property management

Decorating Hacks for Renters

By March 6, 2023 No Comments

Renting out a property doesn’t mean you can’t add your own personal touch to the space and make it pop. Although you may not be able to tear down and renovate your unit, there are many simple DIY projects you can do that won’t get you in trouble with your landlord.

Start with Hanging Pictures on the Walls

Consider investing in a few pictures to hang up in your bedroom, living room, and possibly bathroom. Having a few pictures added to your walls will help enhance the aesthetic of your place. You don’t even have to use a nail and a hammer to hang them up. Command strips will be a great substitute for providing support for your pictures without harming the walls. Don’t stop with hanging pictures on the walls. Get creative and experiment with other kinds of wall decorations like word art.

Add Art to Unique Places

You don’t have to invest a lot of money into purchasing an art piece, but having a few unique art pieces around the apartment will add personality to your home and be a great conversation starter should you decide to host guests over. Stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and Target have many affordable decor pieces to choose from. Decorate as many rooms as you feel best – even the bathrooms! A little bit of art in any room adds style where it is lacking. For example, rather than using a standard bath mat, consider purchasing a wooden bath mat. It will add a nice boho twist to your bathroom and save you time from having to wash your traditional mat.

Invest in Removable Wallpaper

This one may add more work than hanging up pictures and buying art work. However it is a great way to change up the wall color without actually painting the walls. Most landlords may not have an issue with you painting the walls if the color is a neutral one. Still, adding a neat wallpaper with a nice design will transform any bland space into a vibrant space.
Applying wallpaper is where the task can get tricky. First, you need to prep the walls for application. You do this by removing any plate covers and light fixtures that may be on the wall. Then, you will prime the walls with primer and an applicator tool. After that, now is the time to apply the paste to your wallpaper. This is what will adhere to the primer on the wall. For the best (and most efficient) application, use a paint roller to apply the paste. This will cover more area on larger sized wallpaper in a shorter amount of time.
Once the paper is on the wall, use a smoother to get any wrinkles out. Try not to be too rough with the smoother. If you press too hard, it will squeeze out some of the paste that you put on the wallpaper and stretch the wallpaper as well. Once the wallpaper is smoothed out, take a wet sponge and wipe down the wallpaper to clean off any excess paste before it cures to the wall.

Invest in Temporary Flooring

Adding removable wallpaper to your home can create a more vibrant space. Adding temporary flooring can also have the same effect! Home improvement stores like Lowes or Home Depot have vinyl tiles available that are both temporary and affordable. Simply stick them on the floor – either in your bathroom, bedroom, or living room! The best part is when you decide to move out, you can just peel them off and take them with you.

Use Baskets for Storage

Baskets are a great staple piece to include when creating storage in your apartment. You can leave them out in your kitchen or living area and it can blend in easily with the rest of your decor. Places like Target sell different types of storage baskets that are not only useful, but trendy as well. You can’t go wrong with any choice so long as it fits in the theme of your other decorations!

Take Your Home Seriously

You’d be surprised at how many people like to keep a list of decor ideas for when they finally own a home, but not for when they rent one. Don’t limit yourself by thinking that way! Your home is your home, whether you live there for a lifetime or 13 months. No matter your living situation, make your home yours while you’re living in it. Life is so much better when you can call a house a home.

Sources:
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-rental-hacks-of-all-time-36653370
https://www.loveproperty.com/gallerylist/72808/landlord-approved-decorating-hacks-for-renters