When it comes to buying a new home, sometimes we just want to have the security of knowing our existing home has been sold, and that we know exactly what budget we’ll have to buy the next property.
The upside in such a scenario is less stress but the downside is you almost certainly won’t have enough time to buy your next property before you have to move out of your current home. That means a period of renting or bunking down with family.
If you plan to rent a house, but want the flexibility to make it feel like your home, then these handy decorating tips can help. They won't cause permanent marks or changes to the house and this will make your landlord very happy. The changes don't have to be intrusive; they can be subtle and make you feel at home until you find the next property.
The rug life
Many landlords shy away from letting their tenants tear up the carpet or stain the floors. That’s understandable. There is often too much risk involved and it could end up costing them a lot of money to change for future tenants. Plus, some apartment buildings have by-laws preventing carpets being replaced with tiles or other harder surfaces.
Instead, buying a rug can change the atmosphere of a room and it can do wonders for the design. Rugs can brighten a dark room, change the colour theme and provide great floor protection. It will make a huge difference to the room but not to the bank account, and of course it's not a permanent change.
Feature wall of art
A feature wall is often associated with painting one wall a different colour from the others, but you can also make it a feature wall using art. Using wall-friendly adhesives you can attach shelves and hang decorations to liven up the space.
Framed photos and pictures are a simple and inexpensive way to add a splash of colour to the room without painting it. You want to make the wall the first thing that people look at when they walk in the room, so it's time to get creative.
Pot plants
Some people shy away from going green in their house because they feel they need a green thumb, or that there’s just too much maintenance involved. However, potted or hanging plants indoors can be a lovely addition. Some of the top plants to keep inside are dumb canes, rubber plant, pin-stripe calathea and orchards. Door hooks are available that allow you to hang pots without mounting hooks, screws or nails.
Having living plants inside the house can do wonders for your concentration as well. The Journal of Environmental Psychology conducted a study on how having plant life indoors can make you smarter. It found that plants can prevent fatigue, which in return helps with concentration.
If you want to make your rented house into a lovely home, you just don't have to make permanent changes. However, if at all in doubt, make sure you consult your property manager before getting started.
What quick fixes have you done to spruce up your home?
Feature image: Shibori Round rug from Designer Rugs
Inset image: Handcrafted clay pots from Trade the Mark
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