How To Make A Rental Feel Like Home

Many people decide to rent instead of buy a house because of the increased flexibility and freedom renting can bring. When you rent, you don’t have to worry about a lot of maintenance, and it’s much easier to move around. However, one area where renting can be less flexible than homeownership is in design.

Painting is a possibility, but you need your landlord's approval. Adhesive hooks, removable wallpaper, and temporary tiles add personal style to your rental. Shop for unique decor instead of using mass-produced items to increase the opportunities to personalize your design. Swap hardware and fixtures, but keep the old ones safe so you can put them back when you move.

You don’t have to settle for lackluster looks if you decide to rent. Even the most basic rental can become a fabulous space with designer appeal, making you feel right at home.

Is Renting Limiting Your Style?

In most cases, renting puts a damper on your design choices simply because you’re limited on what you can do. Many landlords prohibit hanging anything on the walls, painting, or making significant changes to things like floors, wallpaper, and cabinets. You might think the only way to put your personal touch on your rental is with your curtains, furniture, and decor. However, with a bit more creativity and the right products, you can do a lot more to make your rental feel like home.

Talk To Your Landlord

Before you assume you can’t do anything in your rental, review your lease agreement and have a friendly conversation with your landlord. Although it’s common for many rental contracts to impose strict rules about what tenants can do to the property, some are rather lenient. Some landlords are fine with painting as long as it isn’t overly vibrant or dark colors that are harder to paint over once you move out.

Others might be fine with small holes in the walls that they can easily fill with spackling. You might even get really lucky and end up with a landlord who welcomes renovations. For example, your landlord might be completely open to certain upgrades because they recognize the value it adds to the property. However, they may simply require you to run each idea by them for approval first. If this is the case, make sure to get everything in writing, so nothing can come back to bite you later.

Paint What You Can

When tenants move out of a rental, it’s common practice for the landlord or management company to paint the unit before renting it out again. As a result, many landlords might allow their tenants to paint. Or, you may be able to paint the walls any color you choose if you agree to prime them before moving out. If you get the green light to paint, take it.

The ability to use colors that reflect your style goes a long way in making your rental feel like home. Depending on your situation, you might even be able to paint cabinets, vanities, and other features. However, if your contract says painting is allowed, this usually applies to walls. Before painting anything else, make sure to get written permission first.

Use Removable Wallpaper And Tiles

Today, it’s easier than ever to add your personal style to your space when you’re renting, thanks to products like adhesive tiles and removable wallpaper. You can even find removable tiles at the dollar store that work well for an easy backsplash or wall accent. Temporary wallpaper is a great way to make a statement without creating a permanent change. Use it for an accent wall or to completely transform a small powder room. It’s also good for jazzing up a closet or adding some visual interest to the back of built-ins.

Adhesive Hooks Are A Must

If your landlord is super strict about mounting anything on the walls, then removable hooks are a must. There are all sorts of styles to choose from, making it easy to select hooks that match your design preferences. Adhesive hooks are ideal for many situations, such as hanging towels, keys, coats, hats, utensils, and more. You can even use large ones to mount curtain rods, if hanging traditional rods is a no-go.

There are also damage-free adhesive ceiling hooks that are great for hanging plants, light fixtures, and various storage solutions. Look for adhesive mounting squares that remove cleanly to hang pictures, wall decor, and other items. Make sure the load-bearing capacity of any products you get matches the items you plan to hang. 

Steer Clear Of Mass-Produced Decor

When your hands are tied when it comes to renovations and upgrades, it’s even more important to show off your style through decor. Avoid mass-produced wall art, kitschy statues, vases, and other items that spill off the shelves in home decor stores. Instead, use family heirlooms, browse secondhand shops, and visit vintage boutiques to find interesting pieces that tell a story. These unique items allow you to personalize your space and really make it feel like yours. This doesn’t mean you can never pick up a cute lamp or pair of bookends you spot at Target. But avoid overdoing it. You need to take advantage of every opportunity to show off your style and design your space in a way that speaks to you.

Say, “Yes!” To Rugs On Carpet

You may not be able to change the flooring in your rental, but you can come close using area rugs. Some people think that if their apartment has carpet, they’re stuck with it. However, no rule says you can’t layer rugs on top of carpeted floors. If you don’t like the flooring in your rental, cover it with a fun rug. Make sure to size the rug appropriately for the room. Or use a couple of smaller rugs if you're creating multiple zones within one larger space.

Add Fresh Flowers And Plants

There’s something about fresh greenery that makes any space feel more inviting and pleasant. Flowers are excellent for adding color and life to a room without making any permanent changes. If you don’t have a green thumb, artificial flowers and plants are an option, but opt for high-quality versions. You can enhance the illusion by placing them in real soil and cleaning them regularly to keep off the dust.

For an even homier vibe, ask your landlord if you can plant a garden. If you’re in an apartment with limited outdoor space, get a large planter or trough for the balcony or patio. Fill it with dirt, and you gain a great opportunity to keep a small garden. Snip fresh flowers or herbs from your garden to decorate your rental and support an overall sense of hominess.

Keep It Clean

No matter where you’re renting, treat it like home if you want it to feel like home. Even though you may not own it, it’s still important to keep your rental clean and well-maintained. You’ll feel much better about your space. Over time, it’s normal for cabinets, walls, and trim to get scuffed. Carpets and floors can get stained, and countertops and tiles can chip. Touch up the paint, fill in the chipped tiles, and steam-clean the floors to keep your temporary home looking and feeling its best.

Some leases may include a refresh at every renewal, for example, steam-cleaning all the carpets. Your landlord may replace a chipped tile, or they may have spare tiles that you can use to do it yourself. Even though these things are part of normal wear-and-tear, it doesn’t mean you have to live with them.

Swap And Save Hardware And Fixtures

Something frequent renters do to make their units feel like home is to replace existing fixtures and hardware. It’s easy to swap out pendant shades, cabinet knobs, or even door knobs with ones that better suit your taste. However, the key is not to get rid of the pieces you remove. These belong to the landlord, so you must keep them somewhere safe and sound. Before you move out, put them all back and take the ones you purchased with you to use in your next place.

If you decide to do this, make sure you have room to store the pieces you remove. Make notes of everything you change, since it might be months or years before you have to swap everything back. And, it's still a good rule of thumb to make sure your landlord is okay with the plan, simply to maintain a good relationship with them.

Can A Rental Be Your Home, Sweet Home?

It’s possible to make a rental feel like home as long as you stay smart and intentional with all the changes you make. Get your landlord’s permission to avoid any repercussions, and review your lease agreement carefully. Painting is usually acceptable as long as you don’t use outlandish colors and agree to prime everything when you move.

Temporary changes, including removable tiles and wallpaper, are other options to create a more designer look that expresses your style. Whatever you decide to do to make your space feel like yours, take good care of it. Be intentional with the changes, so you can love the home you’re in and focus on creating special moments. After all, your rental might be temporary, but the memories you create while living there are yours forever. 

Related Guides:

• How To Make Your House A Home (Beyond Decor)
• Design Hacks That Will Help Make Life Less Stressful
• Easy Feng Shui Rules To Transform Your Home