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Decorating a Houston rental property can be a minefield of choices, requiring you to assess the financial risk against the aesthetic benefit at every turn. How much money and effort should you put into a temporary residence?
Which areas should be prioritized, and which should be learned to live with? The chances are good that you are also limited by the rules set down by your landlord, many of which complicate things even more.
Living in a rental home does not have to mean living in a cold, characterless box that never feels like home, though. Nor does it mean you have to waste money on improvements made to a space you may not be occupying in the long term.
To help you get a look you love for your rental home, here are a few of my top tips to get you started.
You SHOULD Decorate
First and foremost, even if it’s only in modest, temporary ways, you should decorate your rental property. Sure, you might not be living there long, but ignoring the aspects of your home that you don’t like and failing to add your personal decor stamp on it is a surefire way to feel miserable the moment you step in the door. There are no excuses; even rentals are deserving of love when it comes to home decor.
Invest in Versatile Furniture and Decor Pieces
The trouble about renting is that you may not be doing it for a long time and have no idea where you’ll be living next. It’s smart to choose adaptable furniture pieces rather than those that fit flawlessly in your current space but may cause problems in the future. Folding chairs, gateleg tables, and side or coffee tables that double as storage are all excellent options.
Upgrade the Lighting a Little
Why is it that the lighting is usually the most problematic aspect of any rental? Fortunately, swapping out a few shades is simple and can make a big difference in your room. If you can’t upgrade the fixtures owing to technical concerns or landlord’s rules, try to avoid using the overhead lights whenever feasible. Instead, concentrate on expanding your collection of elegant floor and table lamps.
Upgrade Cabinet Hardware
Upgrading cabinet pulls in the kitchen or bathroom is a quick and easy way to upgrade from “builder basic” to your own particular style. Simply store the old ones safely and replace them when you’re ready to move out.
Opt for Better Window Dressing
This is another area where rentals appear to be lacking most of the time. Lackluster window decorations, whether they’re dirty old drapes or gloomy vertical blinds, scream “temporary home.” Upgrade to new drapes (even inexpensive no-hem ones can look fantastic) or simple roller shades to solve the problem.
Paint Where Possible
Paint is the easiest way to personalize a place while also upgrading from the standard beige of a rental. Bonus: if your apartment looks wonderful and the color(s) you chose are somewhat neutral, you may not even need to repaint when you leave—some landlords will praise you for bringing vitality to the space and will want to keep it that way!
Make Use of Great Rugs
A nice area rug will hide a multitude of sins, whether it’s cold laminate flooring or carpet that’s seen better days. Rugs add color and texture to a room, and they’re yours forever, so choose one that you love.
Don’t Skip the Artwork
Your lease will determine whether you can really hang art (though most will if you spackle and paint on your way out), but even a strict lease is no excuse for empty walls. There are a myriad ways to incorporate art into your house, from inexpensive prints hung gallery-style to original works reclining against the walls or furniture.
Focus on the Positives
Decorating a rental has a bad rap, as if it’s somehow inferior to decorating your own house. But consider the benefit of not owning: you can concentrate your decorating efforts on the “fun stuff.”
Between the mortgage, the emergency fund, and saving for a new kitchen, your home-owning friends might not be able to purchase a new sofa right now, so they’ll have to make do with Grandma’s hand-me-down for the time being. However, you can save up for that sofa you’ve always wanted, knowing that if your dishwasher goes down, it’s not your problem.
Need help translating your home decorating ideas into reality? Let the team at Just Organized by Taya help you create the space you really want. Book an appointment today, or contact us here to discuss how we can help you achieve your Houston home decorating vision.
Working with Taya and her team is easy. You can book an appointment easily on her website, or contact her directly at 832-271-7608
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