If you’re living in a rental house, or an apartment for that matter, then you need to be a little more mindful when it comes to decorating it and fixing it up. You want the space to look good and feel like it’s your own, but you don’t want to put too much work, time, and money into a space that you might not be living in a few years down the road. As such, we’re going to look at how you find that balance of putting your stamp on the place that you don’t own.
Style it as you would your own place
When you’re making changes to a rental, you have different factors to consider such as: is the landlord going to be okay with this? Is it worth spending this much on a place that I won’t be staying in forever? Should I ask the landlord to make this change instead? We’re going to cover a few of those points, but those are practical concerns. When it comes to issues of style, you should go with your own heart, always. Don’t worry too much about decorating to meet the needs of the specific space because, in a few years, you might be moving into a new space. Choose pieces that you love, especially if you’re likely to take them with you into your next home, too.
Choose furniture that’s easy to move
If the place you’re staying in isn’t fully furnished, or you want to change the furniture you already have, then you should consider what furniture is going to be more convenient for you. Choosing large couches, for instance, can come with a series of headaches, especially if you have to move them in and out and then into a new apartment a few years down the line. Modular furniture has been becoming a lot more popular, which is fortunate because not only is it easy to move it as smaller pieces, but it’s also a lot more versatile, making it super easy to rearrange when the mood hits.
Light it up with free-standing fixtures
If you have a room or a space that feels a little dim, or even one that has no windows, then you should make sure that you have the means to conveniently light it up. To that end, you might want to look at some of the trending lamps and freestanding lights that you’re able to invest in. if you’re going to be installing any light fixtures, like wall lights, then you should either wait until you have the okay to do so or be willing to fill and cover up any holes that you might make in the walls as a result. Any fixtures that you install, you should be ready to take them with you when you go, too.
Mind your walls
When you’re restyling a space, then the walls might be the first thing that you think about switching up. However, you might be concerned about how much you can do with the walls, and if the landlord might complain if you make many permanent changes. If you’re hanging up anything, be it shelves, wall art, mirrors, or otherwise, make sure that you’re able to fill in the holes they make in the walls. For changing the style of the walls themselves, options like peel and stick wallpaper are much more convenient and rental-friendly since they can be removed when you’re done. If your walls have panels over them, currently, however, then you might need to check with the landlord if you have the option to remove them.
Should you invest in hardware?
Furniture, accessories, wall art, and the like can all be relatively easy to move in and move out of the home. However, when you’re starting to hate the sight of things like your cupboards, drawers, and even things like your bathroom faucets, what are you supposed to do? Changing your home hardware can make for a big style improvement in a lot of spaces, and you don’t necessarily have to wait for permission to change them, either. Just make sure that you keep hold of the old hardware so that you’re able to swap back in when it comes time to move out.
Get some houseplants
It’s nice to have things in a rental space that can feel like they are truly yours. Humans have a natural attraction to plants, greenery, and the sight of nature. It’s understood that houseplants can help us destress, improve our moods, and bring restorative energy to the space. Perfect for dealing with the stresses of modern life, especially if you don’t have a garden that you are able to freely experiment with. If you’re not into the idea of having to take care of a living thing, there are plenty of low-maintenance plant suggestions that you can follow. Plants also have the benefit of mostly being quite easy to move when the time comes. Just be gentle with them.
Know the landlord’s responsibilities
Wear and tear happen over time, as can accidents, and these can leave their marks on a home. Marks that you might want to fix up. Being ready to make home fixes and a solid hand when it comes to DIY is all well and good but before you start getting your tools out and buying supplies, you should ask if it’s something that your landlord should deal with, first. Your rental agreement contract is likely going to lay out everything that is the landlord’s responsibility and everything that is yours. Of course, there are legal obligations the landlord has, usually pertaining to water, heating, power, and the like, so know those, too, before you fork out the cash to pay for a handyman.
There’s nothing wrong or odd about decorating a rental house or apartment, but be mindful of the fact that it’s not a space that you own. If in doubt about making any larger changes, be sure to ask the landlord first to avoid any nasty surprises when you try to get your deposit back.
