People choose to rent a home over purchasing for a variety of reasons. Although some people have no trouble calling a rental “home,” others may feel ambivalent about making changes to a home they don’t actually own outright.
It turns out there are plenty of ways to make a rental home yours, though, and to have it reflect your style and personality -- usually without breaking any rules or your bank. With just a bit of creativity, ingenuity, and patience, you can transform a rental into your home. Before embarking on improvements though, it’s always a good idea to check your lease and/or with the owner/landlord for permission and approval.
Here are a few ideas for redecorating a rental to make it feel more like home:
The most obvious improvement is a coat of paint. This doesn’t take too much work, is fairly inexpensive, and is likely to be okay with the landlord. Be careful not to choose colors that might require you to repaint when you vacate though! If a full coat of paint isn’t feasible, consider washing the walls, trim and floorboards. Or perhaps paint the trim in a nice accent color.
Removable wallpaper adds character and accent to spaces like the kitchen and bathroom. Again, choose neutral colors and patterns and be sure to buy enough to cover you for installation mistakes! Hanging wallpaper isn’t as easy as it looks.
Upgrade light fixtures. Add ambiance to your living space with unique lighting. Most home stores carry up-to-date and reasonably priced fixtures. Also, you might want to check out antique shops, second-hand stores or online sites for unique fixtures with character and flair!
Swap out kitchen and bathroom cabinet hardware. Many rentals are equipped with basic and sometimes even unattractive accenting hardware. Simply swapping out cabinet handles can add a personal touch to your rental. Make sure to keep the old hardware in a safe place so you can replace it when you leave.
Window treatments. Who says you have to settle for the generic, boring blinds which seem so ubiquitous in many rental homes? Add immediate elegance by covering your windows with curtains and/or valences which will accent your room. You can even add a touch of drama by using extra-long drapes to cover short windows.
Clean up the bathroom(s). A new, modern showerhead can definitely make a big difference in the appearance of a bathroom. Scrub away mildew and re-caulk around the shower/tub for a clean look. Install an arcing shower rod and hang a decorative shower curtain and liner.
Although some of these may seem like small changes, they’ll actually go a long way towards making your rental feel more like home.
Related Resource
Trulia 7 Ways To Decorate Your Apartment Without Breaking Rules