10 Rental Upgrades That Can Travel with You to Your Next Home
A rented apartment isn’t home any less than a property you own. After all, you spend years living in it, you entertain your friends there, and you’ve decorated it according to your taste (to a point). However, people often refrain from investing in upgrades and decorative elements, because one day, they will leave and all these things will go to the next tenant. Still, there are some things you can buy now, and take them with you when you decide to move to your new home. Here are some ideas.
Light Fixtures
New lighting is a very useful way to enhance the appearance of any space. It simultaneously serves as a functional improvement of the indoor ambiance and a decorative element. Replacing the dull ceiling fixtures with the ones that fit your style will make the rental feel more like home. And the best thing about this upgrade is that the chandeliers and pendant lights are just as easy to take off as they are to install.
Pull-Out Drawers
Pull-out shelves are particularly useful for small houses and apartments that require extra effort to be made practical. They can convert a messy kitchen into an organizational paradise. Install them in the lower kitchen cabinets and under the sink, and take them with you for your next move.
Faucets and Showerheads
Swapping out some fixtures can give your kitchen and bathroom an entirely new look. Not only will you perk up these often boring rooms, but you will also make their functioning easier. For example, you can decide for a water-saving smart faucet, or for an indulgent rainfall showerhead.
Accent Furniture
Some rental apartment comes completely or partially furnished. This is helpful when you want to save money, but it also gives you no chance to decide on the interior design style. Fortunately, you can invest in smaller accent furniture pieces that will be affordable and easy to move. Ottomans, armchairs, coffee tables, nightstands, etc. are just some of the ideas.
Throw Cushions
Nothing can elevate the look of a living room or a bedroom as efficiently as a bunch of throw cushions. This upgrade is game-changing, affordable, and simple to pack up and carry to a new home. Remember that accents like these need to make a style statement. Items like cushions come in various designs, including elegant silver and bamboo pattern, but you should also think about mixing textures, such as soft velvet, smooth silk, and fluffy faux fur.
Area and Runner Rugs
Rugs anchor the room and make a house/apartment feel like home, and most importantly, they can be bought at an acceptable price. You can use rugs to add texture to space (layering rugs is a good idea for making a room feel warmer) or to inject vibrant colors or patterns.
Small Kitchen Appliances
Tenants rarely want to invest in massive kitchen appliances, such as refrigerators and ovens, because they are hard to move from one home to another. Also, a large number of apartments are already equipped with such necessities. However, you can’t expect for every property to have a food processor or a toaster. Fortunately, these small appliances are affordable and light. You can choose any of the KitchenAid units, and use them to make your life easier in any place you call home. Even if your home is temporary, your stand mixer can last forever.
Cabinet Handles and Pulls
You wouldn’t believe how transformative simple things like new cabinet handles and pulls can be. Find new cabinet hardware that fits your style the most (that can be vintage handles and pulls you found at the flea market or simplistic modern ones that fit into contemporary décor) and install it in no more than five minutes.
Window Treatments
Most rental apartments come with the same old beige-ish vinyl mini-blinds which do them no favors, design-wise. You can change that by installing new shades, blinds or window film. However, to be able to reuse them in your next home, the windows should be standard-size in both units. Curtains, on the other hand, are totally reversible, so they’re the way to go if you want a risk-free upgrade.
Toilet Seat
Nobody likes sitting on the same toilet seat dozens of tenants have sat on before. Replacing the seat is a smart design call because these items get worn out easily, and they are relatively inexpensive and easy to set up. And when you decide to move, you can just unscrew it and take it with you.
Mirrors, Artwork and Other Accessories
This is a no-brainer. All pieces that are used to make the space your own while not affecting the unit in a permanent way can be packed up to beautify your next place. Think about items like mirrors (wall-hanged and full-length), artwork, floor and table lamps, vases, and other decorative items.
Sure, a rental can be a home, but you need to be aware that in these cases “home” is not a permanent label, and it is highly likely that you will leave one day. While you should decorate it according to your taste, you should also try to invest in things you can take with you when you decide it is the time to go.
