It’s always hard to decorate a home that technically doesn’t belong to you, yet you still want to make it your home. Living in a rental can sometimes be challenging if your landlord is strict about making changes, but there are ways to negotiate. Why stop at hanging a few photos when you can make a deal and introduce some bigger changes and get the money you’ve invested taken out from your rent? If you sit down with your landlord and convince him you’ll improve the rental, you could do wonders with your living space. Both of you will be happy with the outcome and you’ll finally live in a place decorated by your standards. However, there are a few guidelines you need to follow in order to avoid making mistakes.

Choose colors carefully

Look at your rental as a blank canvas that needs the best color combination that will make it fun and exciting. So, the first and the most obvious step is to repaint everything and give your rooms a fresh new start. This goes even for those places that have been painted before you moved in – sometimes the color your landlord picked just isn’t quite right for you.

This is also a great way to start your new life, no matter what your budget is, and you’ll be amazed by the transformation once you finish painting. You can save a lot of money by doing it yourself, and once you make that first move with the brush, you’ll see just how easy it is. On the other hand, you can always find an interesting wallpaper and cover your walls with vibrant and unusual patterns.

Redo the kitchen

The kitchen is the place where families spend the most of their time and enjoy making meals together. That is why you need to invest time and effort in creating a great kitchen that will allow you to cook in the perfect surroundings. You should think about two things during this process – the practicality and the style – so devote time and money to both of them.

Make sure your cooking area has enough room so you don’t struggle with the lack of space or an unpractical layout. Apart from that, a big kitchen island can solve all your problems and become a small prepping area or an additional eating area. When it comes to style, you can save some money by repainting your kitchen cabinets and replacing the hardware on your own. This will instantly elevate the design of your kitchen and make it more stylish.

Some major changes

You can invest in air-conditioning, but it won’t be useful if your doors and windows aren’t able to prevent the heat and cold from getting into the rental property. That’s why you need to think about replacing them in order to prevent this from happening. When it comes to windows, ask your landlord if you could replace them and explain all the benefits behind this transformation.

Apart from that, think about replacing entry doors which will provide you with more security and make your rental more appealing. To make them more homely, add an interesting doormat and hang a flower wreath.

Fix the lighting

You probably didn’t pay too much attention to the lighting when you were searching for a new home and this is usually the problem once you settle in. The biggest reasons to fix the lighting is the amount of light in your rooms and the position, so take these two things into account then reassessing the quality of your lighting.

There are lots of cheap solutions which only require you to simply find some new fixtures that don’t cost much and you’ll be fine. On the other hand, you can play with different types of ceiling lighting and invest more money into this. However, you’ll also have to introduce some changes into the room structure too, so check everything out first before turning your wishes into reality. No matter which option you choose, think about using LED bulbs because they’re totally worth the investment.

Finishing touches

When everything is done, all you have left to do is to add some decorations and you’ll be able to enjoy your new living space. Start with adding some plants that will not only look amazing, but also elevate the air quality in your home.

Apart from that, find some interesting pieces of art that will complete the look and show off your personal style. You can use everything from interesting sculptures to paintings, and create a new focal point in a matter of minutes.

Decorating a rental can be challenging, and sometimes the fear of investing in a home that’s not yours can make you hesitant. But, it’s the changes like these that make any living space special and help you transform your rental into a home.