An all-white rental living room needed personality without permanent commitment.

The mural was painted freehand directly on the wall in magenta, blush pink, jungle green, and cobalt blue — no projector, no tape guides, just a paintbrush and the “How hard could this be?” confidence of a Type B creative. The swooping organic forms wrap from the main wall around the corner, making the whole room feel larger and more deliberate than its square footage reality. The doorframe got the same treatment in chartreuse, giving an architectural afterthought its own moment of whimsy.

The mid-century credenza was a Facebook Marketplace find, originally walnut wood with a laminate faux marble top — good bones, but the wrong vibe. We sanded and refinished the drawer fronts, kept the original hardware, and painted the frame and top a high-gloss orange with lacquer finish, then added mid-century gold feet. It now doubles as a TV stand and has been the living room focal point at our last three apartments. 

A 1980s postmodern vintage kidney bean coffee table (also a Marketplace find) and antique fair art complete the room. This is what a rental can look like when you stop treating it like one. 

And yes, we got our full deposit back.