Common Renters' Excuses For Not Decorating

It seems like there are dozens of common renters' excuses for not decorating.  But your home should be a reflection of you, it should feel like home, even if it isn't your forever-dream-perfect-home.  There is no reason to fall victim to the myth that tells you as a renter, you have to reel in your decorating instincts.  Let the fun, funky furniture come out to play, or maybe you prefer classic touches, modern designs, or vintage statements.  Either way, there are so many ways you can make your rental your own without painting or putting holes in the wall.Read though the common renters' excuses for not decorating below and see if you've said any of them in the past.  If so, it's time to break through that hesitation and start your decorating! Don't forget to click this link to read all the renters' excuses.

Excuse No. 1: 'My landlord won't let me make changes'

Before you admit design defeat, check with your landlord and read your lease for any stipulations pertaining to changes you can make. It might be easier to get special permission than you think."It always makes sense to check in with your landlord," says David Reiss, academic program director for Brooklyn Law School’s Center for Urban Business Entrepreneurship. "A landlord might be happy if you repaint, but they'll probably prefer the color being from a neutral palette so as not to turn off future tenants."If you make a change with the landlord’s consent, Reiss suggests that you keep a copy of the email or the letter in case the landlord seeks to charge you for it."If you make a change without the landlord’s consent, [know] that the landlord could bill you the cost of returning the apartment to its original state," warns Reiss.

Excuse No. 2: 'I only use my place to sleep, so why spend money decorating it?'

If you spend more time asleep than awake in your home, don't use your decorating budget on the walls—focus on your bedroom decor.Quality bedding will instantly dress up a bedroom and make it look classy, but not fussy."Add curtain panels to complement the bedding so when you walk into the room, you see the color, not the white walls," says decorator Jill Hosking-Cartland, owner of Hosking Interiors. "Think of that one room as the canvas for your favorite furnishings, rugs, art, accessories, and collections."

Excuse No. 3:  'I'm single and want to wait to decorate until I have a partner'

"So many singles adopt this stance, but putting one's life on hold is actually just waiting for life,” says Anderson Abrell. “Instead, savor every phase of life and enjoy all the wonderful things happening right now.”In other words, this is your chance to get that piece of statement furniture like an emerald green sofa or an over-the-top chandelier.