by Natalia Jones

Created on: November 04, 2009

Renters often find themselves in a decorating rut because their landlord has left them with strict instructions against painting the walls. Sure, paint is arguably the easiest and maybe even cost effective way to make a huge color splash, but there's much more to decorating with color than slapping some paint on the walls.

Just because you are forbidden to paint doesn't mean you are sentenced to live in a world of creamy beige. These great decorator's tips can infuse any room with color without ever painting the walls.

Paint the Furniture

If you can't paint the walls paint the furniture... assuming it's yours of course! Painted furniture is a great way to bring a lot of character into a space with minimal effort. You can paint the chairs of your dining set or maybe the arms and legs of a sofa set or coffee table. Test the paint colors out on a similar surface before you paint the actual furniture piece to make sure it's the right tint and hue, then take your furniture outside on a bright sunny day and transform your room with color.

Use Accessories to Add Punches of Color

Accessories, such as a collection of vases, your favorite figurines or even throw pillows and books are all interesting ways to introduce color into a space. Anything can be used to bring color into a room and this means the possibilities are truly endless. One way of unifying a mismatched bunch of items into a collection that draws attention is to spray paint them all the same color. This make a big statement and acts as a unifier to what was once disconnected.

Accent with an Area Rug

Don't forget the floor when you are looking for ways of adding color and style. An area rug with an interesting pattern or a bold color with a great texture is a fun way of injecting color into a dull room. The floor is often referred to as the fifth wall by interior decorators because it is as important as the walls, although it is frequently neglected. A colorful rug is just the thing to add life to the space without feeling overdone.

Hang Wall Art

Wall art completes a room. Even if you can't afford original pieces, prints can be just as beautiful and will also add that punch of color. You can also use color in the frames that you select. It is good practice to unify the theme of the art and the feel of the framing within the room to create a look that is pulled together.

Renter's cream rooms can feel uninspired and boring. Luckily there are lots of ways to decorate with color and still abide by the landlord's rules.

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