More and more often lately I incounter the issue when tenents ask about what kind of decorational improvements they can do to a property that can be reversed and they will not be penalized by an owner. Here I've found a few that you can share with your renters:
1. Add some color. Most apartments will let you paint. So give rooms a shot of color. Some ideas: Paint one wall to liven up a room and create a focal point; paint the floor boards and molding a contrasting color or paint a stenciled border along the tops of walls. To bring some life to that blah beige carpet, toss down a big colorful area rug and you've changed the room. Focus on using items that are portable. Don't spend money on anything you can't take with you when you leave. As well as adding color and texture, a rug can define an area like a dining or sitting room. Big pillows and colorful throws are also portable ways to bring in color. 2. Hang it all! And don't be afraid to put colorful rugs, scarves or art on the walls. Try a Victorian-inspired grouping of photos or mirrors hung from picture hooks and suspended from ribbon in an accent color. 3. Live in a material world. Beautiful fabric can pull a room together. Here are some ways to use it:· Put cloth directly on the walls with decorative nail tacks along the ceiling and baseboards. Drape or gather the fabric for "a subtle, wavy look,". To cover tacks, you can glue decorative trim over them. When it's time to leave, just take some toothpaste and fill in the tack holes. Fabric adds a little more texture and interest to the wall than paint. · Drape colorful cloth from a rod suspended at the top of the wall to create a headboard, camouflage an unsightly vent or cover a window with a back-alley view.4. I screen, you screen. Angled across a corner, a folding screen adds a lot of drama to a room. Plus, you can use the hidden area to store a vacuum cleaner, ironing board or anything else you might want to disguise.
Indulge your do-it-yourself talents by constructing the screen, or check out home, discount and import stores for less expensive models.
5. Create an extra room. Want to break up a combination living room/dining room into something a little more intimate? Use an open bookcase. It's like putting up a three-quarter-height wall… You can build it yourself or buy it.
To add a more dramatic touch, place a few pieces of colorful glassware on it. It keeps it open, and it's a little more interesting than blank space.
6. Use mirrors. To expand a small space, try hanging lots of large mirrors. Go to a framing store and pick out the exact size and style frame you need and ask the framer to put a mirror in the frame. Unlike a ready-made mirror, you can go contemporary or formal, framing materials are not limited by style. Want the frame to almost disappear? Paint it the same shade as the wall.
7. Light up a room. There are a nice variety of low-voltage options in all prices that either plug into outlets or can be installed in place of existing fixtures. These include spotlights, dangling lights; can lights and tiny track lights similar to what you might find in a gallery. Maintenance can install the lighting for you. Best of all, you can take it with you when you leave.
8. Create a built-in look. If you're good with tools -- or a checkbook -- build or buy a freestanding bench seat for underneath a window. Flank it with two bookcases to give it that built-in look… You can even paint it to match the walls. Now, not only do you have a cozy place to sit, with a bonus of extra storage, but when you move you can take it with you.
9. Accessorize. A lot of apartments have generic doorknobs and/or kitchen cabinet pulls that are showing some wear. But that doesn't mean you have to live with them. Instead, pick up something new and interesting at a home or discount store and install it yourself. Save the old hardware in a drawer or closet so you can replace it when you move. And when you leave, take the new stuff with you.
10. Indulge your green thumb. Create a beautiful garden on a patio or deck with large planters or whiskey barrels. Everything can be planted in a pot….
Suggestion is, using whiskey barrels and going with a theme: a salsa garden -- with tomatoes, cilantro and hot peppers; a vegetable garden with beans and carrots or even an organic lettuce patch with several leafy varieties.
For climbing plants, like tomatoes and beans, bamboo poles can provide some structure. Mix plants of differing heights and textures to give a professional look. Include tall plants to give shape, shorter plants to fill in and something that spreads to spill out over the sides. Look for colors that complement each other, and pack the container. You can always take plants out in a month if it's too full.
Hanging pots are ideal for herbs… Just like any other container, look for a combination of plants in complementary colors and different textures and sizes.
And treat yourself to a taste of the tropics. Place a lemon or banana tree on your terrace in a large planting container. When the weather turns cold, give it a sunny spot indoors.
(Taken from Bankrate.com)
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