Rules to Keep in Mind When Decorating Your Rental

Renting has a lot more restrictions than owning, particularly when it comes to decorating. Here’s what you should know.

Ask first. While you might think most decorative choices are fine so long as you can reverse them upon moving out, it’s always a good idea to ask your landlord for permission before spending any money to change fixtures or anything built-in. When it comes to décor, while you can bring in any furniture you like, if you want to change a part of the home that’s more permanent, you’ll need to ask for permission.

No major changes. Some landlords have extreme rules you have to follow, all of which should be outlined in the lease before you move in. It’s less common for landlords to prohibit you from putting holes in the wall so that you can’t hang pictures, as this is something that can be corrected before you move out so that the unit is returned to the landlord in the condition it was in before you moved in.

If you can’t take it with you when you move, is it worth it? A lot of people want to make their rental extra special by installing a nicer backsplash or flooring. Your landlord might approve this knowing that you’ll be adding value to their property, but it’s value you can’t take with you. If you don’t mind, and are willing to spend the money knowing it will only temporarily benefit you, go for it if they approve it.

Before you move out, you may have to repaint. Painting is one of the most obvious changes people make to their rental unit. It’s an affordable way to personalize your rental, and landlords will rarely stop you from doing this. But if you choose to paint particularly loud or unusual colours, be prepared for the landlord to ask you to paint the space a more neutral shade before you move out.