California

Hannah is a registered nurse, but loves to do DIY/interior design on the side. "I love having lots of plants and using bright colors to give spaces definition and character."

Battling beige wall-to-wall carpeting and plain wall paint colors isn't easy when you're renting, but Dominique Fluker played around with intentional use of shapes and colors to create a fresh look that matches her and her partner's style.

When this couple saw the beautiful Spanish tiles on the fireplace and molding details on the wall, they knew this was the home for them!

There are original barrel ceilings, hand-done textured plaster and a giant arch window, arch bookcases, arch doorways, and a fireplace.

For the holidays, Beth Sayler wanted her decor to add to their neutral, beachy color scheme, so she carefully selected items that matched the neutral colors and materials that felt natural to the beach vibe.

Interior stylist Joyce Wang and her partner Sean took on the renovation of this 200-square-foot 1992 Holiday Mansion houseboat during quarantine.

Nayana used white marble contact paper on the counters and removable white subway tile backsplash in her dark rental kitchen to brighten up the space.

Melanie and David Raver and their three young daughters travel, live, and homeschool in this 1973 Airstream Argosy.

The house she shares with her two kids, two cats, and two dogs was a blank canvas when she began renting it a year ago. Now it's full of life, color, art, and style!

"I have found so much joy in sharing my colorful spaces with others and showing how you can make a rental as personal as any home and that a small space doesn’t limit how much fun you can have in your home!"

It's not only gorgeous aesthetically, but it's loaded with little luxuries that make it one of the most comfortable vans I've seen. It's definitely a van for homebodies, which we've all (had to) become in 2020.

Speaker, podcast host, entrepreneur, and Halloween fan Carrie Murray happens to be married to actor Sean Murray, Thackery Binx in "Hocus Pocus." Here's a peek at their home's subtle but spooky Halloween decorations!

Get inspired by all the little ways in which Emily has found function and storage in her small rental kitchen.

A local cabinetmaker built the bookshelves (based on a picture from Pinterest) and Sarah and her partner have FILLED them with lots of books.

Designer Victoria Cho spent all her free time outside of work on this house design and space layout. "There were endless nights of researching, reviewing bids, and placing orders for finishes, hardware, etc."

The whole house is stunning, but the laundry room is a dream space to do chores in!

This interior designer traded her small studio apartment for a slightly bigger (but just as beautiful) junior one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco.

This falling down, cinder block garage WAS home to rats and spiders, but after knocking it down, it's now a 280-square-foot backyard tiny house, which serves as a home office during the week and a spot for guests on the weekend.

This interior stylist and business owner's home is the very definition of modern California cool.

Cheap blinds, brown paint, and beige carpet in this rental meant Halley and designer Kelly Shannon had their work cut out for them.

This gorgeous rental apartment's style is modern vintage meets wabi-sabi.

Los Angeles-based jewelry designer Maya Brenner's part-time home is a very adorable tiny cabin that she renovated on a budget.

Over the years there have been some built-ins and add-ons that didn’t quite make sense to this home’s history, so Taylor and Philip are working tirelessly to restore the home to her former glory.

Interior designer Peti Lau coined the term “Aristofreak," and her Los Angeles rental apartment is a maximalist wonderland.

She's inspired by mid-century modern design, the 1970s, and jewel and earth tone colors, too.

And the backyard mural is must-see!

This student and photographer finds antique furniture from flea markets and estate sales to fix up and furnish her small rental home with.

"When we moved in, every single wall was painted canary yellow. We spent a few long days painting, which totally transformed the feel of the house and is ALWAYS worth the work!"

Christiana Paoletti, head farmer at The Backyard Farm Company, lives on two beautiful acres with her partner Kodiak Drewry.

Ella Khan found this apartment listing on Craigslist for a 800-square-foot space: a spacious unit in a former elementary school that was built in 1915.

Before remodeling, this house had old mustard-colored carpet, a micro-sized kitchen, and peeling linoleum throughout. It had been abandoned for several years, and was in need of some major TLC.

Everything in the apartment was built by Jack and his roommates—like the walls, rooms, even the kitchen island—all to precisely fit their needs.

Neha and her husband have transformed almost every corner of this house in some way or the other.

There are SO many good storage and IKEA hack ideas in this rental apartment!

It's definitely maximalist, but not chaotic.

Lifestyle blogger (and founder of And I Get Dressed) Kellie Brown describes this apartment's style as "California meets 'Golden Girls' hideaway."

While small, it has (almost) everything these renters wanted. Hardwood floors, a mostly quiet location, and some architectural elements that make it unique.

Kalina designed all the rooms by scouring Craigslist, going to flea markets, and perusing sites to find all the right items.

It's also got some VERY adorable cats!

Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson renovated this gorgeous 1920s Los Angeles house.

