Using Window Treatments to Brighten Up Your Rental

I'm assuming even though you might rent, you probably don't live in a dungeon.  I'm fairly certain renting out a place without windows is illegal, at least in most cities.  Even if you live in a basement apartment, you still should have windows.

I have one main tip in regards to windows.  OPEN THE BLINDS!  You think people are going to see you sittin' there watchin' tv or working on your computer?  They aren't.  Well, maybe if you leave the blinds open at night, but during the day, since it's darker inside than it is outside, people aren't going to see in unless they smash their face up to the window.

Why open the windows?  Because you'll get to hang out in real sunlight, not fake light-bulb yellow light in the middle of the day.  You'll save on electricity, because you're not having to turn lights on all the time.  The sun streaming in will help heat up your space, and your dog will be happy hanging out in that patch of sunlight.  Brightening up your place with sunlight will make it appear bigger too, because it wont be so shadowy.  Plus, those white blinds that come in every rental aren't that pretty.  I mean, they are functional, but pretty?  Not so much.

Speaking of window coverings, one thing you may want to invest in, at least for your priority rooms, would be curtains or another kind of window covering.  Curtains can really brighten up a space & bring color to your room, especially if you're stuck with those white walls.

You don't even need to use a curtain rod to hang them, you can use rope!

Vintage Revivals

Or branches

Olive & Love

Or wire

Apartment Therapy

You can even use scrap fabric on a cord & attach it above a window with a couple of nails

Renewed Upon a Dream

I feel that window treatments can also just make you happy because of their color.  They are pretty simple to make too if you want them inexpensively.  You don't even need to sew.  Just use iron on hem tape to "hem" the sides of the fabric & you're good to go!  (Young House Love has a video about using hem tape here)

Not all of our windows have treatments, just the one above that's in our bedroom & our big window in the living room has long brown curtains.  I'd love to cover those ones in some pretty fabric, but I don't want to do it 'till we figure out what we'll use them for in our next place.

Do you use any window treatments in your rental home?

Follow along with my 31 days of loving my rental series here: