In today’s volatile economy, more and more people are renting rather than buying their homes.  If you are one of those people, you have probably felt the desire to make your place your own at war with the fact that most landlords are not amenable to any sort of permanent changes to a space.  Never fear, however, because there are plenty of ways to put your personal stamp on a house or apartment without permanently changing anything.  Following are three easy ideas to make a dramatic impact that can be removed when you leave your rental.

First, add curtains.  Many people hesitate to invest in window treatments for rental spaces, but curtains are a relatively inexpensive way to add a lot of personality quickly.  First, choose a window treatment that can easily convert to another space should you move.  In other words, don’t invest in size-specific treatments such as roman shades unless you are willing to part with them when you move.  Draperies, on the other hand, can easily be moved from house to house by just putting up and taking down curtain rods.

Second,  add mood lighting.  Nothing warms up a space like mood lighting.  Sure, overhead fixtures do the job, but they certainly don’t make a place feel homey.  Adding lamps or even plug-in sconces to a wall will help a space feel more personal, and will keep you from having to turn on those unflattering overhead lights every time you walk into a room.

Finally, decorate your space the way you actually use it.  Just because a certain room might be designated as a dining room, doesn’t mean you have to decorate it that way.  If you need a home office more than you need a place for dinner parties, by all means, use that dining room as an office.  Many times renters, in particular, have to compromise a bit on their list of “must-haves” in a space.  That said, thinking outside the box a bit can yield a tailor-made space from one that was initially just mediocre.

Just because you live in a rental, doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t feel like home.  By following these three tips, any space, rental or otherwise can be personalized just for you while still keeping your landlord happy.