Decorating a Rental Bedroom: Our Top 30 Ideas (That Home Owner’s Should Steal Too)

We’re quite excited to share some of our fave ideas for decorating a rental bedroom with you today, because we’ve spent many years living in rental homes, and it pains us that renters are often left behind on the style-front.

We also hate the idea that Landlords have of renters, as if they don’t care about their home. In our experience it’s quite the contrary. When we rented, we treated our home like it was our own, and wanted to make it feel amazing.

If you’re reading this, we know you too want to make your rental abode a stunner too, so below we’re sharing our best ideas for decorating a rental bedroom with you. Enjoy the inspiration.

1. Apply a Wall Decal Headboard

We all know when it comes to decorating a rental bedroom that painting the walls is usually off the cards (unless your landlord is a godsend of a human).

There are ways to bring colour and interest to walls though, and that’s with a removable headboard wall decal. These are so easy to apply to your walls and peel off at the end of the lease. And the best part is that they don’t leave damage.

There are loads of places online that sell these. Try online stockists like Temple & Webster, Gioia Wall Art, or Etsy. There’s a tonne of colour options too.

2. Removable Wallpaper for Rental Bedrooms

Of course, if you want to go all out on the peel-and-stick front, consider removable wallpaper for rental properties, from stockists like Olive Et Oriel. They stock hundreds of wallpapers that you can apply to a feature wall, or go the full wrap if you wish.

Also don’t forget one of our fave wallpaper suppliers, Grafico, who you would have seen on The Block for a number of years. The wallpaper above is one of theirs and rocks our world.

This is a great ideal for decorating a rental bedroom, of course, but you can easily take this concept into the other pockets of your rental property. And your landlord can’t complain about it. That’s a win-win in our books.

3. LED Strip Lighting On and Around the Bed

When decorating a rental bedroom, it’s such a pain that you can’t install gorgeous pendant lights over your bedside tables. That doesn’t mean you can’t get mood lighting in a way that looks luxurious and permanent.

When it comes to lighting a rental bedroom, LED strip lighting is your friend. You can buy packs from places like IKEA that are as cheap as chips, and you can apply them along the back of your headboard to create a hotel feel.

Some LED strip lights are battery operated, some plug into the wall, while others even come with a remote control. Who needs pendant lights when you have a world of LED to explore?

4. LED Strip Lighting in Drawers and Wardrobes

So we’ve just called out how high end you can make your bed zone feel by placing LED lights on the headboard (or even under the base of your bed). But don’t stop there.

Placing LED strip lighting in your drawers and wardrobes takes the luxe hotel vibe even further, giving you the feel of your very own walk in wardrobe on very little spend.

It isn’t all about looks either, it also functions wonderfully to allow you to see all of the pieces at the back of your robe that you forgot you even owned.

5. Under-Bed Storage Boxes to Conceal Clutter

Rental bedrooms are often tight on space and with little storage. And so you’re tasked with the challenge of finding other pockets in your bedroom that you can store all of your things in or under.

The best solution here is to utilise storage boxes like the ones above that easily slide out from under the bed; a great way to hide things you don’t use often.

Word of warning though: you always want boxes with lids otherwise you’re going to experience a world of dust when you go to pull out your fave winter jacket.

Labelling the boxes will make things easier too. And you’ll be able to see the labels if you’ve used LED lights under the bed as we suggested above!

6. Decorate Walls with Crawling Plants

It’s the walls that are a killer when it comes to decorating a rental bedroom. So often you can feel stuck in an all-white box. Plants are your friend on this front. You just have to get clever with how you use them.

Climbing plants are the best bet here, and you can so easily train them to crawl up your walls by using clear command hooks to hold and guide the stems upward, over a doorway (for example).

You can also buy a cute decorative trellis (like the one above from Etsy) that can hang on your wall with temporary hooks to give your crawling plant a little more pizazz.

7. Hang Light Shelves Using Command Hooks

It’s all about embracing lightweight solutions for walls when you’re decorating your rental bedroom. We don’t want that paint chipping off, nor do we want things falling off the walls and taking you out.

And so comes the idea to hang a lighter shelf on your wall with a Command hook. This could hold a small plant, a candle, or any other decorative moment you feel drawn to. You’re only really limited by your imagination here.

Just ensure you check how much weight your temporary hooks can hold and purchase them accordingly.

8. Embrace the Large Leaner Mirror

Leaner mirrors are not just for bedrooms in a rental home. Homeowners are going down the leaner route too these days because the look is so on-trend.

Be it an arch leaner mirror (we love this style) or something with cleaner lines, it’s the best way to decorate a large section of blank wall, plus you get a full-body mirror moment when you’re getting ready in the morning.

If the leaner mirror is light enough, you could even place it up on a piece of furniture to elevate it more (as you can see in the image above).

9. Hang a Lightweight Gallery Wall

Heavy artworks are the biggest issue when decorating a rental bedroom because there’s simply just no way to hang them without hammering a hook into the wall.

