Five years ago we sold our tiny downtown condo in DC and have been renting ever since.  We truly love our townhouse that we have been renting for the past 3 years, but I do kind of miss being able to have full creative liberties.  Let me show you what I did in our rental to make it our home.  Here are 10 tips to make your rental your home.

 

10 Tips for making your rental your home

Disclaimer- Make absolutely sure you have permission from your landlord or management company before jumping into anything that may be in violation of your lease.

1. 1. Paint

      It never hurts to ask.  Sometimes your landlord will require you paint the walls back to their original color, or sometimes it will be an improvement to what is currently on the walls.  Keep in mind- you don’t have to paint the entire space, sometimes just an accent wall is all it takes to make over a room.

      

   2. Window treatments

      I made these super simple window treatments and they made such a difference in the look and feel of our living room.  Bonus- the fabric can easily be changed out with the season.

      

   3. Use rugs

      (even if you have carpet). My husband thinks rugs on top of carpet are the most ridiculous things in the world.  In fact, he says there’s some rule out there that dictates that rugs can’t be place on carpet.  I totally disagree!  If you are in a rental with boring, beige, wall-to-wall carpet throughout, put a throw rug down to add some color. 

   4. Put up some art

      Again, make sure you get permission to put holes in the walls.  Most places I have rented either charge you to fill in the holes, or require you to fill them before you move out.  Know the policy and if making holes in the walls is not an option, look into alternatives like using command hooks.  My friend Tasha over at Designer Trapped in a Lawyer’s Body has a great tutorial on a super simple (and light) project that can be hung with command hooks. Alternatively, use wall decals.

      

   5. Use shelves or bookcases

      Ikea makes some pretty awesome stack-able shelves.  This is a great way to partition a room or display your personal items without putting holes in the walls.  Check out this great post from Polished Habitat on styling bookshelves!

      

      Photo Cred: Polished Habitat

   6. Change the lighting

      Again, get permission or know the policy!  We were able to change out a few outdated light fixtures in our town home.  It made such a difference!  Want some inspiration to DIY your own light fixture?  Lovely etc. has a great tutorial!

      

      Photo Cred: Lovely Etc.

   7. Take a look at your furniture

      Is there a piece that you can paint or repurpose in a different room?  Add some throw pillows or a fun blanket on a couch or chair to add a splash of color and really show off your personality and style.  I repurposed an old, plastic entertainment center into a welcoming entryway bench.

      

   8. Decorate for the Holidays

      Nothing makes me feel more at home, than seeing my personal Christmas ornaments hung on our tree in December.  Even if you are renting, make the holidays special.  Keep your traditions even in a temporary space.

      

   9. Display photos of your family

      This always makes where ever I live feel more “homey”.  I love having pictures of my family displayed all over the house.  This is one of my favorites!   Or you can create a lovely gallery wall!

      

   10. Don’t neglect the outside

       Put a wreath on the door, put out a stylish welcome mat, or if you have a bit of a yard, plant some flowers or a small vegetable garden.  Don’t forget about the outside of your house – it is the first impression people have of your home and style.

       

Even though you are restricted to making significant changes, there are so many ways to add a personal touch to your rental to make it your home.  I often imagine how I would change our town home if we owned it.  I’d go the “Fixer Upper” route and take out a wall or two for sure!  (Along with changing out the counter tops, completely re-configuring the kitchen, painting all of the bathroom vanities and ripping out the carpet in the master bathroom…yuck!)

These 10 tips are my favorite!  By incorporating these tips, we have truly loved our time at out town home and have been able to call this our home for nearly three years.