Spruce up your rental home without breaking your lease agreement or spending a fortune by making thoughtful choices. Going furniture shopping as a tenant can be a frustrating experience because of all the limits your property owner may place on you. Read along with this article as there are strategic tips you can use to create a comfortable and functional space that keeps your landlord happy and doesn’t involve breaking the bank.
Tips to Create a Comfortable and Functional Space
Measurements Matter
Avoid making your living room feel cramped by placing furniture that is too large in the space. On the flip side, opting for pieces that are too small can make your home look empty. It’s essential to remember that measurements matter. You’ll be surprised how much better your house looks when you measure your furniture carefully to make sure it fits. Aside from that, getting it through your doors and hallways would be much easier when you know the dimensions. When in doubt, you can always opt for modular or sectional pieces that are easy to reconfigure. Bay Property Management Group Northern Virginia suggests investing in multipurpose furniture that can also maximize your living space. That way, you can still maintain usability even when you move to another house.
Style
Choose styles that compliment your personality and lifestyle. For maximum appeal, most property owners tend to opt for neutral tones in their designs. Unfortunately, it also can come across as bland and lifeless. The good thing about it is tenants can infuse their taste into the design by adding accessories like pillows, rugs, and curtains. These seemingly small pieces can go a long way in breathing more life into your living space, without risking your security deposit. You’ll also get better aesthetic results if you stick with a cohesive theme that matches your taste. For example, you can get a boho-styled rug with colorful decorative pillows to create a bohemian theme. If you’re going for a more modern look, stick with bold monochrome colors and elegant pieces.
Durability
Invest in durable pieces that can withstand the test of time. Instead of throwing money away by looking for furniture that merely matches your aesthetics, think about the potential lifespan of the piece. You’ll save more money in the long run if you opt for furniture that can resist wear and tear. Leather, hardwood, and tightly woven fabrics are better able to maintain their luster, even with kids and pets running around the house. On the other hand, you can make already existing furniture last by purchasing slipcovers for your couches and throw pillows to protect the surface and preserve its exterior appearance.
Budget-Friendly Shopping Strategies for Tenants
Check Second-hand Stores
Skip the expenses of buying brand-new furniture and opt for gently-used pieces for a much better deal. Instead of filtering your Amazon search results by price to find something good that fits within your budget, look out for second-hand furniture stores and thrift shops in your area. Besides saving a fortune on furnishing your apartment, you can also find high-quality pieces that are quite durable. With a little patience and a keen eye, you can find unique pieces that add more character to your home. You can even spruce up seemingly outdated cabinets, tables, and dressers by replacing the hardware or repainting it. However, if you’re working on a tight budget and can’t put in the effort to go shopping, you may consider renting a furnished apartment to save money after moving in.
Choose Furniture with Timeless Designs
Select furniture with simple and timeless designs that never go out of style. If you don’t want your house to look tired and outdated within a couple of years of redecorating, opt for pieces that stand the test of time. For example, getting a hand-painted map of the Westeros table might seem like a thrilling idea, especially if you love the series Game of Thrones. But what happens in five years when it’s even less relevant than it is today? It would be best to opt for a simple yet elegant white marble dining table from the beginning, that you’ll most likely still love in ten years.
Conclusion
Personalize your rental living room without losing your security deposit by using these well-thought budget-friendly strategies when shopping for your living room essentials. For starters, make a note of your budget and have the correct measurement, don’t rely on your eyes solely when shopping for a new piece. It would be best to use a tape rule to get the right dimensions and choose something that fits your style. Also, remember to look for items that are quite durable.
Before shopping, consider going through thrift stores or second-hand shops to get cheaper deals on quality furniture. Still, you don’t have to settle for one-of-a-kind or trendy pieces just because you got them at a steal. Always go for timeless pieces that can serve you longer and you’ll get more for your money.