Tenant-friendly home décor ideas
It can be challenging to make a rental property feel like home – especially if the landlord has strict rules about what a tenant can and cannot change within the property. When trying to redecorate a rental property, tenants will need to find creative, non-permanent ways to give the home their own unique flair.Apart from the rules laid out in the lease agreement that might prevent a tenant from making any permanent changes to the home, Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa, also says that it isn’t very beneficial for the tenant to spend a lot of money to update a property that is not their own.
“When you own a property, any renovation or upgrade can be viewed as an investment into the future resale value of the home. However, when you are renting, any improvements you make to the property will only help the landlord increase their property value or charge more in rent once your lease is over,” he cautions.
Thankfully, there are a few ways that a tenant can update a space without making any permanent changes or investing too much of their own money. Below, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares a few tenant-friendly home decorating ideas...
Area rugs & wall art
If you are not a fan of the floors, then cover them up with a few large area rugs that can be easily rolled up and taken with you to the next property. Similarly, cleverly placed wall art can conceal features you might not like. Before hanging art or other decorative pieces, check if you are allowed to hammer nails into the walls. If not, use lightweight artwork that can be put up using double-sided tape instead.
Peel & stick materials
Use peel-and-stick wallpaper to create a non-permanent feature wall without damaging the paint. You could also use decorative wall decals to liven up the walls. For kitchens and bathrooms, use stick-on tile patterns to easily update the look of the space.
Replace handles
One of the easiest and most affordable things to update are the handles on kitchen cupboards or bedroom wardrobes – just be sure to keep the old handles in storage somewhere so that you can easily reinstall them once your lease expires.
Dress the space
The best way to decorate a rental property is to purchase your own furniture and styling items that you can easily take with you into your next home. Avoid anything that will need to be fixed to the walls. For example, instead of new light fixtures, purchase floor or table lamps. Instead of wall-hung shelves, purchase a freestanding bookshelf. Instead of blinds, hang curtains.
Before tackling any home improvements on a rental property, Goslett reminds tenants to review the lease agreement carefully and to seek permission, when necessary, before making any changes.
“Many prefer to own rather than to rent a home because it allows them so much more freedom to make the space their own. If you cannot wait to fully redecorate a home, then speak to your nearest RE/MAX Office to find out what options are available within your price range. You never know what opportunities exist until you start looking,” he concludes.