MAKING THE MOST OF A RENTAL

Living in a rental can have its challenges. Maybe the walls are painted an uninspiring shade, the floorboards are scuffed and the kitchen cabinets are an unsavoury oak. Even if your landlord has given you the OK to re-paint, you may be asking yourself if it's worth the time, money and trouble, considering you don't even own the place.

I am of the opinion that if you plan on renting for some time, turning a space into your own will pay off in spades in terms of your comfort and well-being. A few straight-forward cosmetic changes can go a long way.

Elle Decor featured longtime New York City-based renters, designer Frank di Biasi and his partner, textile designer Gene Meyer, as the couple took matters into their own hands and made their generic, white-walled rental a vibrant treasure trove character. By splashing colour, fabrics, textiles, rugs and artwork throughout, this character-filled apartment feels thoroughly their own.

A mix of lively prints and colour in the living room.

A seashell collection gives an airy, laid-back quality to an antique secretary - a family heirloom.

Stuffed bookshelves painted a fantastical turquoise provide diners with visual interest.

Ticking stripe wallpaper meets retro-green carpeting.

In the entry hall, a bold-striped settee sits on a rug by Doug & Gene Meyer.