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Common Decorating Regulations in Apartments

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Painting walls:

This is probably the first thing new renters want to do if they are into decorating; however, sometimes this is off limits in some apartments. While many landlords will allow the renter to paint under the condition that he or she will return the walls to the original color (usually white), others may not be so open to the idea. If you get the go-ahead to paint, and don't mind spending the time painting twice, go for it! This is one of the easiest ways to add your own personal style to your space.

Wallpapering:

Some landlords may allow you to do this, but it isn't common. The process of wallpapering is much more time consuming than painting, and would require a considerable amount of work when having to restore the walls to their original state prior to moving in. Sometimes you can even damage the walls if you don't remove the paper properly. If you really want to use wallpaper, and your landlord allows you to do so, do one wall first to see how you like it before committing to papering your entire apartment.

Furniture:

If you rent an apartment fully furnished, you aren't just renting the rooms - you are renting everything provided in the space. With that said, you will have very little, if any, freedom to decorate. Keep this in mind during your apartment hunting process. If you like all the furniture and décor in a fully furnished apartment, then the job is done for you!

Blinds/window treatments:

Most apartments will come with standard white blinds; however, you may be allowed to change them as long as you return the original blinds to the windows upon moving out. Be sure to check with your landlord before removing any blinds or window treatments that were there when you moved in. If you remove them, you'll want to make sure you store them properly yourself, or ask your landlord/property manager where he or she may want them stored.

Wall hangings:

Since it is your rented living space, most landlords or property managers do not have any issues with you hanging pictures or mirrors on the wall. Some landlords may limit the amount of wall hangings, though, since a couple holes in the wall are significantly different than 100. Make sure you ask if there are any regulations regarding the amount of wall hangings you are allowed to have.

Construction:

Unless you own the apartment or condo, doing any construction will almost never be allowed unless preapproved by your landlord, and in which case, the type of construction will be up to the landlord to decide. For example, maybe your bathroom needs to be remodeled, and maybe your landlord will have this done while you are living in the apartment, but he or she will be the decision-maker on what actually gets done to the bathroom. Besides, you wouldn't want to foot the bill for any heavy-duty construction on a place you'd only be living in temporarily.

Patio furniture:

If you have a balcony or patio as part of your apartment, you can usually feel free to add whatever patio furniture you choose. Though sometimes, depending on your building, there may be some regulations. For example, sometimes apartment buildings will request all tenants have white outdoor furniture, so that the entire building looks uniform. Landlords/property managers may also request that you do not hang towels or any other items that may be considered “eye sores” to visitors. These regulations are not always the case, so be sure to ask prior to moving in.

Ideas & Tips for Decorating Within the Rules

Painting:

If you're free to paint, make it fun! Just be sure to protect your carpets and furniture before you start, whether you're painting one wall or all of them. If you aren't allowed to paint, try getting some abstract art prints or posters (the larger, the better) for a focal wall. You could even hang a colored sheet from the ceiling to get the same color effect you were looking for.

Wallpaper:

Since wallpaper usually has a pattern, it is easy to get the same effect by using large posters or artwork. If you want to cover an entire wall, just buy multiples of the same poster with whatever pattern you choose, and hang them next to each other. Just make sure you use a hanging material that won't ruin the walls or paint. Try canvases with varying depths to give your walls more texture, and hang them on top of the patterned posters (try to hang them over the seams to hide them).

Window Treatments:

If your apartment windows just come with blinds, there's usually no issue with you adding whatever decorative window treatments or curtains you would like, just as long as you don't put too many holes in the ceiling or walls in the process. If you have white blinds, it may be best to go with darker colors for contrast and function. If you have a large window in your living room that lets the sun in throughout the day, darker curtains can help keep the room cooler in hot weather and can reduce your energy use.

Wall hangings:

Use artwork, picture frames, decorative mirrors, sconces, etc. to vamp up your walls if you can't paint. If you are limited to the amount of hangings you are allowed, you will just have to carefully plan where you want your wall hangings to go, and what ones would be the most useful and aesthetically pleasing. You could hang some geometric shelving, for example, which would give you the freedom display knick-knacks, photo frames, candles, and artwork directly on the shelves without putting more holes in the wall.

Construction:

So you can't add or knock any walls down - that's ok! You can separate sections of rooms with decorative partitions that can easily be folded and moved when you need the extra space. You also have the option of adding curtains or screens to divide up the room. Maybe you can't build your own mini bar, but you can purchase one that doesn't need to be attached to any area of the apartment.

Jenna Farmer  Posted by Jenna Farmer on July 2, 2013

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