When you’re renting your home, you aren’t always able to determine the design and style of the space. This can be pretty frustrating if there’s something about the home you just don’t love. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make the home feel more like your own, even as a renter.
(A quick tip: Make sure you check with your landlord before making any of these changes. You wouldn’t want to get in trouble or violate the terms of your lease!)
Use removable wallpaper.
The wallpaper of today is very different from its predecessors. Gone are the days of messy paste and paper that are impossible to remove. Instead, you can find wallpaper that is meant to be a temporary solution, with special adhesives that are easy to remove or even reposition. This opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to decorating your home.
Change out light fixtures.
Chances are, your landlord won’t mind if you pay to have the light fixtures professionally installed, as long as you also pay to have the old ones put back up when you move out. Light fixtures can completely change the look and feel of a space, so they are a great, fairly inexpensive way to really make the house feel more like your home.
Paint.
If your landlord is okay with it, paint can make a huge difference in your home. You may have to pay to have professionals do the job, or you may have to agree to return it to the former paint color when you move out. But if you’re really unhappy with the current paint color, it might be worth some of that hassle to get the walls to a better color.
Play with furniture.
Rearranging furniture can change the flow of a room, opening or closing off spaces just by putting a couch here or a table there. If your rental is furnished, take extra care when moving the furniture around; you don’t want to damage anything! If you’ve got your own furniture, play with a few different configurations to see what works best for you. It could make all the difference!
Bring in more shelving.
Storage space is crucial to a home, so if your rental is short on it, you’d probably like to change that. There are, of course, very temporary ways to add storage to your home, like book shelves or cubbies. However, you might also want to consider talking to the landlord about installing built-in shelves in closets or in the pantry. If your landlord is on board, you’re just a quick project away from a lot more storage!
Add window treatments.
Window treatments can be big statement pieces in a room. While you probably don’t want to go so far as to invest in blinds or shutters for the home, you should at least consider adding drapes to your windows. This will allow you to bring in your own color scheme and style into the home, making it instantly more personalized.
Utilize rugs.
Not in love with the flooring in your rental? Cover it up with a few area rugs in key areas. Rugs are amazing for renters, adding a personal touch with no long term effects on the home. You can decide how much you want to spend on this upgrade; if you’re looking for something to just get you through this rental, you might want something cheap. If you want a rug you can hold onto for several years and take to several homes, consider investing a little bit more in your rug.
Many renters complain that they aren’t able to change much in their rental homes, but the truth is, there is plenty you can do to make your rental house feel more like a home. Try out some of these tricks, and let us know how they work!
Need a place to store your stuff while you’re renting? Arizona Storage Centers has multiple locations in the Phoenix area, in Glendale, Deer Valley, Chandler, and Gilbert. We offer a variety of unit sizes, including climate-controlled units, so you can get exactly the storage you need. Stop by one of our centers today, or call us at 480-386-6022. We’re happy to answer whatever questions you have.
