5 Awesome Rental Property Decorating Ideas
Posted on 31. Jan, 2013 by adminBlogFL+ in property management, Rental Decorating
So after a long and grueling search, you’ve just found the perfect place to rent. Congratulations! Now comes the dilemma faced by all renters. How much decorating should I do? Hopefully you plan to stay a while in your new place. But even if you don’t, there are some easy and inexpensive decorating ideas to make your new rental feel like home.
But before you even begin thinking about the kind of decorating you want to do, take a look around your new home. Is the paint fresh? How about the carpets? Do the light fixtures look like they’re from the dollar store? These things are all clues as to how much leeway you have with your new landlord. Depending on how much work the owner has put into the rental property, you may be able to get him to pay for at least a portion of any upgrades that you do. But let’s not jump ahead. Take a look at this list and see how many ideas you can get for less money than you might think.
1. One of the easiest ways to affect the look of a room is to paint it. Many renters don’t even consider painting, typically because they think the landlord won’t allow it. This isn’t necessarily the case. Even if the walls have recently been painted, chances are that they were done in a standard white and with really cheap paint. Even a single wall painted in a vibrant accent color can be dramatic. And painting only one wall is not very expensive.
2. Whether the floors are carpet, tile or some other hard surface, consider putting down a rug. A nice area rug can be the beginning of a theme for a room, but remember to look for colors that don’t clash with your furniture. And don’t think you have to break the bank buying a new rug. If you have a membership to one of those wholesale clubs, they often have great deals. You may also consider looking at estate sales or even from private sellers online.
3. So now it’s time to light up the place. The right floor lamp or a table lamp can be a functional work of art. Depending on what the rest of your furniture looks like, a unique lamp can set the tone for a room. You can usually find interesting lamps at garage or estate sales on the cheap. Or, if you don’t mind spending a little more, antique stores are a great place for distinctive lamps.
4. As your place is starting to come together, it’s time to think about accent pieces. The great thing about these pieces is that they can be eclectic and don’t have to match. Often a vase or pot that doesn’t match anything else in the room is the first thing that catches the eye. Also consider fabric pieces as accents. Either draped over a chair or hanging on a wall, fabric is inexpensive and easy to find.
5. One of the simplest ways to accent a room while bringing life into it is with plants. A plant can be placed on a stand by a window, or on a table next to the sofa. You’ll be amazed at just how much a live plant can add to a room. Orchids are abundant here in Florida, and are a perfect way to bring both color and life to your new home.
The beautiful thing about most of these ideas is that you can take almost all of them with you when you move. However, if you do want to start making improvements to things like faucets, light fixtures or even adding a ceiling fan, talk to the landlord about sharing the cost. Remember, looking around at what has already been done will tell you how receptive the landlord may be.
So now you’re ready to start your decorating. One of the greatest things about having a new place is the idea that you are starting with a clean slate. Go ahead and get creative. Try colors that you might not have considered before. If you do it inexpensively, there’s very little to lose. And remember, have fun with it!
