How to Decorate a Rental on a Budget with City Chic Decor

Chelsey was met with just about every challenge possible when decorating her NYC apartment. Her home is New York City tiny, lacked storage, and needed to be decorated on a budget. Plus, you can only do so much to a space you are renting! Well, she has learned a lot and chronicles the continued journey on her blog, City Chic Decor, where she shares savvy tips and tricks. So, who better to tell us how to decorate a rental on a budget than her?!

We love following along with you on City Chic Decor! Have you always loved interior design? What inspired you to launch the site?

I’ve been interested in interiors ever since I was a little girl! When I moved to Manhattan 3 years ago, I realized how few resources there were that taught you how to decorate a rented space. How could this be when more people are renting now than in the last 5 decades? I wanted to show people you can turn a rented space into a home and made it my mission over the last few years to teach ways to redesign without having to renovate.

You share innovative renter solutions and design ideas that are so helpful – can you give our readers a few starter tips?! What are some of the key things to keep in mind when designing a rental?

First and foremost, don’t let the “restrictions” scare you. Not allowed to paint? There are plenty of other ways to decorate and “color-fy” your walls. Can’t renovate the kitchen? You can still transform the look of it by incorporating colorful appliances & and switching out the hardware.  When decorating a rented space from scratch, the best thing to do is to start with your “bases.” The bases of your space consist of large items such as large furniture and area rugs. I suggest going more neutral with the bases and adding colors through the art, décor and accents.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I would say my interior style is traditional meets chic. I love to mix traditional décor with unique and glam accents!

What are some of the biggest challenges you had in decorating your apartment?

My bedroom was definitely a challenge- The space is so tiny and narrow! It was challenging to fit all the necessary furniture in without the room feeling too over-cluttered. The bedroom is supposed to be your sanctuary and too much clutter can create a stressful environment. Another decorating struggle was finding the balance between design and functionality. Storage was definitely limited in my apartment which required me to get creative with my design.

Living in NYC naturally lends itself to tiny spaces – how did you make the size of your home work for you?

Using décor and unexpected places as storage! I definitely take advantage of the empty space under and between furniture. In addition, I love finding décor statements that also act as storage. For example, I keep all of my glassware and cocktail utensils on my bar cart. It saves space in my cabinets and also adds a chic look to the space.

You have so many fun accessories! Where are your favorite spots to source home decor?

HomeGoods, ZGallerie and CB2 are my go-tos for home décor!

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