Renter-Friendly Decorating Ideas

renter friendly decorating ideas featured image

Investing in a rental property can be a good way to earn income. However, with the many available properties for rent almost anywhere, it’s important to know how to make your property stand out among the competition. 

To be a successful rental property owner, you should aim for a high occupancy rate. To do this, you have to ensure that your property can attract and retain tenants.

One way to make your property appealing to prospective renters is to decorate your rental unit. Decorating your property can give it a more homey feel, and it’s a great way to stage and market your rental unit to get it occupied. After all, making your rental property visually pleasing will increase its value.

It’s worth noting, however, that choosing the right renter-friendly decorations is crucial. Make sure not to overdo the decorations or else you will end up limiting your potential market. Remember that while some aesthetic decorations are attractive to some, they may not look as pleasant and inviting to others. 

A property manager in a pink suit shaking hands with someone who is standing with their spouse and three children

Before you decide to decorate your rental home, keep these useful tips in mind:

  • Set a budget: Decorating a rental home needs a budget. Do not go overboard with buying decorations, and don’t spend more than what you can charge for
  • Plan a theme: To ensure that your decorations go together, you should make a plan beforehand. This will prevent you from picking decorations that will not match each other.
  • Keep things neutral: While you may have your own preferences, keep in mind that you will not be the one living in the rental unit. Do not limit the prospective renters who will be interested in your property by choosing decor that only you would appreciate. To stay on the safe side, it’s best to keep things neutral as much as possible. 

Best Decoration Ideas for Your Rental Home

Decorating your rental home can be an exciting process. You’ve set a budget and planned a theme, so what’s next? Even if you are not an interior designer—or you’re not planning to hire one—you can still make your rental unit aesthetically pleasing. 

Here are some renter-friendly decoration ideas to help you get started:

1. Cover the Wall with Wallpaper or a Tapestry

If you think the plain wall with neutral-colored paint is a bit boring, you can spice things up by adding a wall tapestry. Choose a design that is enticing but not distracting. The best thing about using tapestries is that they are fairly easy to install. After you’ve chosen a design, all you need to do is to unfurl the tapestry and attach it to the wall using nails or pushpins in the corners.

a ladder and paint supplies set up against a wall

You can also opt for wallpaper instead. There are plenty of unique and modern wallpaper designs, and they can totally change the ambiance of your rental home. Make sure to choose wallpapers that are easy to install and renter-friendly. Usually, you may need to use a certain type of adhesive to paste them to the wall. It’s best to choose a type that is easily removable. 

2. Make the Space Look Larger with Mirrors

If the property or unit has limited square footage, there’s a trick to give a room the illusion of being larger than it is. Placing mirrors on some walls, especially in the living room, will help make your space look bigger. Try not to overdo it though, because too many mirrors will make your living room look like a dance studio.

3. Indoor Plants Can Refresh Your Rental Unit 

Indoor plants are a great way to add color to your rental. Even if your rental unit doesn’t have a landscape or garden, you can provide your tenants with a green space by adding a few succulents and other house plants. Aside from their aesthetic appeal, indoor plants can also provide a lot of health benefits. 

It’s important to choose low-maintenance, renter-friendly plants because tending to them all the time may not appeal to busy tenants. Also, make sure that they are safe and won’t be a breeding ground for pests or insects. 

Exterior of a white house against a blue sky

4. Decorate Your Floor with Rugs

Does your carpet or hardwood floor look boring? No problem! You can use decorative rugs to amp up the appearance of any room, especially in certain places like underneath the coffee table in the living room. Rugs can also help quiet loud footsteps, which is especially useful in apartment units. 

5. Invest in a Few Inexpensive Pieces of Wall Art 

You can further decorate the walls with a few pieces of inexpensive wall art, accessories, or paintings. Make sure to choose art pieces that are neutral and pleasing to the eye. Avoid designs that are too distracting. Also, don’t cover the entire wall with framed artwork. Leave space for your tenants to decide whether they want to add their own art or personal photos.

6. Add Curtains to the Windows

Instead of vertical blinds, you can install curtains on the windows. Choose curtains that match the color theme of the house, but make sure to keep the design and color neutral. Tenants have the option to change the curtains once the property is rented. Just make sure to include them in your inventory list so that they will be returned to you after the tenancy ends.

Conclusion

Decorating your rental home is essential because it can help make your rental property more visually appealing. If you want to attract renters, it’s important to know how to improve the aesthetic of your space. 

If you need professional help, you may want to work with a property manager. Contact Limehouse Property Management today! We’re a full-service property management company that can help with many aspects of owning a rental property, including decorating and staging your home to get it ready for tenants.