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I’ve been a renter my whole adult life, and while moving is always a hassle, there’s something I love so much about the energy of a new space, where I can take the time to decorate, style, and truly make it my own. That said, I’ve always just sort of accepted a few “landlord specials” in my apartments — you know, things I should have done in my rental to make it look better but never did (think: ugly knobs on the kitchen cabinets, nondescript white walls, cheap vinyl flooring).
There’s one element of my past rentals that I now regret never changing, though: the window treatments. In over a decade spent as a renter, I’ve called five different apartments home, but until this year, I just accepted the standard white plastic blinds that came in every single one of them. Truthfully, I hated the look, and yet I did nothing to change it.
Earlier this year, though, something finally clicked. One morning I was opening my blinds to let some light in when the left panel completely fell from its brackets. I debated calling maintenance and having them reattach the blinds, but quickly realized this was my chance — the perfect time to eschew these landlord-approved window treatments in favor of something more my style, something I actually loved.
I instantly knew I wanted curtains instead of blinds — preferably blackout panels to help turn my bedroom into the sleep-friendly space I’d always dreamed of. I also wanted to find something that would complement my terracotta bedding and the warm tones in my vintage rug without feeling too matchy-matchy. So I started my search.
When I stumbled upon these burnt orange blackout velvet curtains from Amazon, they instantly called to me. The color seemed like the perfect fit for my room’s design scheme, and the idea of adding lush velvet texture to the space felt like the perfect way to elevate my bedroom style.
I was thrilled when the curtains arrived and the color was true to what the Amazon pictures showed — a deep, rich, rusty orange that instantly added coziness to my space. The velvet material was soft to the touch and screamed luxury. I was shocked at how expensive the set looked knowing what I paid — just $71.95 for two panels. Right now they’re even cheaper, at 24% off. The blackout aspect of the curtains works well for sleeping in, but when the drapes are open, they also let in a just-right amount of light.
To further elevate my room, I paired the curtains with an equally affordable but just as luxe-looking gold curtain rod. Once the rod was hung and the curtains were up, I couldn’t believe how much better my room looked. It looked lived-in, loved, and, well, expensive in the best way. Gone were the days of dealing with blinds that screamed “I’m a temporary resident.” Now, my room finally feels like mine. And fellow renters, don’t worry about my security deposit: I kept the blinds so I’ll put them back up when I move out.
Buy: Timeper Burnt Orange Velvet Curtains, $53.95 (normally $70.90)
