new apartment - can't paint, help!

[jemokiando]

I need help covering my white walls, and deciding on a color scheme.  The couch is a grey-brown tweed, carpet is all-purpose, and the TV and its stand are both black.  We also need some more furniture to fill the space.  However, I'm really low on funds for now.  I'd appreciate any advice you may offer.  Thanks!   

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/jemokiando/LR2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/jemokiando/LR3.jpg

p.s. sorry for the links.. can't post pics yet. 

[rhino]

what about painting on muslin and hanging it up? you can hang it on a curtain rod and if you get tired of a painting take it down and hang another. ( I'm not sure if i seen this idea was on eye on the bay or ikea.com) hang steel cable from corner on the big open wall and hang photos that way? or one large unframed art.  you can also make extra pillows to match the art? hmmm and plants vines are nice and manageable

[fabeins]

When I was in high school we lived in a rental filled with horrid paneling that I couldn't paint. I stretched really cool bed sheets across the wall, taut, like wallpaper, and used interesting tacks to secure them. It made a very cool room, with very tiny holes form the tacks and was easily pulled down when we moved. You could consider just doing an accent wall in a cool bold print sheet...

[tomico]

You have some great windows! Play them up. Where does the sun come in? Take advantage of any sun you get with plants. Fabric, garlands, ribbons - have some fun! You really need some color. too many neutrals make everything fade. Live, live, live! Ikea has a wire hanger that has the mimimum of screw holes. You could hang fabric (tapestries?), or pictures off it. Good luck.

[FauxChina]

I'm thinking fun colourful pillows for your couch, maybe even make a big cushy bean bag chair.  You've got awesome windows, so definitely play them up, as Tomico suggested, get some plants, big green ones would really liven up your place and maybe some funky flowers for your window sill.  You could have a lot of fun with those Crayola Window Writer markers and draw neat murals on your windows, and they will wash off when you get bored of it.

[MotorCityPinup]

What about framing cute cards, wallpaper pieces, or even wrapping paper?  Or maybe attach it to a canvas somehow - JoAnn's & Michaels always have 40% off coupons.   Just find stuff with a cute print, perhaps? 

[Daphne Descends]

http://digsmagazine.com/lounge/lounge_rentalreno.htm
http://digsmagazine.com/lounge/lounge_colorbasics.htm

I swear by this site.

I think picking a couple of contrasting colors would really give your room a "punch" since you can't paint. Maybe some pillows in reds and greens? (If you can sew a cheap way to do this is shop thrift stores for clothes you can cut up and make pillows out of) and some artwork to pick up the color? I'm also really fond of buying glass jars, vases, etc, in your color of choice and placing them around the apartment. Really pretty! Luckily all of your furniture and such is really neutral, so it will go well with any color you pick I think.

P.S. I LOVE that fact that you're watching the Daily Show on T.V.

[CrazyFool]

That starching fabric to the walls is perticularly friggin awesome!

[Ginamonster]

Ask a friend to paint you a picture! Add bright throws to your couch! (blankets, pillows, I'm going for polka dots, personally) Photos are always good decor and they create great conversation pieces when people come over. Cheap wood shelves (painted, of course) over your windows with plants than hang down would be really pretty. It might be difficult to do the sheet thing unless you cut the sheets down since your walls are pretty well broken up with windows, but those Chinese style scroll like wall hangings are elegant, and would be easy to make, especially if you used a nice wall paper or fabric instead of a painting, and you can make them any size you like.

[veronikavsyou]

ikea had this really cool idea where they took ornate frames painted gold (i'm sure you can find these at a thrift store and just spray paint them) and stretched some really unique fabric behind it.  chandeliers can really change a room up, too.