One of the golden rules made by most landlords is that walls are not to be painted. As we all know apartments are mainly painted in shades of white, off white and beige. These colours tend to be bland and boring for most. Today, I want to remind you of the many ways to incorporate colour into your apartments without painting the walls. 

Canisters, tablecloths, tea towels, oven mits, plates, glasses, kettles and bins come in an array of colours, and can be used to brighten up your kitchen area.  Keep your theme or colour scheme when choosing these items. For example, you can display a collection of red canisters on your kitchen counter, and have it mirrored in accent pieces like your kettle and bin. 

Chair slip-covers, candles, vases, runners, and placemats are just a few of the items you can use to add colour in your dining room. You can spruce up your dining room seasonally, and add colour at the same time by slip covering your chairs and using a matching or contrasting tablecloth. For more emphasis, why not use a table runner with a few candles or fresh flowers, and brightly coloured plates? Adding window treatments are another way to add colour, all in keeping with the theme of the room. 

Dramatic patterns and bold coloured window treatments, indoor plants, large pieces of art, cushions and rugs are just a few of the ways you can add colour to your living room. Arrange your furniture in such a way that your windows are the focal point of the room. In addition, you can fill the space with our beautiful tropical plants and flowers, which is also a great way of bringing the outside in. Place pieces of art on the walls whether local or otherwise, as another way to accentuate your bare walls. Lots of decorative cushions add colour to your sofas and chairs, while rugs brighten up your floors. There are a lot of colourful area rugs on the market today. For a unique splash of colour, your rug can be used as artwork and hung on the wall, which will create an accent wall without painting. 

The right set of sheets, pillows, and window treatments can do wonders for making your bedroom inviting. Use sheer panels paired with heavy luxurious ones. Remember as stated in a past article, window treatments can be used to mask architectural features while still adding colour. Accent walls can be created in your bedroom by covering an entire wall with window treatments, or by covering an open closet. For readers with canopy beds, you can hang beautiful panels, or drape fabric around the bed. Make sure your bedspread or sheets are made in beautiful colours and patterns, along with matching pillows. 

Just because you are not allowed to paint your apartment walls does not mean that your home has to look sterile and flat.  By using my suggestions, you can decorate your walls without breaking the rules...Enjoy! 

Lisa Moore

Owner Lismoore Drapery & Interiors

Member of the Window Covering Association of America (WCAA)

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