Earlier today, one of my co-workers asked me for some advice on what she could do to make her rental place seem a bit nicer, so here are my top tips for sprucing up your rental place. A home is much more than the walls that surround you. I’ve always been house-proud, needing to ‘put my own stamp’ on a place that I live in, even for a while. With a few additions, it’s easy to make even a rental place feel like your own.
1) Ask if you can paint your rental place
I’ve always rented apartments or live/work studios and yet have been able to paint my suites on more than one occasion. Once, I was consulted about the exterior colour selection, and other times I was told it was okay to paint the interior whatever colour I wanted—as they’d be painting it white after we moved anyway. Painting your rental suite often costs money out of your pocket, but if you plan on living there for a while, it may be worth it. You could try asking your landlord if they’d be interested in having you paint (at their expense) if you’ve been there for a while.
2) Put up some framed pictures or artwork
Those taped-up posters don’t do much for classing up a place, so wait for a good sale at a framing shop or a place like Michael’s and decorate your walls! We were afraid to put anything up in our first place, even though we’d been there for 2 years. I hadn’t yet found out the beauty of Command Brand strips—which work well to hang a variety of things without damaging walls.
3) Add a rug
The best thing we did when we were re-decorating our co-op apartment in Vancouver was put down a rug. The floors (throughout) were blue and white checkered linoleum and there was a big black stain across most of the living room. Adding a rug in the living room instantly warmed up the place (physically and otherwise) and made it feel less cheap and temporary.
4) Hang some curtains
It’s fairly easy and inexpensive to put up some curtains or blinds in place of the cheap rental-quality ones that came with the place. We have bought a few different ones over the years and keep putting them up (or sewing new ones) in each place. They let us show a bit of our personality in our place.
What other ideas do you have for sprucing up a rental place?
Jodi says
Potted plants outside, they don't change the landscape permanently, but they brighten and pretty up the place! 🙂
Kecia says
I think adding your own personality is a great way to spruce up any place. Add artwork and posters that reflect you or maybe something that adds a cheerful color to the place.
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Darcy says
What about those removable vinyl decals? Usually they don't damage paint or walls so those would work!
callista83 says
Great ideas but I'm still glad I own and can do what I want.
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@East9thStreet says
Curtains or some type of window coverings are definitely a must. We've been renting for a year and it's time to do something! Our windows are so boring.
LaVonne @ Long Wait says
People always assume they cannot paint the rental place, but usually if you paint it back to white before moving out we've learned there is not a problem.
Thanks for these tips.
Thankfully we own our home now and don't have to worry about this. But I tweeted it because I know many are renting in this economy and these tips are great!
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Dixielands Deals says
I would add some plants (wonderful for covering up imperfections in the wall or a window sill. Great post!
Sarah Coulsey says
Removable boarders are nice. We had those in our apartment!!
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lelaniedenso says
I have friends who rent and they are allowed to paint the unit so that would be a great option to spruce up the place. You can add different personal touches, something you can bring with you even if you'll have to move out like toss pillows, rugs, framed art.