You may have problems with rental housing, but there are ways to fix them
First job, new city and first home. Chances are it will be for rent. Scouring through newspapers and online ads and running one house after another may give you the best option, but there’s a lot more to do. After the deal is signed, you run into the biggest hurdle between you and your dream home: the landlord.
It seems that depriving you of simple pleasures is a way of life for the landlord. Wallpaper, no. Nails and Walls, no. New coat of paint, no. Amidst so many no’s, how do you make sure you don’t turn into a yes guy! If the rented apartment you’re living in is far away from your dream home, it’s time to get ready to fix the problems that plague it.
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We give you 11 easy ways to drive the blah out of a rented apartment:
#1 If you can’t paint or wallpaper the walls, choose an oversized canvas
Paint the canvas the color you wanted your accent wall to be. Instant moodupper! Or, try framing a wallpaper you love in a barely there frame to create your own wall.
#2 If you don’t have the kind of space you need, make them with screens
You can work with a basic wood screen—whether it’s Victorian, chinoiserie or Japanese style—or bring in a modern touch by using a shelf or book rack as room dividers.
#3 If you can’t nail the wall, tilt your artwork against it
If the homeowner really got into something about nails, consider leaning your artwork — large or small — against the wall. Large pieces can stand on the floor; Smaller ones can be placed on tables and sideboards.
#4 If you are always short of storage, work with multifunctional furniture
Choose from a multitude of options available – beds with storage, drawers under the bed, openable poufs, coffee tables that provide extra surfaces or nifty benches with storage. The options are many.
#5 If you don’t like the flooring, go shopping for a new rug
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Mosaic and terrazzo may once be the most popular flooring materials, but if that’s not what you like, cover up with a fancy rug. Layering rugs can give you a wall-to-wall carpet-like feel.
#6 If anything you do makes windows look bad, cover them with vibrant curtains
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A set of colorful curtains will take your mind off the dull windows and style factor of the room. You can also use curtains to separate awkward corners and niches.
#7 If the living room doesn’t seem party ready, bring a couple of diyas into the house
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A combination of lamps – can be a floor lamp, a chandelier or a pendant – will create a warm atmosphere and instantly make your room more attractive.
#8 If the corridor looks too dirty, light it up with a large mirror at the end
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More often than not, the corridors become dirty and monotonous. Light them up by bringing a large mirror in a shiny metal frame and placing it on a dead wall.
#9 If the kitchen doesn’t feel like home, consider an open space
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Most rental kitchens are sterile and uninvited. Make them feel like home by displaying colorful crockery and jars in open shelving. Don’t forget to line up the shelves for more impact!
#10 If the bathroom is not to your taste, add a touch of color
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Bright towels, a cushy bathroom, a beautiful shower curtain, a vibrant counter set… the bathroom will no longer look like it did when you walked in!
#11 If the apartment still doesn’t look alive, bring in some greenery
Chances are you won’t have a garden, so bringing plants into pots is a quick and expensive way to add a new breath of life to your rooms. Choose hardy plants that will survive even if they don’t have a green thumb!
Once you’re done, watch how a rented house becomes a home.
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