By Danielle Hegedus
Via Modernize
Want to renovate your rental apartment without upsetting your landlord? To have the best of both worlds, I highly encourage you to develop a good relationship with your landlord in order to build the level of trust that will allow you the flexibility to change your apartment’s décor. One of the best ways to do this is to be reliable. Always pay your rent on time. I have automatic bill pay set up so that I never run the risk of being late. Also communicate about issues in the apartment before they become an emergency. Are the faucets leaking? Does the toilet sound strange? Are there a few bugs here and there? Tell your landlord. A calm and courteous heads up gives them time to plan for the labor and expense of repairs and they’ll be grateful that you are looking after their property.
Discuss any upgrades you plan to make with them in advance. Don’t let them walk in to find shocking purple walls and a newly deco podged built in—no matter how awesome you may think it looks. Lastly, assure them (in writing if that helps), that if their next tenant is not sold on the teal color scheme that you picked out, that you’ll be willing to paint it back to a neutral color, or at least allow that expense to be deducted from your security deposit.
Here are some fairly quick and inexpensive ways to upgrade your apartment without feeling the wrath of your landlord.
Indulge in some small scale DIY projects!
The light fixtures in my apartment were pretty stark when I moved in—think lots of exposed light bulbs with ugly metal chains hanging from them. The one in my hallway was a particular eye sore for me. I decided to cover it with faux stained glass. I used glass from a picture frame and acrylic paint and you wouldn’t believe the compliments that I get on it! If you are a little less confident in your crafting skills, I really love these mason jar lanterns!
Via Pinterest
Change out your showerhead!
Standard showerheads are generally horrible. Changing shower heads is an easy and inexpensive process. For $19.99+ at your local hardware store, you can make your shower a much more relaxing experience. Hang onto the original showerhead though as it can easily be replaced when you move, and you can take your more luxurious shower head to your next apartment.
Via Overstock.com
Add curtains!
Nothing says rental like white (often tattered) mini-blinds. Installing a curtain rod is not a major endeavor. With just the most basic tools (even those $5 starter kits at IKEA will work) and a $2 box of screws and anchors, you’ll be all set. Curtains are a great way to bring color and rich texture into your apartment. They are also an effective source of insulation for older apartment windows that are often thin and drafty.
Via Modernize
There are treasure troves of resources to help spark your creativity online. Once you decide on a project though remember to communicate a conscientious plan to your landlord. Start with a small project—build a herb garden for your window, add a full length mirror to the back of a door, introduce festive and functional lighting to your closet, or paint a small and unexpected space like the inside of your cabinets. Your success will help build your landlord’s confidence in your ability to perform home improvement projects and open the door for even more exciting renovations!
