Even if you’re moving in to a rental, your new home is still your castle! Sure, you may have a few rules to follow because you don’t own the property, but that doesn’t mean you can’t customize your living space to really make it your own – and we can tell you how!
- Unpack Pronto
- Talk to Your Landlord
- Get Rid of Anything That Isn’t Yours
- Do Your Research
- Start Small
- Use Walls and Lighting For a Big Impact
Here are our top tips for making your rental feel like home:
Unpack Pronto
As soon as you get unpacked, you’ll start to feel more settled. Right after moving in, put everything in its place as quickly as possible to start establishing that homey feel. If you’re looking for unique ways to liven up the space while making more room for storage, consider looking into a few decorative storage solutions.
Talk to Your Landlord
This should absolutely be your next step for two reasons; the first obviously being you don’t want to break any rules that could affect your rental agreement. Secondly, you may be surprised what your landlord will agree to. While you may have to reverse a few of the changes you make when you move out (you may be required to repaint or patch holes for example), it never hurts to ask.
Get Rid of Anything That Isn’t Yours
Previous tenants often leave a few things behind – even if it’s just a few curtain rods, picture hangers, shower hooks etc. Swapping out the previous renters’ items with your own is a great way to start taking ownership of your new home. While you may have to ask your landlord regarding more permanent fixtures like curtain rods, you can always offer to switch them back when you move out.
Do Your Research
Next, you’ll want to determine what parts of your rental you’d like to accentuate and what parts you’d like to change – from here you can start thinking about the supplies (and budget) you’ll need. For example, if you want to hide your ugly countertops, you’ll need to start researching ways to do this ahead of time (paint? Contact paper? Tile?) so you don’t break the bank or the rules.
Start Small
Start by making simple, non-permanent changes and working your way up. For example, adding an area rug, an interesting lamp and a few throw pillows might make all the difference without having to make drastic changes. Even if you are allowed to say, hang pictures, try the stick-on versions first so you won’t be responsible for filling holes in the wall when it comes time to move. Before painting an entire room, consider a feature wall – paint one wall (or hang wallpaper) and go from there.
Use Walls and Lighting For a Big Impact
Decorating your walls is one of the quickest ways to make a big impact. This doesn’t mean you have to splurge on expensive paintings or knick-knacks. Something as simple as a few personal photos will immediately make you feel at home. Changing the light bulbs (say from softer to whiter lighting or vice versa) can also make a big difference in terms of how your walls (and what you hang on them) look.
Now that you’re settled in your new home, check out our previous post “How to Throw a Successful (and stress-free) Housewarming Party!“.
Also, moving this holiday season?
Need help moving into your new rental? Looking for ways to save money on your move? Find out how you can save up to $30 per hour here.
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