5 Designer-Approved Ways To Make A Rental Feel Like Home

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A Veranda report shares five recommendations from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson for making a rental feel more personal without committing to major renovations. Their advice focuses on designing around the apartment, asking landlords about possible changes, investing in portable improvements and choosing furnishings that can move with you.

Veranda’s report outlines five ways renters can make an apartment feel more like home, drawing on advice from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson. Their recommendations center on working with a rental’s existing conditions, checking with a landlord before making changes and prioritizing improvements that can travel to a future home.

The first recommendation is to start with the apartment itself, rather than designing from inspirational images alone. The report advises renters to consider practical limits such as room dimensions, available light, doorway widths and which items they can take when the lease ends. A compact sofa and movable chairs may suit a small living room better than a large sectional; a dim bedroom may need layered lighting more than another decorative item.

Thompson says renters do not have to correct every imperfection. “I don’t think you need to fix everything,” she says. “Sometimes you just need to find the things that are already good and just give them a little more love.” The advice is to identify the apartment’s strengths and make choices that work around its less appealing features.

The next recommendations are to ask the landlord about changes and consider investing in window treatments. Thompson says a landlord may allow updates such as painting cabinets, changing a light fixture or adding trim, particularly if a renter plans to stay. For curtains, Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats to off-the-rack panels or hanging them from rings. Thompson says curtains can add softness and personality and can be moved to another home.

For budget decisions, Thompson advises spending less on attempts to disguise features that cannot be changed and more on items that give a room personality. She suggests changes such as replacing cabinet hardware, while discussing paint with the landlord. She also recommends combining newer furnishings with antiques. Her final tip is to choose durable, adaptable pieces—such as a sofa, chair, chest, lamp or table—that can serve in a different layout or home later.

Rental Upgrades That Can Travel

The recommendations address a common renter’s constraint: wanting a home to feel personal while avoiding changes that could conflict with a lease or be left behind at move-out. The designers’ approach separates portable investments, such as curtains and furniture, from alterations that may require permission. That distinction can help renters direct their budgets toward improvements they can continue using.

The advice also places function ahead of copying a finished room seen online. Measuring for furniture and accounting for natural light can reduce the risk of buying pieces that do not suit the space. These are recommendations from the designers quoted in the report, not a guarantee that a particular purchase or change will work for every rental.

Designing Around a Lease

The report frames rental decorating as a balance between personal taste and the limits of a home a renter does not own. Floors, lighting, wall colors and kitchen cabinets may not match a tenant’s preferences, while renovations can be costly or restricted by a lease. The designers’ suggestions focus on changes that are reversible or worth discussing with the property owner.

The article names Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson as its design sources. It does not provide a broader survey of renters or quantify the cost or resale value of the suggested upgrades. The recommendations are practical guidance rather than evidence that every landlord will approve a requested change.

““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, designer

Approval and Costs Vary

The report does not specify which leases permit particular alterations, and landlord approval is not guaranteed. Renters should check their lease and obtain permission before painting, replacing fixtures or adding trim. The article also gives no price ranges for curtains, furniture or hardware, so the affordability of each suggestion will depend on a renter’s budget and local options.

It is also unclear how long a renter will stay or whether a particular piece will suit a later home. The designers offer general guidance; the report does not test the recommendations or claim that any one upgrade will increase a property’s value.

Check the Space and Lease

Renters considering the advice can begin by measuring rooms and doorways, noting natural-light conditions and deciding which existing features are worth keeping. Before making a permanent or semi-permanent change, they can review the lease and ask the landlord for written permission. They can then compare the cost of portable upgrades—such as curtains and furniture—with the length of time they expect to remain in the apartment.

The source material does not announce a follow-up study or additional development. Any next steps will depend on each renter’s lease, budget and discussions with the property owner.

Key Questions

What are the five ways designers suggest making a rental feel like home?

The report recommends designing around the apartment, asking the landlord about possible changes, investing in window treatments, limiting spending on temporary fixes and choosing pieces that can move to a future home.

Should renters ask a landlord before changing a rental?

Yes. Thompson advises asking before changes such as painting cabinets, replacing a light fixture or adding trim. The report does not say that landlords must approve these requests, so renters should check their lease and get permission before proceeding.

What window-treatment changes do the designers recommend?

Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats to off-the-rack curtains or hanging them from rings. Thompson says well-chosen curtains can add softness and personality and may be taken to another home.

Where should renters spend their decorating budget?

Thompson advises spending on items that give a room personality or can be used again, rather than putting substantial money into disguising a feature that cannot be changed. The report does not set a specific budget or provide price estimates.

What should renters consider before buying furniture?

Measure the room and doorways, consider the available light and think about whether a piece can adapt to a future home. The report recommends durable furnishings, such as a sofa, chair, lamp or table, over disposable items chosen only to fit the current space.

Source: rss