, but you will also have the added benefit of having additional oxygen in your home (unless you have strictly faux plants, that is!).

Change the Light Fixtures – Some rented spaces can possess ghastly light fixtures. Fortunately, fixtures aren’t a permanent feature! Find some fixtures that you like, take down the previous fixtures, and put your new ones up to help your space look more personalized! Be sure to keep the fixtures that came with the apartment in a safe location and change them back before you move, though.

Room Dividers – If you happen to have long rooms in your rented space, then room dividers are for you! They can effectively divide space within a long room. Divide your room or rooms effectively with curtains, bright hanging fabrics, or folding screens. Be sure to arrange your furniture so that your dividers are used effectively in your space.

Accessories – Last but not least, be sure to invest in some accessories that will make you feel at home even right when you walk in the door. Try adorning your windows with colorful curtains! Decorate your bed with bedspreads and bed linens in your favorite colors. Place smaller lamps, lightweight statues, decorations, and throw pillows around the room. You don’t even have to spend a fortune either – you can find many great items at local garage sales or even in the clearance racks at your favorite department stores.

Personalizing your apartment may prove to be a bit challenging, but in the end it’s worth it! And remember, even small changes can make such a huge impact about how you feel about your apartment.