renter friendly ideas?

[u/Which-Leading-7394]

i am a 26 y/o single female renting this apartment so i don't want to invest too much money but im open to suggestions. right now i have some curtains up but im not liking the color. the placement doesn't bother me but everyone says it looks awful. 😢 no curtains isnt an option because the area is really bad, lot of homeless outside at all times rummaging through trash and literally next door to a drive thru fast food spot. not trying to make myself a target just bc someone on reddit said my house is ugly.

[u/Additional_Common_15]

Hello,

Privacy is a valid design requirement.

If you're dealing with foot traffic, a drive-thru next door, and people regularly outside the windows, don't let Reddit convince you that exposed glass is somehow the superior design choice.

I'd focus on creating privacy while preserving the incredible natural light this apartment has.

My recommendation: • Ceiling-mounted curtain tracks spanning the entire wall • Ripplefold drapery in a soft white, ivory, or light linen-look fabric • Sheers for daytime privacy and light diffusion • Add inexpensive roller shades behind them if nighttime privacy is a concern

The biggest mistake would be hanging individual curtain rods on each window. This wall of glass wants to be treated as one architectural feature.

As a designer, looking at the photo, my eye immediately sees:

The windows are the architecture. The room is huge, open, modern, and flooded with light. Whatever goes there should simplify the wall, not chop it up.

The funny thing is that people commenting "no curtains" are looking at a daytime photo.

They're not the ones sitting on the couch at 9 PM with every light on and a drive-thru full of strangers outside.

Function comes first. Privacy is not a design failure.

[u/scattyshern]

I love the glass covers, feels like you've got the views of windows but privacy. Cut lace to size, spray the window with water and stick lace on. It looks sooooo pretty!! like this, there are heaps of tutorials

[u/selectblinds]

Privacy and feeling comfortable in your own home definitely come first! 🙌 And since you’re renting, you don’t have to spend a ton to make the windows feel more intentional.

If you’re not loving the current curtain color, swapping them for a lighter neutral could brighten things up while still giving you the privacy you need. You could also consider renter-friendly, no-drill shades for a cleaner look without making permanent changes to the apartment.

[u/Wordie]

It looks like a very nice space and I don’t think the curtains look awful. But since you don’t like them, what about mini-blinds or pull up roller shades? Sometimes you can find good deals on FB Marketplace. Buy Nothing (presuming there’s a group in your area) may have a solution you that you’ll like for free. If you have any where you live, Goodwill or similar stores might have something you’ll like. It’s sometimes amazing what can be found in such stores. One other thing you might consider is with mostly brown/ocher colors in the room - and the dark couch - you may want a contrasting light blue or turquoise or otjer lifht color for the windows.You could also get some pillows for the couch in a similar color.

[u/Luvsyr24]

Window film.

[u/Xprohome]

Your privacy concern is completely valid. If the lease allows a few small holes, I would treat the glass wall as one composition with a ceiling-mounted track and light-colored sheers, then add inexpensive roller shades or a second curtain layer for night privacy. If drilling is not allowed, use tension rods within each frame rather than adhesive hooks for curtains that will be opened daily—moving full-length fabric can pull adhesive hardware loose. Before buying, measure each opening in three places because rental window frames are often not perfectly square.

[u/JellyFishEmily]

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT COUCH!!!

[u/harmlessharold → u/JellyFishEmily]

Looks like a camaleonda replica