After moving to Malaysia, you found this beautiful rental townhouse at Villa OUG and you can’t wait to settle in and call it home. But being in a rental, you know that there are limitations to what you can do to this space, and you’re worried that it will feel less like home.
You don’t need to worry because here are some simple ways to make your rental feel less like a rental and more like your home away from home:
Talk to your landlord about any changes you’d like to make
First thing’s first: you need to read your contract carefully to know what you can and cannot do in your rental. Most landlords are open to a few changes as long as they don’t affect the look of the house or cause any damage that needs to be repaired once you leave.
It’s also very important to let your landlord know of anything that you’d want to do like re-painting the walls, replacing existing furniture and adding anything to the existing structure. This is a sign of respect to the landlord and it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you’re doing this with his permission.
Invest in good lighting
You’ll be surprised at how much difference good lighting can make to your rental – and landlords wouldn’t really mind if you changed old light bulbs to new ones. Good lighting can easily change the mood of the entire space, making it feel more homey and less like a rental. You can even play with different types of lighting depending on the mood that you want for your home. And if you feel like you need more lighting, you can always add floor lamps to key areas like your living room and bedroom to highlight the space.
Work with your space, not against it
Keep in mind that you are renting, so not every nook and cranny of this house might not be to your preference. But instead of complaining about how there’s that odd curve in the bedroom or why the windows are too small, find ways to work with these flaws. For instance, you can highlight that odd curve instead of hiding it by putting a beautiful potted plant on that spot. Or you can replace blinds with draped curtains to give those small windows a bigger look.
Take it one room at a time
Decorating a rental can be overwhelming, especially if you’re still adjusting to the new city that you’re in. So instead of decorating the entire rental in one go, do it by area instead. Think of the most used space in your house and start from there. Then work your way around the rental to make sure that you allocate enough time for each space and not feel stressed finishing everything.
Of course, don’t forget the little personal details that will truly make your rental feel like home. And when you’re done, how about hosting casino night at home with some new friends?