It doesn’t mean you have to forgo art altogether though. You just need to embrace a lighter cluster of smaller prints to create a chic gallery wall.

You can do this above your bed, or choose an adjacent blank wall in your bedroom and use Command hooks to hold all of the frames. Too easy!

10. Hang Sheer Curtains Without Drilling Holes

Rental bedrooms are so often plagued by ugly window treatments. Usually roller blinds that look worn and tatty, or vertical blinds (and you know how we feel about vertical blinds).

The good news is that you can cover unsightly roller blinds without causing any damage. Yep, it’s true!

One way is to use Command hooks, made for lightweight curtain rods, which can then see you drape gorgeous sheers over the rollers.

Or, consider using a tension rod inside the window frame and install a curtain on that. This will only work if you don’t already have an existing roller blind sitting inside the frame though.

11. Get a Stylish Freestanding Wardrobe

I’ve been in many rental homes with no built-in-wardrobes and it’s so unfair on the tenant. But, you can get the ultimate revenge by purchasing a super-styling freestanding wardrobe to store your clothes in.

In fact, we just did a roundup of the best freestanding wardrobes on the market here if you need help to find one to suit your bedroom.

Even the smallest rental bedroom can fit in a freestanding robe or clothes hanger. And there are so many good options at great prices available.

12. Use the Back of Your Door for Additional Storage

As mentioned earlier, often a rental bedroom equals no storage space. Under your bed is one zone to capitalise on, but also consider the back of your bedroom door.

This is prime real estate, and a hanging storage system is a great way to use up the vertical space. Store shoes, hang towels and bags, or more. The options are endless here and it won’t cost you much to pull this idea off.

And if you need more help, we did this video for you on affordable bedroom storage ideas.

13. Use a Fabric Headboard to Add Interest

If the idea of a wall decal headboard isn’t taking your fancy, why not go for the real deal and purchase a glorious fabric headboard to give your rental bedroom a wow moment on one of the walls? You can even DIY one like we showed you here.

It’s elements like this that often make bedrooms in owner-occupied homes feel high end. But trust us when we say that you can make your rental bedroom feel high end and luxe as well.

Fabric will bring a great sense of softness to the space, but an arched rattan bedhead would work wonders too (arches are one of this year’s big interior design trends, after all).

14. Use Carry Lights as Bedside Wall Sconces

So we just recently discovered the concept of the carry light and love it as an idea for decorating a rental bedroom.

These lights are genius because you can take them off the wall and carry them around your home – completely portable.

You can then use Command velcro hooks to attach them to your wall when you want to read in bed. What a clever wall to achieve the look and feel of a wall sconces without having to do any electrical work! They come in a few different colours too.

15. Hang Lighter Fabrics Instead of Heavy Art

Another way to create a big impact in your rental bedroom on the decorative front (without the weight or wall damage) is to hang a lightweight fabric artwork over your bed.

There are loads of brands creating fabric wall hangings in a gorgeous array of styles (we love the brand Home Dweller). Or, consider the tried and true macrame wall hanging if your rental bedroom could use a little boho or coastal influence.

It’s all about thinking outside the box when it comes to decorating your rental home, so don’t be afraid to hang things you might not consider for walls, like this lightweight rug-on-wall idea.

16. Layer Rugs to Cover Bad Flooring

Landlords, in an effort to be cheap, often don’t bless renters with the best flooring in the world. But there’s a solution that can look great without a huge spend, and that’s rug layering.

Choose a larger thicker rug to go down over the majority of your bedroom, if possible, and then overlay a smaller lightweight rug in a key zone, like next to your bed or in your dressing zone.

This not only conceals bad flooring beneath, but it allows you to inject some personality into your space, like in the image above.

17. Update Bedding to Create a Focal Point

If we think about a rental bedroom (or any bedroom for that matter), outside of the walls, the bed is the largest chunk of visual real estate. There’s literally a huge horizontal plane for you to decorate and make your own.

With that in mind, once your walls are sorted, it’s time to turn your attention to layering up your bed. And boy do we have loads of posts to help you do it.

Here’s the best post we have for you on layering a bed with pillows, cushions, throws and more.

18. Hang a Lightweight Paper Pendant as a Feature

As we’ve discussed already, it’s those permanent fixtures like paint and lights that separate an owner-occupied bedroom from a rental bedroom. But there are ways to achieve the “I own this” feel, and the paper pendant is one of them.

This idea is both easy and affordable to achieve, and you can pick up paper pendants for a steal from places like IKEA.

Installing one of these without a light in it allows you to create a focal point. But you can take it a step further by placing a remote, battery-operated light within, so it acts as a real pendant.

19. Consider a Four Poster Bed

We love four poster beds here at TLC Interiors, and they’re a great way to bring height to a space. If you’re unable to create a moment with a light or wall covering, then make the bed the standout moment instead.

The good news is that four poster beds have become way more affordable than they used to be. Simple black metal options or timber are available from places like Temple and Webster, Fantastic Furniture and Amart Furniture.