CW Stockwell CEO Katy Polsby reinvigorated her apartment in this San Francisco house with lots of patterned wallpaper and color!

Casie and her husband have DIY renovated this A-frame cabin for eight months, COMPLETELY transforming the space.

A lot of the art in the house was created by Janina herself, and she even tackled furniture DIY projects, too.

From lighting, to doors, to tile, this 780-square-foot cabin was totally DIYed by the homeowners who blew their budget on a down payment!

This desert modern cabin next to Joshua Tree National Park juxtaposes California’s high desert landscape with that of South Africa's.

Victor's small bungalow features a lot of dramatic black hues, yet it manages to still feel light and airy.

It’s like a Wes Anderson movie that hasn’t been filmed yet or like a little Madonna Inn.

Nearly everything in Miki's modern, colorful, maximal studio apartment is either second hand, Target, or IKEA.

Full-time freelance photographer and music enthusiast Ryan Tuttle lives in a small custom designed tiny house on wheels she calls the "Tuttle Shuttle."

The apartment is also inspired by "extravagantly rich white women."

Click if you want to see a cat adorably jump-climbing up a ladder.

Artist Sharlene Kayne calls her style "evolutionary design." She adds layer after layer, piece by piece over time until it's done.

Professional organizer Jen Robin, of Life In Jeneral, lives in this 650-square-foot Manhattan Beach apartment with her adorable dog Charlie.

Sarah and her husband can't afford to buy a house where they live right now, so they've made their rental more functional and beautiful for their family.

Inspired by Australian and Japanese design with a little California desert mixed in, we went for a natural, relaxing, minimalist aesthetic with low profiles and warm desert colors.

This Eichler house is a couple's first home and was/is a major project; it needs everything!

Fay Wolf and her partner live AND work in just 660 square feet.

And it features some sleek, clever built-in ideas for the kitchen and bathroom you'll be inspired by.

Name: Carrie, Patrick and Nacho D. Cat Location: Los Angeles, California Size: 1,750 square feet Years lived in: 5 years, renting Longtime Apartment Therapy reader Carrie and husband Patrick discovered their apartment five years ago, when the desire for a bigger bed made them realize they needed a bigger bedroom.

It's fun, colorful, and has a lot of quirky elements, such as a soundproof massage chair room, an indoor swing, a forest bathroom and a mannequin that holds purses and keys.

Nicolette and Michael built their very own tiny house in 2018 in just seven months. And they've fit a lot in to just 300 square feet!

This interior designer's studio may be on the small side, but it has beautiful hardwood floors, picturesque windows, and original cabinetry and molding.

She didn't see a single piece of decor or furniture in person until it arrived, minus her curtains.

Before the remodel this house felt cramped. After the remodel, it feels as if it's gained 50 percent more square footage.

Every item must have at least three different uses, be used three times a week, or be used for more than three years.

Take a video tour of this studio that's beautiful and functional thanks to a lot of smart design tricks. But even more impressive? It's a rental!

Name: Adrien Rabago and Jon Schmidt Location: Leimert Park — Los Angeles, CA Size: 1,900 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; Owned Situated on a quiet tree-lined street in the up-and-coming Los Angeles neighborhood of Leimert Park, Adrien and Jon’s home cheerfully welcomes you with its mint green exterior—and what’s inside is no less affable and bright.

Name: Krystal Bick Location: Hayes Valley — San Francisco, California Size: 400 square feet Years lived in: 3 — rented Krystal Bick’s style blog showcases all of her designer duds and playful outfits. Her studio with attached kitchen and rather large closet reflects her fashion sense perfectly — eclectic, feminine, clean and glamorous. Krystal’s space is small but efficient.

Name: Caitlin Hackett and Dave McHale Location: Cleveland Heights — Oakland, California Size: 950 square feet Years lived in: 2 years; Rented When Caitlin and Dave shared photos of their home in a House Call post earlier this year, Apartment Therapy readers wanted to see more of their wonder-filled Oakland home. Stepping into their spacious two-bedroom apartment, it’s obvious that their tastes and experiences have influenced their home’s décor.

Name: Natacha Nay and Joshua Location: Berkeley, California Size: 600 square feet Years lived in: 10 months; Rented Natacha and Joshua live on one of Berkeley’s busiest and most historic streets. Though their neighborhood is generally hectic, their home reflects a minimal way of living that contrasts with the busy street scene.

Name: Clara of Banner Day & Sam (and their dog Morgan) Location: Rockridge; Oakland, California Size: 1,600 square feet Years lived in: 2.5 years; Owned Clara and Sam live in a 1930s cottage just a short walk from Oakland’s charming Rockridge neighborhood. After leaving a career in corporate law to start her interior design business Banner Day Consulting, Clara has been constantly pursuing her passion for design in their home, as well as for her numerous clients.