How to Cover an Ugly Carpet in a Rental Unit

Use area rugs wherever possible to cover up as much of the carpet as you can. Place runner rugs down hallways, large square rugs in living room and bedroom areas and rounded rugs to accommodate any odd-shaped areas of the apartment, if applicable. Oriental rugs are durable and attractive in living rooms and in hallways, while shag rugs are less expensive and can be utilized in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Place furniture over as much of the carpet as you can without crowding the room or creating awkward spaces in the rental unit. Large sofas and coffee tables work well. Look for sofas with unusual designs or coffee tables of a more unique nature, such as those that are hand-carved, which are useful as conversation pieces that draw guests' eyes away from the carpet. Use a double, queen or king size bed to cover a lot of area in the bedroom. You can also use large boudoir units and panels.

Cover your carpeting with floor plants, such as palm tree plants and sansevieria plants, which can grow quite large. Use artificial versions, if you have pets that enjoy eating your plants. Silk varieties are popular, as they closely resemble real plants.

Create a play area for your children, if applicable, in a corner of your living room or bedroom by putting down a plush rug or foam mats that feature letters and numbers. Add large toys as another method of taking attention away from the carpet.