Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Rent a Home? Decorate it!

Make your uncomfortable and boring rental unit more like home. Here are some tips for decorating your rental property, while keeping your wallet in mind.

First of all, the landlord’s wishes should be considered when decorating a rental. Depending on your landlord, you may not be able to paint anything at all, or may be restricted to certain colors. You should get the landlords written permission prior to painting anything. For increased chance of getting approval to paint, try choosing neutral colors or pastels.

Choose the mood you want to convey for each room. If you're interested in a mellow environment stick with cool colors such as, shades of beige, blue or green. A more entergetic mood can be accomplished by using shades of white, yellow, or orange and is often used in the kitchen, bathrooms and dining area. Furniture and artwork can be used for the desired atmosphere if painting is not an option.

If you want rooms to feel more open in your rental property use lighter and brighter colors throughout the home. Darker, cooler colors make a room seem smaller, but provide a warmer, more relaxed atmosphere.

You can find inexpensive furnishings in classified ads, such as CraigsList.org or by shopping at thrift stores. When people change furnishings, they often let very nice pieces go for low prices just to get rid of them. Even if you find furniture that is scratched or discolored, you can make it look new again by refinishing it with paint or stain. Also, adding a futon is an excellent money-saving idea as it provides a nice, modern look, as well as an extra sleeping space for guests.

Once the foundational furniture items and color scheme are selected, the task of adding individual personality can be tackled. Shop for inexpensive accessories to add splashes of character and color to each room. Items such as throw pillows and blankets, vases, lamps, and other items are easily personalized and will add a great deal of character. If you have furniture with small blemishes, you can use these items to cover them up.

If your landlord doesn't give you permission to paint, you can still add color to your rooms. Add splashes of color and personality to your walls with artwork such as, CD covers, fabrics and photo groupings. Search online for wall stickers, they come in various shapes and styles, and can add a unique touch to your home.

It doesn’t take much money or effort to turn a newly rented space into a warm, inviting home. Be creative and search online for inspiration, there are tons of articles and websites devoted to design.

As you just read, there are many different option to make your rental feel more like a home. It's important that you're comfortable in your own home, and nice to feel pround of where you live. Don't forget to show off your new place to your friends - who knows, you might even get a gift or two. You could even find out who your real friends are and invite them over to help you paint!

Hazen Enterprises offers over 450 Tucson rental homes across 30 quaint communities. If you're in the market search our homes for rent in Tucson AZ.