I was recently visiting with a friend who just moved into a brand new space. It was so fun getting to see her family’s vision come to life – because they had just finished fully renovating a 1950s home! I love a full transformation moment…it’s crazy what a space can evolve into with the right ideas and the right vision.

My friend’s situation with her home is a bit different, though. You see, she and her husband purchased the home as an investment property which they plan to live in for a year or two and then move out so they can rent it to young professionals, college students, or travel nurses. In fact, what used to be the basement on their house is now a fully separated 1 bedroom / 1 bathroom apartment with a full kitchen!

As we sat and visited, she wanted to pick my brain about how to decorate this “temporary” space – specifically the blank, white walls. Like I mentioned, they’ll be living in it for a while so they want it to feel warm and homey - but without the tremendous expense that CAN occur with decorating.

Our conversation (and the ideas I came up with to inspire her) got me thinking about how often others may enter into a season of needing to decorate walls in a temporary or budget-friendly way.

I’m thinking about people who are…

Living in a college dorm
Renting an apartment or home
Doing exactly what my friend is doing (explained above)

…or even those who simply don’t like to commit to one design for a long time and want the freedom and flexibility to switch it up.

Alas, today’s blog topic, Ideas for Wall Decor in a Temporary Home, was born! Below I’ll share the 3 best tips I gave my friend!

You’ll walk away with ideas for easy (and accessible) wall decor options that are perfect for any temporary space – and that won’t break the bank!

PS - each idea includes an inspirational photo to get your wheels turning!

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RUGS, QUILTS, AND MORE! OH MY!

Did your eyebrow raise in suspicion as you read this? I know, it might sound crazy, but go with me here! One of the primary walls my friend needs to style is a HUGE white space above her couch. With a lot of neutrals already at play with furniture, wall color, and rugs, I suggested hanging a rug, quilt, or other type of fabric in this large space.

Here’s why: adding this type of piece, as opposed to framed photography or artwork, is an easy way to add more texture (and therefore coziness) to a space. I also love this idea because when you’re ready to move out of your space? Simply take the rug down and use it on the wall (OR FLOOR) in your next home! The same goes for a quilt, of course. This tip not only gives a great solution to add unique flair to a space, but it’s also cost-effective because its not a one-time-use situation.

I love this rug hanger from Etsy. You can hang your rug, quilt, textile from it and it’s beautiful. Click the picture to take you to the listing!

GALLERY WALLS OF SIMPLE FRAMED PHOTOS!

This one might seem like a no-brainer, but the thing is, we oftentimes convince ourselves that we need high-quality art or to spend hundreds of dollars on professionally framed photography in order for a space to look great. And while I certainly appreciate the value and excellence that comes through a well-invested design, spending a fortune for a temporary wall space just doesn’t make sense.

Instead, opt for the MANY companies out there (like Mixtiles or Small Woods) who specialize in printing your photos in simple frames. There are a lot of options here, and what I love about this tip is that they’ll always work in ANY other space. So when it comes time to move on, simply pop the frames off the wall and tote them to your next home, where there is guaranteed to be a perfect new spot for them.

These actually hang with sticky tape instead of nails! No holes to pay for when you leave the apartment!

I love these frames from Amazon for a gallery wall! They can hang or sit on a table and you can remove the mat for an 8x10 to fill the frame with art or a photo!

FUNKY FINDS!

Last but not least, this one is probably my favorite. As I mentioned in the point above, give yourself permission to release the unnecessary pressure to invest a ton of money in custom art. Save that for a space that will be more permanent, and instead, shift your focus to creating unique designs with funky finds from local thrift and antique stores.

Trust me, I personally have a booth at an antique mall, and there are TONS of cool things you can score for just a few dollars! Think vintage frames that you can replace the print in (search for prints on Etsy), cool knick-knacks that can be hung, maps, baskets, plates, and more!

And if you’re thinking “Umm, I am NOT creative like that so there’s no WAY I can piece that stuff together”...don’t worry. There are TONS of inspirational ideas on Pinterest. Find a few that you like, and then replicate the general type of item on your wall!