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How to make your rental feel like a home
With any rental property, there will be things you can and can't do when decorating. However, these rules are not set in stone and will differ from landlord to landlord. In this blog, I am going to guide you through easy changes, share helpful tips, and explain how to approach your landlord with decorating requests.
Before you start thinking of ideas to improve your rental, you should check with your landlord to find out what they're happy with. Some landlords are very open to lots of changes, such as bold paint colours and various wall fixings. Others, however, are much stricter about what they allow. Unless your tenancy agreement specifically states what you can do, you should always check with your landlord before carrying out any permanent redecorating. If you don't get permission and fail to return the property to its original condition, you could face a deduction from your deposit. The landlord may use this deduction to reinstate the property's previous condition.
The most common approach landlords take is to keep a neutral colour palette throughout their properties. This helps the property appeal to a wider range of tenants and provides a blank canvas for people to make it feel like home. Typically, colour schemes include white, magnolia, cream, or grey. Landlords may be more open to your requests, when they involve bold changes, if you first create a detailed list of everything you'd like to do in each room.
Once your list is complete, send it to your landlord so they can review it and highlight anything they don't approve of. Most landlords want to keep good tenants happy, so maintaining an open line of communication can make them much more receptive to your ideas.
Once you've got the go-ahead from your landlord, the next step is to make a list of all the materials and decorative items you'll need. Just like your landlord's list, organise this one room by room. This will help you focus on the most important spaces first, such as the bedrooms. Without a clear plan, it's easy to start several projects at once and end up with half-finished jobs throughout the property.
Top tip:
It's essential to remember that redecorating can be an expensive project, so it's important to set a realistic budget. Putting aside a lump sum each month and decorating one room at a time will spread the cost significantly, making the project feel much more manageable. As you begin buying items, try to balance purchases between things you can reuse and take with you. Such as furniture, décor and items you can't, like paint. This will help reduce costs every time you move home.
It's also important to remember that not all of your décor needs to be brand new. There are plenty of second-hand marketplaces, online selling pages, and charity shops where you can find beautiful items for a fraction of the price. Decorating this way is much more affordable than buying everything new.
A few carefully chosen accessories can completely transform a space, including mirrors, rugs, cushions, throws, plants (real or artificial), lamps, lighting, and even coloured lampshades. These simple additions can brighten a room or create a warm, cosy atmosphere.
Renting can be challenging, especially when your property doesn't quite feel like home. However, these tips should help you transform your rental into a space that truly feels like your own.
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