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Veranda’s report draws on advice from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson on making a rental feel more personal without a major renovation. Their five suggestions are to design around the apartment’s actual limits, ask the landlord about changes, invest in movable window treatments, avoid overspending on temporary fixes and choose furniture that can move with you.
Veranda has published five designer recommendations for making a rental feel more like home without committing to major work that could violate a lease. Designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson advise renters to start with the space’s real constraints, discuss possible upgrades with the landlord and prioritize pieces that can move to a future home.
The recommendations begin with assessing the apartment itself, rather than copying an inspiration image. Room size, available light, doorways and the renter’s plans for moving all affect which choices will work. A compact sofa and movable chairs may suit a small living room better than a large sectional, while layered lighting may help a dim bedroom more than adding another decorative object. Thompson says renters do not have to correct every flaw: sometimes it is enough to build on what already works.
For changes that affect the property, Thompson recommends asking the landlord first. She says a landlord may approve painting cabinets, replacing a light fixture or adding trim, particularly when a renter expects to stay for some time. Permission should not be assumed, and renters should check their lease and get approval before undertaking work.
Keenan and Thompson also point to window treatments as a worthwhile investment. Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats to ready-made curtains or hanging them from rings to give them a more finished look. Thompson says curtains can bring softness and personality to a room and can be taken to another home. Her broader spending advice is to limit the budget for features that cannot be changed, consider simpler updates such as cabinet hardware, and spend on personal furnishings—including antiques and durable furniture—that can continue to be used after a move.
Make Improvements That Travel
The advice addresses a practical challenge for renters: making a home feel personal without treating a temporary space like a permanent renovation project. Choosing movable furnishings and curtains can help renters carry the value of a purchase from one home to another. Asking before making changes can also help prevent disputes about alterations or lease requirements.
The recommendations are guidance from the two designers quoted in Veranda’s report, not a cost comparison or a guarantee that particular upgrades will suit every apartment. Their central distinction is between improvements that support everyday life and expenses aimed mainly at disguising a feature a renter cannot control.
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Five Choices for Rental Spaces
The report’s five suggestions are to start with the apartment’s limitations, talk to the landlord about possible changes, invest in window treatments, avoid overspending on temporary design fixes and select pieces that can move with the renter. Together, they focus on adapting a space rather than assuming it can be renovated.
Some suggestions are small styling adjustments, such as changing how ready-made curtains hang. Others depend on the property owner’s approval. The report does not provide a standard budget, lease template or universal rule for which changes are permitted; those details depend on the renter’s agreement and circumstances.
“I don’t think you need to fix everything. Sometimes you just need to find the things that are already good and just give them a little more love.”
— Mackin Thompson, interior designer
Lease Rules Vary by Rental
The report does not specify the rules in any particular lease or say whether a landlord will approve a proposed change. Permission is not guaranteed, and the article offers no cost estimates for curtains, furniture or other updates. It also does not provide evidence that one approach will work for every layout, budget or tenancy. Renters should confirm their own lease requirements and get approval before making alterations.
Check Before Making Changes
Renters can begin by measuring rooms and doorways, noting where natural light is limited and deciding which furnishings they expect to take when they move. Before painting, changing a fixture or adding trim, the practical next step is to review the lease and ask the landlord for permission. For decorating choices that do not alter the property, they can compare the cost of portable options with the likelihood they will use those pieces in a future home.
Key Questions
What are the five designer recommendations for making a rental feel like home?
The report advises renters to design around the apartment’s actual conditions, ask the landlord about possible changes, invest in window treatments, avoid overspending on temporary fixes and choose furnishings that can move with them.
Should renters ask before painting cabinets or changing a light fixture?
Yes. Thompson recommends asking the landlord, but the report does not say approval is automatic. Check the lease and obtain permission before making alterations.
How can ready-made curtains look more finished?
Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats or hanging curtains from rings rather than relying on a basic pole pocket. She also says she has used IKEA linen drapes in her daughter’s apartment.
What kinds of purchases do the designers say can be worth carrying to a new home?
Thompson points to durable furniture and accessories, including sofas, chairs, chests, lamps and tables. The report’s guidance is to choose pieces for their longer-term usefulness, not only because they fit the current rental.
Source: rss
