Renovating a rental home can be frustrating. In most cases, you won’t be able to make any permanent changes, such as painting the walls. If you start off with a pure white, featureless space, it can be hard to make the property feel your personality and make it a home.
Whether you’re renovating an apartment or a house, this may feel a little futile, but no matter how long your lease is, don’t let it get in the way of creating a space that you can enjoy.
“No matter how long you live somewhere, whether it’s a month or two, treat it like your own home,” says Los Angeles-based interior designer Robert Novogratz. As Celebrity Design II Half of the group The Novogratz, Robert spends considerable time turning rental properties into comfortable homes. Not only as a landlord, but also as a tenant.
Novogratz spent two years in a historic Brownstone rental in Brooklyn while working on his new home in the Hollywood Hills. That doesn’t mean giving up their glamorous, eclectic signature style, however.
The walls may remain white and the floor the same, but Novogratz gave the space the most impact.
life etc Chatted with Robert all about renting out and got his advice on how to bring designer style into a rental property without forfeiting your deposit when you move out.
8 Ideas for Decorating Your Rental Without Losing Your Deposit
“No matter how long you live somewhere, a month or two, treat it like your home.”
Robert Novogratz
1. Use rugs on problem floors
(Image credit: Novogratz)
“I’d avoid doing anything too permanent, no matter how long you’re going to rent,” Robert said. “I especially don’t mess up the floor because it’s the construction aspect.”
That being said, you don’t have to put up with horrible floors ruining your daily life. A rug can be a lifesaver when covering up unwanted floors while also helping to spatially understand your room. They are especially useful as an open-plan apartment living room idea, helping to group and divide areas.
Follow Robert’s lead in the design of a living room for rent in Bedford and choose the largest rug possible. Large rugs can be expensive, but there are ways to buy area rugs that won’t break the bank. Look for more affordable materials like jute and sisal. They are also easier to roll up, move and store if needed.
2. Dotted lighting scheme
(Image credit: Novogratz)
Lighting setups in rentals tend to be rudimentary at best. But as a tenant, how can you improve your lighting scheme?
“Sometimes it’s easier not to mess with electrical systems and stuff like that,” Robert said. “You can still make a rental lighting scheme better, just bring in light fixtures.”
“Whenever you buy something to rent, I always think it’s best to think about whether you can unplug it and take it with you.”
Table and floor lamps are easy to add to your room, but sconces with external wires are also easy to install if you have access to drilling into the wall.
However, under the right circumstances and with the help of the right landlord, you can replace a pendant or wall light for yourself. Easy-to-install pendant lights are easier to switch, and keep in mind that for any non-essential electrical work, you’re more likely to have to pay for it. On the plus side, you can say goodbye to standard, boring light fixtures and embrace some exciting lighting trends in your space.
“If you do replace your light fixtures, keep in mind that you may need to store the old light fixtures somewhere in the rental property so you can put them back in when you move out,” advises Robert.
3. Ask about a new white paint coat
(Image credit: Novogratz)
If you’ve had an open conversation with your landlord or rental company, it’s worth asking if you can renovate before moving in. A lot of landlords won’t go crazy for you with colors and wallpapers, but it’s reasonable for you to give your property a little makeover to give it a new look.
“We always say that a fresh coat of white paint is the best way to refresh a home,” says Robert. “That, along with a little spring cleaning, really makes you feel right at home.”
If there’s any wiggle room, you might be able to specify the best white paint to decorate your rental home. While it may not seem like much, any deviation from pure white will help add more character to your furniture.
4. Take interim measures
(Image credit: Novogratz)
Today, some great products offer ways to get creative with walls, floors, and more, without making permanent changes to your space. “At Novogratz, we worked with Temppaper to develop a range of temporary wallpapers. It’s basically the peel-and-stick wallpaper concept in modern design,” explains Robert.
“We used it when we moved into the rental for two years while we were building. When we finally moved out we were surprised how easily it came off and it didn’t damage the walls at all. Now the kitchen floors and tiles have similar the design of.
