There’s no better time than the holidays. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or just relaxing and decompressing at home, there are so many ways to make your space feel even cozier and more inviting than it already is.
As a renter, there are of course limitations to the level of decor you can have in your apartment such as mounting wreaths on the wall, hanging lights, etc. However, there are still great ways to transform your home into a festive sanctuary.
Here are some of our favorite decor options to get you into the holiday spirit!
Step 1: Remove Your Current Decorative Items
We know this may sound tedious, but starting with a blank canvas is the absolute best way to decorate for the holidays. Your home most likely has decorative items that stay in the same place all year such as vases, picture frames, candles, throw pillows, throw blankets, etc.
There’s also a strong chance that the colors and style of your current items will clash with your Christmas decor. To combat that, we recommend putting all of your current decor in boxes and storing it away until after the New Year.
Now, you’ll have tons of space to decorate! And you don’t have to worry about your red Santa figurines clashing with your pink throw pillows. This also helps to reduce clutter.
If you want to keep some items out, place them alongside your holiday items and see how they look together. If you want your space to look the same in the New Year, take a picture of the room before beginning this process so you’ll remember exactly where you had each of your items.
This process offers a great opportunity to reassess which items you love and what is no longer serving you when you bring everything back in January, making it a great way to kick off the New Year.
Is that vase that’s been on your dining room table for the last year no longer your style? Add it to the donation pile!
Step 2: Pick a Color Scheme That Goes With Your Home
You might feel tempted to skip this step, but picking a color scheme helps ensure a clean, cohesive design vs. having a medley of mismatched decorative items scattered throughout your home.
If you’re investing in all new holiday decor this year, complete step #1 above and clear away all of your items. Then, assess your blank space to decide on a theme. This keeps your house feeling like itself and limits the number of holiday items you buy (because let’s be honest, it’s very tempting to go overboard!).
Here are some fun color schemes to choose from:
- Blue and white
- White and gold
- White and silver
- Red and green
- Red and white
- Light pink and gold
- Black and red
- Neutral (cream, beige, light gold)
- Plaid
- Stripes
Create a Festive and Inviting Atmosphere with Cozy Decor and Holiday Touches in Any Space!
Step 3: Hang Wreaths from Furniture (Instead of Walls/Doorways!)
Hanging wreaths from the walls or front door could damage your apartment and impact your security deposit. But that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate wreaths into your decor!
Hang a wreath from your vanity mirror or on the back of your dining chairs. Lace a long ribbon through the middle of the wreath and attach it to the knobs on your dressers, mirrors, chair backs, or any other area that needs some pizzazz.
Step 4: Make Holiday Cards Part of Your Decor
Are holiday cards filling your mailbox faster than you can keep up? Rather than putting them in a basket where they’re out of sight, try weaving them into your Christmas decor. Use mini clothespins or festive paper clips to pin them to wreaths, garlands, plants, holiday trees, etc.
You can also create a DIY card display using plywood such as this design created by The Merrythought.
Step 5: Design a Holiday Cart
There’s no better way to get into the holiday cheer than a bar cart (and a cocktail!). Buy a bar cart with wheels so you can bring it from your kitchen to the living room. This makes it especially helpful when hosting holiday parties. A bar cart can also double as a space to serve appetizers and small bites for guests.
To get it spruced up, wrap the bar cart in garland and fill it with festive items such as seasonal spirits, festive garnishes and glassware, mason jars, candy canes as stirrers, extra ornaments, ribbon, and a small wreath to top it off!
Step 6: Swap Out Your Bedding
Don’t limit decor to only your living room and kitchen, spruce up your bedroom as well! Make your bed extra cozy with festive sheets, throw blankets, and pillows. A winter nap never looked so good.
Step 6: Less is More When It Comes to Decor
It’s so easy to get carried away when it comes to holiday decor. It’s fun, it’s festive, and it’s very easy to let it completely take over your home. Add a few items, then take a step away from the space for an hour or two and come back to it.
Step 7: Don’t Let Decorating Get the Best of You
Don’t let decorating stress you out. It should be a fun time to bring your family and friends together. Keep decorating until it’s not feeling fun anymore – that’s when you know the process is complete.
Key Takeaways
Although living in a rental property may bring some limitations regarding lights, candles, hanging items from the walls/doorways, etc., there are still so many ways to bring your creative spirit into your space. Doing so safely is the best way to reduce stress (and ensure you get back that security deposit!). Remember to invest in renter’s insurance to protect your belongings and always keep a fire extinguisher within close proximity in the event of an emergency.
If you’re in the market for a new apartment, Draper and Kramer offer luxury rental properties in Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Phoenix, St. Louis, Denver, and more. Explore our properties by visiting draperandkramer.com today.
