Living in a rental certainly has its perks—but restrictions written into your lease agreement can make it challenging to decorate your rental in a way that makes it feel like home. Fortunately, there are a handful of DIY projects you can tackle to get creative with your home decor and make any rental space feel more like your own.
1. Swap Out a Generic Light Fixture
Check your lease agreement or consult with your landlord to find out whether you’re allowed to swap out light fixtures in your rental home or apartment. If so, then consider installing a statement light fixture in your main living area or dining area. Swapping out light fixtures is relatively simple and inexpensive—and you can always take your fancy light fixture with you when you move out!
2. Upgrade Kitchen and Bathroom Hardware
The same goes for dated kitchen and bathroom hardware, such as cabinet door knobs and drawer pulls. Swapping these out with your own hardware takes just a few minutes of your time. It is a rather inexpensive way to upgrade and personalize your space. And again, if you keep the old hardware, you can reinstall it before you move out and take your upgraded hardware with you.
3. Create a Lightweight Headboard
Many renters forego larger furniture pieces (such as headboards) because they’re purely decorative and can be difficult to move from place to place. However, there are plenty of cheap, simple, and lightweight DIY headboard projects to consider for your space. In fact, with just a few pieces of plywood or fiberboard and your choice of fabric, you can create an eye-catching headboard that can easily be moved when your time in your rental is up.
4. Get Creative with Paint (if Your Lease Agreement Allows)
Some landlords will allow tenants to paint inside their rental homes so long as they repaint with a neutral color before they move out. If painting is permitted in your rental, this is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to personalize your space and make it feel more like home. Consider painting an accent wall in your main living area or even getting creative with bold colors in your bedroom or bathroom. A little pop of color can go a long way!
5. Set Up an Indoor Herb Garden
Greenery can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your space, so why not set up an indoor herb garden? All you need is a little space on or near a windowsill that gets a decent amount of sunlight. From there, you can add some greenery to your living space and enjoy having fresh herbs on hand every time you cook.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of ways to make any rental feel a little more like home, especially with the right home decor and a little creativity. Renting in Tucson and still looking for a property that suits your needs? Bancroft & Associates is here to help with current home rental listings in the Tucson area and property management services for landlords.