Roman shades have a classic look that upgrades the look of an apartment

No matter how small their apartments, renters should take their decorating lead from people who have much larger dwellings. Flea market furnishings are fine as long as there is some unity throughout the apartment that's often found as rooms flow from one to another in a well-designed house.

"For a space to work it needs to have balance and harmony," California interior designer Marjorie Marcellus told RentalDecorating.com. "[Furnishings] should relate to each other, but that doesn't mean they have to match, be of the same era, same price or quality."

Wall decorations are always a concern to renters who don't want to cause damage they'll have to repair when they move on. Wall hooks using removable adhesive won't leave the damage caused by nails when hanging art work. They can also be used to hang mirrors, which will help a small room look larger.

For a window treatment, roman shades have a classic look that can be matched to any style décor in colors and fabrics that complement upholstery, cushions or other soft furnishings. Custom roller shades can be personalized to fit the look of an apartment and the size of any window in the rental unit.