This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT. All opinions are 100% mine.

Kyle and I saw a shirt the other day that said “Missouri… It’s Not That Bad!” First of all, I want that shirt, and second, Missouri really isn’t that bad. In case you missed it, Kyle and I moved to Columbia, Missouri in the middle of June for Kyle’s work. You can read more about our (very unplanned) move here. Since we were operating within such a tight timeline, we’re living in a temporary apartment for two months until our permanent apartment is ready. I, for one, would’ve gone crazy living out of boxes for two more months, so we tried to find affordable ways to decorate a temporary apartment on a budget. Side Note: I want to stress affordable… because moving is ex-pen-sive. And it’s a hassle. And I hate it. All things considered, though, I’m pretty content with the way everything’s turned out. 

For all my past moves, I’ve always sold all my old furniture before moving out and then bought new furniture after moving into my new place. As time-consuming as this method sounds, it’s typically much cheaper than moving furniture across the country. Moving fees easily reach upwards of $7,000, and I’m sorry, but no. I figured that there had to be a solution for millennials, like myself, who need to decorate and furnish a temporary apartment on a budget. Luckily, I found one. Kyle and I did a little research and found there’s a way to rent entire furniture packages from CORT Furniture Rental. Thanks to two of their rent-by-room sets, we now have a fully-furnished living room and bedroom. Plus, paired with some personal touches that make us both feel at home, I think everything came together quite nicely!

The Living Room

Our living room is one of the two rooms we’re renting through CORT. This particular set is called the Kennedy with Kinsley Living Room, and it’s the perfect compromise for couples. The couch is super plush and chic, and the gorgeous blue/green tones are gender neutral enough to please the both of you. Plus, we wanted something that was traditional but not super boring, and that’s exactly what we got with this elegant set. The chair is the most fun chair I’ve ever read in, and I love the tufted design and overstuffed arms and back rest of the sofa, too. 

You’ve probably also noticed that we don’t have anything hanging on our walls, and it’s (unfortunately) intentional. If you’re going to live in a space temporarily, don’t do yourself the disservice of hammering nails into the wall when you’ll need to fill them in with putty a few weeks later. To cope with bare walls, we’ve sprinkled picture frames and fun memory-filled knick knacks around for a more warm, homey feeling.

Living Room Details: Sofa: CORT | Toss Pillows: Target (white) + Kohl’s (leopard print) | Chair: CORT | Coffee Table: CORT | Rug: Target | Lamp: CORT

The Library

I’m a reader, but my boyfriend puts my subset of book lovers to shame. He collects books like women collect makeup and shoes. When we moved, Kyle didn’t really bring anything except a few bags of clothes and NINE (yes, the number 9) extra-large tubs filled to the brim with books. We have a really spacious, as in abnormally spacious, hallway in our apartment. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s eight feet wide. So, to utilize the space, we lined the hallway with five inexpensive Ikea bookshelves to turn it into our library. 

Kyle’s a published writer, and I’m so gosh darn proud of him, so he gets his own bookshelf. If you’d like to check out his newest book, click here!

Library Details: Bookshelves: Ikea

The Bar (Cart)

Funnily enough, my first order of business in our new place wasn’t the bedroom or my office– it was my bar cart. In the midst of boxes, nails, and plastic wrap, my bar cart was the first thing rarin’ and ready to go. Priorities, y’all. I purchased this particular bar cart while living in a 550-square-foot apartment in downtown Tampa. I just didn’t have room for anything larger. Even though it’s pretty tiny and requires a little more prioritization than a larger bar cart, it fits just about anywhere, which is handy. Smaller bar carts can also act as impromptu side tables, as well. 

Bar Cart Details: Bar Cart: Target | Cocktail Book: Wendy Sweetser | Tropical Cocktail Kit: SunnyLife | Pink Ombre Carafe: Target | Colored Cocktail Glasses (Set of 4): Lilly Pulitzer | Pineapple Ice Bucket: Target

The Bedroom

Kyle’s only requests for home decor are sleep-related. He wants something soft, comfy, and spacious. He also doesn’t want anything too feminine– with the exception of the pillows, which are obviously mine, since we haven’t had time to find new bedding yet. Our bedroom furniture is being rented from CORT, and it’s called the Boulevard Bedroom. We absolutely love it, and I seriously doubt we could’ve found anything even remotely similar in quality or design for under a few thousand dollars.  Oh, and probably the coolest thing is that the headboard has two panels that open separately for individual storage, like (you guessed it) Kyle’s books. 

The apartment itself is pretty spacious, but our bedroom is a little small, especially for a guy who’s 6’3″. This large portrait style mirror helps open the space up a little bit.

Bedroom Details: Headboard/Footboard: CORT | Duvet: Pottery Barn | Pillows: Pottery Barn (shams) + Target (decorative) | Dresser/Mirror: CORT | Nightstand: CORT | Lamp: CORT | Tray: West Elm | Pink Candle: White Barn

The Office (Coming Soon)

Unfortunately, my office is nowhere near being finished, so I can’t show y’all that just yet. I’ll publish an office reveal once everything is out of boxes, on the walls, and in its rightful places. Here are just a few images of the decorating process so far… 

Lastly, I’m super excited to share this video, which talks about why CORT was the right choice for me. If you’re looking to rent furniture to decorate or furnish a temporary apartment on a budget like we were, they may be the right choice for you, too. Hope you enjoy it!

Have you ever thought about renting furniture before? If so, what’d you think?