Leaving for college marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter of your life. But before you can get the most of your college life and everything it has to offer, you’ll need to settle in a place where you’ll feel comfortable and at home. To help you create a cozy and inviting space where you’ll enjoy spending your time, we’ve prepared cool decorating ideas for student rentals that you can use. From cool lighting ideas to tips for making your rental feel homier, we’ve got it all. So continue reading, and by the end of this article, we guarantee you’ll feel inspired.
Make your rental feel like home
One of the most exciting times for any young person is going to college and moving out of the family home. It is a huge milestone and a massive step towards adulthood. However, this change can also be quite emotional and scary.

To make this transition easier and adjustment quicker, you should look for ways to make your rental feel like home. Here are some of the ways to do it:
- One of the best ways to give the space a new look is to rearrange the furniture. Even moving your desk to another part of the room can make a big difference and change how you feel about the space.
- Make sure to thoroughly clean the space. Always remember that a tidy environment is a tidy mind.
- Consider painting the walls if the landlord approves. But first, make sure to protect the furniture from damage. The best way to ensure this is to move the furniture until the work is done. If you thought it was expensive, you couldn’t be more wrong. Finding storage on a student budget is not difficult at all; you just have to do some research to find a unit you can easily afford.
- Lastly, make sure to add scents that remind you of home. Whether it’s a scented candle or a specific plant, familiar smells have the power to make us feel happy and at home.
Decorating ideas for student rentals
Even though your rental might lack square footage, it doesn’t mean you can’t make it more appealing as well as functional. As you’ll be spending a lot of your time there, you want to create an environment you’ll enjoy, and that will make you feel good.
An excellent way to achieve this is to get creative and decorate your rental. If you lack information, further in this article, you’ll find some cool decorating ideas you can use.
Decorate your walls with art
If you want to turn your plain-looking rental into a stylish space, adding wall art is the way to go. Implementing art into your decor is a great way to add a personal touch to the space.

However, keep in mind that you probably won’t be allowed to drill into the walls. Alternatives such as duct tape or sticky strips are great to use as you won’t have to worry about damaging anything.
Also, there are plenty of other wall decor ideas you can choose from. For example, you can create your own funky deadline board, which will be both decorative and useful. Make sure to add a mirror as they reflect light and make space look bigger.
Invite nature in by adding house plants
A great way to decorate your space while giving it vitality and improving the air quality at the same time is to bring in houseplants. You will give your rental a more natural vibe and create a healthier environment. Plus, there are plenty of low-maintenance plants you can choose from.
If you are worried about transporting your plants when it’s time to move, don’t be, as there is an easy solution to ensure your plants have a safe trip. The team from allseasonmovers.com asserts that professional movers have the experience and knowledge to transfer your house plants, as well as all other belongings, in the safest way.
Add eye-catching rugs
One of the best decorating ideas for student rentals is to add an eye-catching rug. It will make your rental feel cozier and look bigger. As a decorative element, they can be a great statement piece that will catch anyone’s attention.
There are plenty of options available for any personality type. If you’re feeling bold, think about adding an interesting pizza-shaped carpet. Or, if you are a fan of a more neutral style, add dimension to your rental with a geometric-shaped rug.
Set the mood with lighting
Another great way to decorate your rental is to play with lights and different fixtures. Setting the right mood with lights can help you feel more relaxed after a stressful day at college. On top of that, you’ll need appropriate lighting as you’ll spend a lot of your time studying.

Consider adding fairy lights as they can be a great statement piece and add a cool vibe to your room. Or think about adding a beautiful lamp next to your bed.
Make your storage decorative
When you live in a small space, getting enough storage can be challenging. Luckily, there are so many vertical storage ideas you can use to maximize the storage space you have available in your rental.
But, to make it more fun, you can make your storage more decorative. For instance, you can create a bookshelf using an old small stepladder. Or you can add pictures or plants on floating shelves or glue an interesting poster on the front of your closet.
The bottom line
We hope our decorating ideas for student rentals helped you create a space that reflects your personality. Remember, it’s all about getting creative and thinking outside the box. So get off your chair and start turning your rental into a cool place where you’ll enjoy spending your free time.
Author bio:

Jessica Halpert is a junior editor at a publishing company. She lives with a roommate and her pet dog. As she’s very passionate about writing, she occasionally writes articles about various aspects of everyday life. Her favorite part of the day is early morning when she picks up her takeout coffee and takes a walk with her dog around the park.