72909rhiannon1.jpgSan Francisco reader Rhiannon recently sent in some photos of her city apartment, and while we're inspired by a lot of her choices (look out for an upcoming house tour!), we're especially impressed with how she's made the best of the wall-to-wall carpeting so many renters have to deal with. Wall-to-wall is a necessary evil in many rentals, as it helps to reduce noise and can be a cheaper solution for landlords than maintaining hardwood floors. But Rhiannon has made a few wise and wonderful choices that really go a long way towards making that potentially drab carpet work...

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• Part of the problem with a lot of rental wall-to-wall carpet is the drab light it casts. Landlords choose neutral taupes and grays because they hide stains, but they also can look murky. Rhiannon's bright accents—the blue pouf, the quilt, the blanket draped over a chair, and even the fresh flowers—provide pops of color to brighten up the room.

• Rhiannon's dramatic artwork draws the eye up from the floor, distracting from the carpet and any little stains and flaws that might be left over from previous renters.

• Layering area rugs over the carpet is perhaps the most efficient way to reduce the effect of unappealing wall-to-wall. The black and white pattern here is a great contrast with Rhiannon's blues, and its bold statement makes the blah carpet almost disappear.

Thanks for sharing, Rhiannon!

(Images: Rhiannon Smith)

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