The following article is an edited version of the work originally posted by tolleycm.com
Trying to decorate your rental home without breaking your lease can be a bit of a challenge. In this age, we are lucky to have some products and ideas that weren’t available to us before. From ceiling to floor, there is a way to decorate your rental home without breaking your lease or your budget.
1. Ceiling
Make sure to check your lease or with your landlord, but some rental properties will allow you to change out lighting fixtures as long as you place the originals back when you move out. Another idea is to change out ceiling vents with upgraded ones, or even to spruce up the ones that are already there with a coat of fresh paint
2. Walls
These days there are dozens of options for wall treatments. If you are looking to make a bold impact, there are peel-off wallpaper sheets that can be used and removed more easily than traditional wallpaper. Vinyl wall treatments are easy to place and remove since they are smaller than entire sheets of wallpaper. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and are an easy way to decorate the walls without nail holes. A fun and cheap alternative to wallpaper is fabric. You may be used to seeing the tapestries that college students often place on their walls, but for a complete look, you can use fabric and fabric starch specifically created for home decorating to recreate a wallpaper look. To remove, just use a sponge and water to slowly peel off.
3. Windows
This one is easy! Make sure that when you buy curtains, they are long enough to drape on the floor a bit. This gives the illusion of larger windows. For small windows, place a dresser under the window and a mirror under the window ledge. Use the same technique with the curtains as mentioned before, and the window will look larger. The mirror which reflects the light coming in from the window will brighten up the room as well.
4. Accessories
Throw pillows, blankets, vases, bowls, books and trinkets are all part of what make a home a home. Use accessories to highlight a room or use it as the centerpiece. Mix and match different colors and textures to make the pieces really stand out.
5. Statement Pieces
Use a large standing mirror to make a room look bigger and more open without putting more holes in the wall. Use a trunk as a coffee table for a vintage effect. Finding the statement piece for a room is the one of the most important parts of designing a space because it helps bring the whole room together and gives you something to focus on when decorating.
6. Floor Treatments
One of the hardest parts of renting is making sure the floors stay in good condition. To prevent having to replace the carpet in the rental, strategically place rugs so that spills and dirt stay on those instead of the carpet. Make sure to focus on high-traffic areas and anywhere that food will be present.
Backyard Realty Group, LLC always recommends that you consult your lease agreement and landlord before changing anything in your rental property and is not responsible for damages from your rental home due to the items in this post.