Renting A House? Be Wary About Making Major Interior Decorating Upgrades

When you rent an apartment, it's unlikely that you can do a lot of major redecorating. If you are renting a home, there may still be restrictions but you will probably have a bit more leniency in what you want to do, depending on the personality and preferences of the homeowner. Landlords who do not want to see major modifications done to their property may place strict restrictions. Some homeowners prefer a renter who will fix up the interior of the home. After all, the repairs and upgrades will enhance the home's value. The latter type of owner may allow the renter a lot of freedom in their decorating options.

When Renting a Home, What Is the Extent of Change Allowed?

If you are renting a home, think about your budget before doing anything. They say that renting is flushing your money down the toilet ... spending a lot of money on improvements is like flushing your money down several toilets. You get nothing back other than improved living conditions or perhaps a grateful landlord who benefits from your money and work.

Some homeowners may allow the renter to make minor decorating changes such as painting the walls, hanging up pictures or installing decorative shelving. Extensive decorating work like putting in new carpet, installing more windows or taking down walls might not be considered acceptable by some property owners. The landlord might approve of this type of extensive work so long as the work is to be done by a a professional company. If you seriously consider this, however, why on earth should you spend a lot of money and time in making major improvements to a home that you do not own when you receive no tax or other benefit? You are better off making do with minor interior decorations and improvements and holding onto your hard-earned cash so that it will collect some interest and can be used as a down payment for your own property.

Check with the Landlord Before Redecorating

Read and understand your rental agreement before investing anything in interior decorating. The landlord may have specifically prohibited certain interior decorating activities, such as replacing carpet or doors. It is unlikely that the lease will spell out each and every possible type of interior decor activity, so check with the homeowner before making modifications to the rental house. It is wise to obtain a written approval by the homeowner of your interior design plans.

If It's Iffy, Just Don't Do It

As a renter, if you're not sure whether you can perform a specific decorating activity and you are unable to reach the property owner, it's best to not make any changes. Spending money on interior improvements to a rental home may backfire on you, particularly if the homeowner demands that you to undo the changes.

Some Easy Decorating Tips

Regardless of whether you are renting a home from a homeowner who allows a lot of changes or is very restrictive, there are some easy things that you can do to upgrade the home decor. Best yet, you can keep these improvements and use them in your next home (preferably, the one you buy) instead of investing in someone else's home that will not benefit you in the long haul.

RUGS - If the tile or carpet in the rental home is stained or just plain ugly, cover it up with area rugs or throw rugs.

ART AND PLANTS - If the wallpaper is hideous and you're not allowed to repaint or change the wallpaper, hide it with some nice artwork. Large, leafy houseplants like Ficus trees add a touch of class to a home and can cover otherwise ugly spaces.

DECORATIVE FURNITURE - Attractive furnishings can change the look of a rental home. An affordable option is a futon. You can get cheap futon covers in a variety of colors and patterns that can change the look of a room. Add a few throw pillows for color and the room will look better. For cramped spaces, futons are great. Use them as a couch or chair by day and a bed at night.

LIGHTING - Play with light to create a sense of ambiance and draw the eye toward art or other features in the room instead of the defects. Tree lamps or canister lamps can be used to direct light. Just plug them in and don't worry about having to change the light fixtures or having to install dimmer switches.