How to make your rental property feel like home
One of the biggest hurdles when renting is to make the property feel like home. This can be difficult when you consider that you have not chosen the colour scheme or fittings, and this may not suit the soft furnishings that you own.
If you are going to rent for an extended period of time, always consider the colour of items that you buy and how these might fit into another property. If you move into a house with burgundy curtains in the main bedroom and then buy doona covers to match the curtains, you may have difficulty in matching this in future rental properties. So, the trick is to buy neutral colours and then change minor things to fit your décor. For instance, you might go for white bed linen and then change cushion covers to suit the property’s colour scheme.
Most people have a few items that they treasure, mementos that bring back good memories or special gifts or knick-knacks that they cannot part with. Having somewhere to put these items is a sure-fire way to make you feel happy and at “home”.
New properties can have an eerie echo and feel empty. Some of the things that absorb noise and create a better atmosphere are rugs, pictures and plants. Having pot plants in nice pots can transform a room from feeling bare and uninhabited to one that is full of life and good energy. Always make sure that the pots are leak-proof and not likely to leave marks in a carpet or on tiles.
Pictures on the wall can completely transform a space. Always check with the Agent that you are allowed to put up pictures and have this included in your Tenancy Agreement. In most cases a Landlord will permit a few picture hooks provided they are placed in reasonable positions that can be used by future Tenants. Always use good quality hooks and if you are not an expert picture hanger, get some handyman help. You do not want to crack or damage walls. If you are not able to hang pictures, consider buying an art easel and using this to display your favourite paintings. Before you hang any pictures, place the pictures on the floor up against the wall that you are thinking of hanging them on and wait a week or so. This will give you a chance to change them around depending on where you finally decide to place your furniture.
Rugs can make a room as well as providing the benefit of absorbing noise. These can be coordinated to match your furniture and make a room feel complete.
Whilst you might not have any say on the fixed light fittings – you can have a say on the lighting. If the property you are moving into does not have very nice light fixtures, why not choose lamps to light the room and create a better atmosphere?
Colourful accents from throw-rugs, scatter cushions, flowers and decorative ornaments can inject your personality and make your property feel more like home.
Having a place for everything and everything in its place will create a more orderly and liveable environment. Very few people thrive in chaos and spending some time and effort on sorting out the storage of items will help make you feel more settled.
Smell is also important. If something smells nice, it is inviting. Using linen sprays on your sheets or room deodorisers. This can make a big difference to how your home feels – not just to you, but to your guests too.
It won’t take long before your rental property will be filled with new memories and start to feel like home!
