Renting an apartment is often more restrictive than buying your own when it comes to what you can do with the place, but for many people, renting is the only option available to them when it comes to finding somewhere to live.
Whether you’re happy to rent right now or are renting while you save up to buy, you might want to know how you can make your house your home. After all, while your landlord might be the one who owns the property, you’re the one who lives there and spends every day there, so it makes sense that you will want to have it how you like it.
The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to upgrade a rental apartment on a budget and without making any serious changes.
4 Ways to Upgrade a Rental Apartment
Choose Exciting Furniture and Accessories
Many rental apartments are decorated in neutral colors which is great for renters, as you can go wild with your furniture and accessories. Neutral décor will go with anything whether you like Scandinavian-style earthy tones, bright colors, or deep, moody shades.
Fill the apartment with the furniture that you love and use accessories like rugs, lamps, cushions, throws, curtains, and wall art to make the space your own. If you can’t make holes in the walls to hang wall art, then consider using adhesive pads that are designed to be tenant friendly. Find deals on lighting, furniture and more here.
Get Permission to Repaint the Walls
If you are planning to be renting the apartment for a long time and have a good relationship with your landlord, then you can always request to be able to paint it in colors of your choice. Your landlord might have some conditions, such as certain colors that they would rather you stayed away from, or you might have to agree to repaint it in a neutral color if you decide to move out.
Repainting is a simple and effective way to change the look of a room. Just painting one wall as a feature wall can make a drastic difference. If you’re going to paint, make sure that you use dust sheets and tape to protect other surfaces as the last thing you want is to cause damage you’ll be charged for.
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Paint Old Furniture
If you can’t paint the walls or you’re not planning to live in the apartment for long enough to justify asking, then you can add some more color to the space by painting furniture. You can find great second-hand deals on things like sideboards, drawers, coffee tables, chairs, and other wooden furniture items online.
All you need is furniture paint in a color of your choice, some sandpaper, and new handles and fixtures to transform the pieces and make them your own. And the best part is that you can take them with you anywhere, and even repaint them in the future if you want to change the color or style to suit a new home.
Use Adhesive Solutions
Finally, there are lots of peel-and-stick products these days that can easily be removed so are ideal for renting. From peel-and-stick wallpapers to vinyl for your kitchen worktops or tile stickers that you can use to transform around fireplaces, walls, and even floors, this might be worth looking into if you want to create a dramatically different look without actually having to rip out what’s there already.
While renting can be more restrictive when it comes to upgrading the property and making it your own, there are lots of renter-friendly solutions worth looking into if you want to turn your apartment into a home.