While you may not have many options when it comes to temporary wallpapers, there are some great designs around to make your wallpaper dreams come true in rentals. To create even more murals, you can even use individual decals to apply to the design unfolding on the feature wall.
5. Be aware of what you can change
(Image credit: Novogratz)
Even if your rental apartment or home is already furnished, you can always add something that will make a difference, so keep an eye on these areas. “It’s these little touches,” says Robert, “that make the real difference. Even in a furnished apartment, you can change the bedding at any time, so think of it as transforming a rental from a basic hotel to a boutique The first step of the hotel.
Textiles are a great way to add character to your space. They allow for the introduction of colour, pattern and texture, and they take up quite a bit of space in many rooms, so they are valuable in bringing character when you’re working with white boxes.
Our best tips for decorating rental bedrooms? Choose boldly. Vibrant colors, character patterns or intricate textures can draw the focal point, and if you only have white walls, this might be just what you need.
Choosing an extreme version of the bedroom trend can make a pared-down room feel purposeful. Novogratz has a new line of bedding, available through Next, and it has some good ideas of the idea.
6. Bring your walls to life with hanging art
(Image credit: Novogratz)
While the Brownstone they rented in New York was far from featureless, Novogratz introduced artwork in each space to dress up the white walls and bring its eclectic sense of style into the property.
“The nails in the wall were already in place when we last rented, so we just hung the art,” recalls Robert.
However, if you want to add art to your rental, it’s worth checking with your landlord before putting the nails on the wall. This may be allowed, but you may have to fill the holes and fix the walls before moving out to protect your savings.
When it comes to how to hang pictures, there are nail-free solutions like the Commands strips you buy from Amazon. However, be careful to use enough weight to support the artwork, especially if they have real glass inserts, as it is not unknown that wall decoration will crumble when this type of temporary glue strips are not sufficiently supported.
7. Prioritize affordable designs and modular furniture
(Image credit: Novogratz)
“If you’re going to spend money on furniture to rent, you need to make sure it’s something you can take with you and that it’s suitable for your next place,” advises Robert.
His advice? Invest in an affordable modular design. By choosing modular modern living room furniture ideas, you can choose furniture that comfortably fills your space, but also has the added benefit of being easy to adapt and get in and out of the space – especially important if you live in a walk-up apartment .
“If space is tight, also consider offering multipurpose furniture. Think about how your dining table can best be used as a work-from-home desk, as well as any other clever furniture with secondary uses,” he says. This is especially important when your space requires work rather than just living, such as if you’re setting up an apartment office in a rental property.
8. Use plants as home decor
(Image credit: Novogratz)
“Plants are one of the best decorative options when renting,” says Robert. “They’re an easy way to bring the soul into space.”
In addition to choosing the types of houseplants that will suit the different rooms in your home, consider how you will display them. Open shelving, sideboards, and coffee tables can all benefit from green accents, but there are also design ideas like plant stands, which provide an affordable feature for indoor plants.
The best houseplants should make a considerable difference to your space, not only giving your rental home the most important connection to nature (especially if you don’t have a garden), but also helping to improve your mood and productivity .
Can I furnish a rental home?
Before considering any redecoration, get written Get permission from the landlord – don’t just rely on talking as if technically this should be binding, but harder to prove. Who is responsible for paying for the work as part of this agreement. Most landlords will do the painting if necessary, but you may be limited by the amount of paint they are willing to use to paint the property.
Generally speaking, landlords should allow minor changes that are considered reasonable, but not taken for granted. Any rent may need to be reverted to the state it was in before you moved in, which means all changes must be reversed. Then renovating, without the tricks to put it back, is unwise and could leave you with a serious bond or handyman bill at the end of the lease.
“Whenever we rent, I always shoot the itinerary with the landlord, with permission of course,” Robert said. “It’s the best way to make sure there are no disputes about changes or damage when you move out.”