You could even create your own canopy moment over the top of the bed frame like in the image above via Jessi Eve if you wanted to take the look further.

20. Use a Screen to Zone your Rental Bedroom

If you’re blessed with a larger rental bedroom to decorate, then you might want to consider a screen to zone the space into different areas.

This could sit between a study nook and your bed, near your wardrobe to create a dressing room feel, or it could help create a cosy reading corner.

Decorative screens like the one above from Lounge Lovers are rather affordable and can even sit against the wall as a DIY headboard if you want it to. They’re a really versatile solution.

21. Use Inexpensive Pinboards to Personalise a Wall

It doesn’t matter if your board is made from felt, metal, cork or mesh, this idea for decorating a rental bedroom is not only a cinch but brings tonnes of personality with it.

Consider this a zone where you can pin anything that speaks to you. Think photos, movie tickets from your first date, a fabric you love, clippings from magazines. The options are endless.

The mood board above is a stunner from Norsu Interiors if you want to take a closer look. Lean it on a desk or fix it to the wall with velcro hooks; both will look lovely.

22. Create a Reading Nook if You’re in a Sharehouse

If your rental bedroom is in a sharehouse, then you’re wise to try and give yourself a space to relax and unwind in that’s not in the main zone where flatmates are likely to make noise.

Creating a reading nook is easier than you think. It just takes a few furniture and decor ingredients to make it feel nice and cosy.

We’ve created a post on making a reading nook you here if you need some help in this area (and none of it involves a permanent fixture!).

23. A Desk Zone is Useful in a Rental Bedroom Too

We’ve all experienced working from home during our years in lockdown, and I’m sure you already know how vital it is to have a quiet space you can take work calls from and Zoom meetings in.

A work zone in your room is key, but it’s best if you can place it in a spot that has a background in it that isn’t your bed. It’s not always possible, but it is preferred.

The good news is that you can create a work zone in your bedroom on a budget and make it fit in with the rest of your space without it looking too “officey”.

Here’s a video we made on create a workspace in your bedroom that explains how.

24. Cluster Mirrors on the Wall

If you’re not keen on the idea of a large leaner mirror for your bedroom, consider a number of smaller square mirrors butted up against one another on your wall instead.

This is a good way to get a larger mirror moment on your rental bedroom wall without having to worry about the weight or drilling a hook in.

Simply use temporary velcro hooks on the back of each mirror and the look will appear completely seamless. You can even add fairy lights for a touch of whimsy, like in the IKEA bedroom above.

25. Work with Existing Bold Wall Colours

We know that some of you are in rental homes that got the short end of the stick when it comes to the existing paint colours. Some loud choices have been made that need to be unmade.

But you’re stuck with it right? We hear you. In this case, you can actually lean into the boldness and make the mistake feel entirely intentional.

The image above is a great example of choosing bedding that makes the apricot walls look like a gorgeous design moment.

You can also keep all furniture in the room neutral and let the loud paint be the one focal point.

26. Lean Mirrors and Art on Your Dresser

Leaning anything and everything is a great way to decorate your rental bedroom, but making a moment of a few leaning pieces on a dresser is a genius way to display what you love.

The image above from Studio McGee proves this point perfectly. A nicely leant mirror, some artworks, a lamp and some decor together like this feels like a completely cohesive vignette that shows off the things that mean the most to you.

27. Use Versatile Cube Shelving

One of the best inventions for renters is the cube shelf. The reason it works so well is because it’s so versatile.

Use one shelf containing four cubes, stack two side-by-side for eight cubes, or add on even more if you have the space.

These are also great because if you move house you can split the shelves up and use them in different rooms in your next rental home. 

28. Make Table Lamps the Statement

If the wall sconce idea we covered off earlier isn’t your vibe, consider making table lamps on your bedsides a real design feature. Invest a little cash on something that feels more elevated and your rental bedroom can feel like a design destination.

A table lamp is always going to fit into any home you rent, or even a home you end up purchasing, so the investment will never be a waste of money.

29. Scent it Up with Candles

OK so this one isn’t a tip specifically for decorating a rental bedroom, but we’re so obsessed with candles here at TLC Interiors that we had to include it.

The thing that so many people don’t realise is how important scent in a room is, especially a bedroom. It has the power to calm you, invigorate you, or transport you somewhere else entirely.

We’re so into candles that we compiled a list of the top 20 candle brands out there, so check it out if you need to freshen up your boudoir.

30. Ask for Permission to Make Changes

Last but not least when it comes to decorating a rental bedroom is one you might not have considered, but it’s oh so simple: ask your landlord if you can make changes.

Send an email to them (or through your estate agent) with some examples of the paint colour you want to apply, the sheer curtains you want to install, or the pendant light you want in your room.

Not all landlords are unreasonable, and it might just make your rental bedroom (or entire home) feel amazing for the years you’re living in it.

Which of these rental bedroom decorating ideas is your fave? Drop us a comment below and share. Or let us know if there’s something stunning you’ve done in your rental bedroom that you want to let others know about.