“Landlords grow rich in their sleep.”
– John Stuart Mill, philosopher and economist
Landlords are having a good night’s sleep, but what about tenants? To have a good night’s sleep in a rental, it must first feel like a home.
Although an apartment is a complete and livable place in itself, you can’t make any major changes to it, unlike a bought house.
So what can you do? Some small, reversible changes or additions that structurally don’t modify the flat.
In this article, I will discuss a few home improvement ideas to transform your rental apartment into a cozier and more personalized space. Finally, the flat will actually feel like a home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- You can’t make drastic modifications in an apartment.
- Some small, reversible changes can still make your flat more comfortable and personalized.
- These include improved lighting, plants, wall art, rugs, cozy seating, and ambient fragrance.
- Rental agreements usually prohibit repainting, drilling, and structural modifications.
Why Rental Apartments Often Feel Less Comfortable Than Homes
Moving into a flat doesn’t seem like moving into a home. Many fixed things come with a flat, like physical space limitations, lack of privacy, unwanted noise, and lack of control over the environment. You can’t change the worn-out carpet or the wall color to your favourite one.
It’s true that flats are convenient and have much lower maintenance. However, they feel less “homey” to some due to the shared infrastructure, no personal outdoor space, and strict rules.
Deep down, you know that to make it seem like home, some changes need to be made.
How Small, Reversible Changes Can Transform Rental Living
Giving a homely feel to an apartment doesn’t require a lease breach or the loss of a security deposit.
With a few small, reversible, non-destructive tweaks, you can turn the generic apartment into a reflection of your unique personality. These can include adhesive products, swapping out minor hardware, or getting mobile lighting. You can change the entire feel of many rooms and sections.
Imagine a balcony that awes your guests. Or a kitchen that has more than two drawers.
A home is not something that is bought; it’s something that is created.
3-4-5 Interior Design Rule
The rule dictates that a space should use three patterns (e.g., stripes, floral, geometric), four styles (e.g., Mid-Century Modern, Traditional, Boho, Art Deco), and five colors/textures (e.g., boucle, velvet, wood, brass, marble) for a balanced visual depth while personalization.
Comfort-Boosting Ideas That Instantly Make Rentals Feel Home-Like
Here are some changes to make an apartment cosier while giving it your unique personality.
Layered Lighting
To improve illumination in a flat, go for layered lighting. It has three layers: ambient light, task lighting, and accent light.
Ambient light illuminates the entire area. Task lighting is for special areas that need more illumination, improving warmth. Accent lighting is for giving a bit of your personality to the area.
Indoor Plants
Plants beautify a house by introducing greenery. In addition, they also bring some cooling and serenity.
The rental might not get proper sunlight, or you might not have enough time for plant care. So, prefer the low-light and low-maintenance ones.
Personal Wall Art
Adorn the walls with cherished photo frames or favourite quotes, anything close to your heart.
Remember to use UHB tape instead of nails or screws to hang them up.
Area Rugs
A new rug can also freshen up the look of an apartment. They make the apartment feel homely and cozy, while giving it a new texture.
Just a rug can bring together a living space.
Portable Storage
Portable storage adds functionality and personality to the small space of your flat without damaging its walls or floor.
You can consider ottomans with hidden storage, tall-narrow bookshelves, and baskets to keep the space tidy.
Cozy Seating Additions
Seating in a flat should harmonize with the unique space of the apartment, at the same time projecting a sense of your own taste in furniture.
Of course, the sofas and chairs need to be as cozy as possible.
Scent Styling
Having your personal favourite scent in the ambience can make the rental feel cozier. Consider a fall candle, a wintery simmer pot, or just an all-weather diffuser with spa-like scents.
Designing Comfort Without Violating Rental Agreements
Just keep in mind that all the modifications you make to the flat for more comfort and personalization need to be temporary and non-destructive.
For drastic changes in the atmosphere, choose high-impact alterations.
Painting, drilling, and structural alterations usually breach the agreement, so stay away from modifications involving these.
For easy online negotiation and application, find Berlin apartments via Rentberry.
Final Thoughts
You can’t make major changes to the apartment, but just some slight alterations can transform the space into a soothing, homely feeling.
Just make a few small, reversible changes to light, greenery, wall art, rugs, seating, and ambience.
Don’t do any repainting, drilling, or structural modifications if you want to keep cordial relations with the landlord.
How can I make my rental flat feel like a cozy and beautiful home?
Just making some additions and changes to the lighting, seating, and wall and floor adornments can uplift the overall ambience of a flat.
What are some rent-friendly home decor items?
For a completely rent-friendly home decor, you can add a few plants, wall art, and rugs.
What adds the most value to an apartment?
Renovating the kitchen and bathroom adds the most value to a flat.
What is the 3-4-5 interior design rule?
The 3-4-5 interior design rule suggests that a space should have three patterns, four styles, and five colors/textures for a balanced visual depth.
