Renting a standard apartment in Southern California usually means staring at endless beige walls and cheap carpets. Most people accept it. They slap up a poster, buy a generic sofa from a big-box store, and call it a day.
Morgan Jordan chose a different route. As a wardrobe stylist and art director, she looked at her Glendale apartment and saw a blank canvas for a vibrant vintage furniture and art collection. Instead of hiding her rental's quirks, she leaned into them, crafting a colorful bohemian bungalow that feels entirely personal—and yes, her three-legged cat rules the roost right alongside her.
If you are tired of sterile rental spaces that feel like hotel rooms, you can transform your own home by looking at how stylists style spaces for personality rather than perfection.
Ditching Neutrality for Bold Color Choices
The biggest mistake renters make is staying safe. White walls are fine, but they rarely have soul. Jordan brought her background in wardrobe styling into interior design by treating rooms like outfits. She layered rich textures, saturated colors, and eclectic artwork to give her Glendale home a heartbeat.
You don't need a massive budget or a custom architectural build to pull this off. You just need a strong point of view.
- Mix eras: Pair mid-century wood tones with 1970s textiles or ornate vintage frames.
- Let texture do the talking: Combine velvet, wicker, worn leather, and raw ceramics in a single space.
- Display what you love: Art collections shouldn't stay in boxes. Hang them densely, salon-style, to fill walls with life.
Designing a Pet-Friendly Vintage Space
Living with pets means making compromises, right? Not necessarily. People often assume that owning vintage furniture and having a cat—especially a three-legged cat with unique mobility needs—means sacrificing style. Jordan proves that theory wrong.
When you design with natural, durable materials, wear and tear just adds character. Solid wood, sturdy weaves, and heavy vintage pieces stand up better to daily pet life than flimsy modern particle board. Plus, arranging furniture with clear, accessible pathways makes it easy for a tripod cat to navigate the space safely without losing an ounce of style.
How to Bring Bohemian Style Into Your Own Rental
Stop waiting to buy a house before you make your living space feel like home. Rentals deserve good design, too.
Start by auditing your lighting. Ditch harsh overhead bulbs for lamps placed at different heights. Next, swap out generic hardware or add peel-and-wallpaper to a single accent wall if your lease allows. Build your collection slowly through thrift stores, estate sales, and local vintage markets rather than buying matching sets all at once.
Your home should tell a story about who you are. Make it loud, make it collected, and don't apologize for the clutter of a life well lived.
