Creative Ways to Upgrade a Rental Property

You’re moving into your new rental property and you’re glad you can bring your pet now, but it’s a bit of a bummer that there’s not many other changes you can make. It’s no secret that the downside to being a renter in today’s world is the limitations and lack of freedoms when it comes to upgrading or decorating your new home. Chances are you’ve already got a million ideas for how to spruce the place up and not one of them include the random bits of furniture left behind or the oil free air compressor you don’t even know how to use. It’s not quite time to hit up the kitchen or bathroom showroom displays in your local IKEA but there may be more options than you think.

It’s always recommendable that you have a chat with your real estate/landlord or lady before you make any big changes, you don’t want to go risking your bond. That being said, you’re likely to find that your offer to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls, some water repellent decking oil to the run-down deck or to sand back their old cabinet and coat it with sanding sealer, it’s not going to meet any complaints. It may sound like a bit of work, and could cost a bit of money, but if you’re intending to stay long term it will be you that reaps the rewards from a little touching up. If your touch up plans don’t get the green light, there are a number of nifty products on the market designed specifically for those of us who rent. It may not be the best friend to the environment, but removable wallpaper can give you the freedom that you’re looking for. You can choose to cover your whole place in it and paint the colors of your dreams or use it to fashion yourself some feature walls. Don’t underestimate the power of adding some subtle color to your room when thinking sophistication. When it comes time to move on from this property, you’ll simply have to remove your creative addition leaving no damage to the walls underneath. This marvellous creation also extends to tiles and flooring if you should want to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom while you’re at it. Gone with the distasteful or run down home you’ve adopted and in with some color, fun and creativity.

These days it’s increasingly common that you’ll be moving into a furnished apartment or house over an unfurnished one. With house prices what they are and so many of us unable to buy in any great rush, the market for rental properties is a lucrative one. Investment property owners won’t have any problems filling their property and therefore having it furnished can make this process easier. Often this leaves renters with more furniture than they need or furniture that is not to their taste. If you’re fortunate enough to have plenty of storage space then the easy fix is to move the oversized meeting room chairs and second toaster out of your home, but for many this is not an option. Once again, it’s worth having a chat with your real estate/landlord or lady as you might find that they are able to have any unwanted furniture rehomed or may be open to the removal of a few pieces. It’s especially common in student share houses or other revolving door types that when previous tenants move out, they will leave the furnishings they no longer want – you can only imagine the number of office chairs Australia has seen left behind after graduation. If this is the case for you, there’s nothing quite like Gumtree to clear out your unwanted furniture and help out those who may need it all in one fell swoop.

If taking away is not a viable option for you, there are plenty of ways you can add to your space to give it a bit of an upgrade. If you find yourself despairing at any flooring around your home, might we suggest a trendy rug. If you’ve got the time and energy to give it a good clean, you can often pick up high quality second hand rugs at a reasonable price. For a bland or boring room this is an easy way to bring a bit of color and vibrance. In the same spirit of covering up, getting some quality material to put over any furnishings you’re not a fan of can be almost as good as replacing. Simple touches such as updating the doorknobs can change the style of a room in an instant and doorknobs are easy and small enough to store until the end of your tenancy to be replaced. Another overlooked opportunity to redesign your home is the updating of the curtains. Curtains are often left in place and forgotten when thinking of ways to personalise and uplift a home. Sometimes a simple wash can be all the change in the world but if you’re looking for something slightly more, this is another part of your home that is relatively easy to store for replacement when you leave. This can also be an easy way to add a bit of brightness to an otherwise dark and cluttered room. Along the same lines, removing doors of existing cabinets or cupboards can give the illusion of a larger space. If you’re feeling a little daring, the painting of the inside of a cabinet is likely to go unnoticed when you leave – providing you go for a subtle color.

Finally, adding personal items can definitely upgrade your rental property more than you might think. Hang some artwork or photos that make you happy, fill your space with plenty of plants to make it feel alive, adorn your little knickknacks – making a space your own is an effortless and quick way to upgrade your rental. It’s easy to find yourself living a temporary life as you know you won’t be there forever, but it’s much better to try to live in the now as much as you’re able.

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Ellen Must

Ellen Musk is a fictional in-house editor at Mad House publications and writes for Startup Life and Tech Yeah. She has a passion for technology, innovation and science. Her articles are produced right here in the Mad House and often cover subjects like new startups, interesting stories from the marketing world and tips for aspiring entrepreneurs.

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