11 Temporary Home Improvements for Military Housing

Military base housing is typically drab and nondescript. There are ways to enliven it, but many people are unwilling to put a lot of work into a place they'll live a few years in at most. You don't need to perform a costly and time-consuming renovation to improve your home on a military base. To make it easy on yourself, maintain an inventory of convenience items and temporary decor you can easily take from base to base. Try to only include items that you can deploy on your arrival and take with you when the inevitable orders come. Check out these 10 home improvements to personalize your military home and jump-start your creativity.

Removable Wallpaper

If you paint, you'll most likely have to repaint before you leave. When you arrive at your new base, you'll have to start the process all over. Maximize style and save time by opting for removable wallpaper. Removable wallpaper comes off without a trace, and no special tools are required. If you remove it carefully, you can use it again.

Peel and Stick Tiles

For a home where you'll spend a lifetime, installing all-new tiles create a sophisticated setting. Installing peel and stick tiles allow you to enjoy the inviting look of tiles, without the hassle of installation. Although peel and stick tiles may not be a durable long-term choice, you can reuse them for up to two or three years.

Curtains

Most people don't like military window blinds, but there's no reason to put up with them. Curtains are one of the fastest and easiest home personalizations. Once you've found the perfect design for your home, you can shorten the hems when needed. If you need longer curtains, no-sew bonding makes it easy to attach multiple fabrics and add a striking contrasting swatch.

Area Rugs

Area rugs don't have to be the full size of the room to add a homey touch. A few here and there on top of the standard-issue flooring or carpet can transform a room. If yours is a newer unit with a high ceiling, an area rug tends to contract the space for a cozier feel.

Storage

You may not be allowed to nail shelving to the studs, but there are plenty of non-permanent ways to add storage. Shoe benches, storage baskets, and standing coat hangers all add storage in a way that looks like home. In addition, shelving units that disassemble and reassemble can be tucked into the corner of a closet. Optimizing storage space reduces clutter and makes the living areas of your home more relaxing.

Decorative Mirrors

A well-placed mirror can add light and life to a room. A full-length mirror can be a convenient addition to any bedroom, while vanity mirrors deliver a striking ambiance to shared spaces. Additionally, two wall mirrors opposite one another add extra depth to a room. Mirrors are easy to move, so test them out in different parts of the home for the best fit.

Faux Fireplace

On winter days, nothing is better than cozying up beside a fireplace. You may not have a hearth or a chimney, but plug-in fireplaces can be compact and easy to transport. A plug-in fireplace will bring both physical and emotional warmth to your home and provide a place where people want to gather.

Cabinet Handles

Cabinet handles are among the homeowner's easiest and least expensive upgrades, and you don't have to own the home to take advantage of them. Swap the handles out on your cabinets and drawers, and life will look better every time you open one.

Light Switch and Socket Covers

Swapping the standard-issue light switch and socket covers for custom ones can be a quick and fun addition to your home. You can pick these up at a hardware store, but it's more fun to search craft fairs and boutiques for collectible covers with nature scenes, old cars, unusual designs, and cartoon characters. If there are children in the household, they'll appreciate being able to bring a piece of their old bedroom to the new one.

Outdoor Furnishings

Exterior living space is just as customizable as interior living space. Outdoor rugs, patio furniture, planting containers, and lawn ornaments make the outside of your military housing as welcoming as the inside. Additionally, outside games can make your yard a popular gathering spot.

A Slice of Home That Travels with You

Each stay in military housing may be temporary, but you can add some permanence to your nomadic life with a few essential DIY tools and well-chosen home improvements for military base housing. Better yet, you can take these with you when you're transferred. Then, each time you arrive at a new base, check to ensure the upgrades you have in mind are in accordance with the requirements of your base, and make your military housing a home you can call your own.