This week I got inspired to write this blog post by a friend, she is preparing a small apartment for rent. She called me and said: I need your help, I’m lost. Give me some advice. And I recently saw some posts on FB where people are putting some pictures of their apartment that is for rent. Some just look horrifying and than I ask myself who is interested in living there.
Never thought of hiring an interior decorator to help you? Probably not, as most people want to decorate those apartment on a tight budget. But an interior decorator can give you tips on what to do or specially not to do and this can safe you time and money. But first things first: you could start with writing down a few things.
empty room via Bobvila - hanging lamps Retro Boutique - rug kea - sofas West Elm
Who would you like to live in your apartment? A student, young couple, single, family or business man. You see already that by defining the person you have in mind you can start making decisions. In which area of the city is the apartment? And what is the price you would like to get for renting the place. You can decorate on a budget, but be honest if you want to attract the right person and will be able to ask the amount you have in mind than you should spend at least a certain budget. So write down also the budget you want or can spend.
And than you could add a budget for some consultancy of a professional decorator. And the money you will spend on this you will get back quickly: you will spend much less time looking around for the perfect things. you won’t make mistakes. An interior designer or decorator will help you to safe money and a few tips will bring out the best of the space.
living room on the lefts via Bokura - on the right via La Residence - hanging lamps Heparts
Choose neutral colors
So lets start by looking at the colors to use. Not everybody loves blue or yellow, but everybody can imagine him or herself living in a space with a neutral color palette. Neutral colors are the perfect background, everybody can easily make the space his or hers by adding small accessories such as pillows, an art work, some colorful vases on the coffee table. Just a plant will live up the whole space.
living room via Stylizimo - framed wall art YX Painting - pillows Zara Home
Add some accents
Make it look great by adding an art print on the wall. You can find so many beautiful prints on-line that this doesn’t has to be a great investment, but your place will look much more attractive. Or put some wallpaper on one wall. In the entrance, behind the bed, but keep in mind that it should fit different types of persons. So no romantic flowers, no strong colors, keep it contemporary and not to classical.
picture on the left via Desire to Inspire - on the right via AD
A big mirror will add natural light to the space
When the rooms are not to big or quite dark, add a mirror, they will make the room look bigger and bring more light inside. Put it in a place where the light falls on. And don’t forget to put one in the entrance, people like to look at themselves before heading out in the morning.
picture on the left Modh - on the right via The Gem Picker
The entrance
Now that we are talking about the entrance: make it practical. What do we need there? Some hooks on the wall to hang the coat, a small stool to be comfortable when putting on the shoes and maybe a shelve to leave the keys. And don’t forget this will be the first room your future tenant will see, so make it look amazing. The first thing you see will make a big impression, and this can be good or bad.
kitchen via Cosentino - storage drawer via Better Homes & Gardens - spot Flos - backsplash via Zusss
Think practical
Imagine how somebody wants to live in a space, and I’m not telling you now to make an amazing on-measure kitchen, but it should be practical: some storage space, and good quality electrical appliances. There are a lot of brands offering different price levels. You don’t want them to call you each month because something is not working. Keep it practical and simple. A kitchen in white or light grey tones will fit each personality. Don’t get fancy with the backsplash because you found those colorful tiles on sales.
shower area via Brit+CO - bathroom via Fireclay Tile
And same for the bathroom. Clean, simple, practical and functional. And your tenants can always add a personal touch by adding colorful towels in the bathroom. What is important in the bathroom is that the faucets work well and won’t start dripping in a few months. Take care that the floor is not slippery. And for the shower: it can look amazing those walk in showers but you never know how much somebody can splash with the water, see that the rest of the room is safe and look for a shower enclosure.
Image on the left via All Modern - mattress protector Ikea - flush ceiling lamp Pasteri Eglo - picture on teh right via Out Line Art Studio
Good quality
For some things you should spend a bit more, even when it is not the place you live. And that is a mattress. When people are happy living somewhere they won’t move out so quickly. Think of their wellbeing and a mattress is one of those things that can make you feel in good shape, and makes you happy. And now that we are talking about bedrooms: some people love to sleep in the dark, incase you don’t have shutters to make the room dark think of some black out. You can find these days black-out fabrics that are so. beautiful that you can simply use them as a curtain, not just as the lining of the curtains.
For the sofa, armchairs and chairs: take care that the upholstery fabric is easy to clean. Don’t go for to light colors as they will show every stain. Look for a fabric with a good protection against stains, easy to maintain. A fabric with a tweed look, small structure or small motifs will look longer fresh.
rug in the back Lillevorde Ikea - image on the left via Looks Like White - on the right via Emily Henderson
Don’t buy to big or to small.
This makes me think as once I helped people finalizing their rental apartment. They called me and told me something is wrong and we need some final touches. The sofa and armchairs were out of proportion. It was a leather sofa set, still in very good condition but to big for the room. I could convince them to take out one of the armchairs. And don’t by a rug which is to small, it looks cheap. A rug should be longer than the sofa so the front legs can sit on the rug. If not than it is even better not to have a rug at all. Same for the coffee table.
dining corner - November chair by Veryday
Dining area
Even when the apartment is not to big, see that you can add a small table and at least two chairs so people can have a proper meal at home. Can be in the kitchen or a corner in the living room. Foldable or stackable chair can be a great solution.
entrance hall via The Fox & She - hanging lamp Charles Edwards - living room via Living Spaces - hanging lamp Retro Boutique
Light fixtures
See that they are in style with the rest of the furniture. Decide on a style and stick with it, not because you can find this on sale in classical style and than something else modern.
Final touch
Some small touches will make it from looking good to looking amazing. And a place that looks amazing will find in no time the right person to rent it for the price you have in mind. Organize a professional photo shooting. Yes, I know, another few extra 100 euro. But a place staged well and photographed well will make just that little difference. Don’t forget: people scroll down quickly, make it look just perfect so they stop scrolling and take a closer look at your apartment.
Make it look amazing
neutral color palette
entrance is first place they will see, decorate with attention
keep it all in one style, don’t mix
make kitchen and bathroom practical
think of storage
quality for mattress
don’t buy to big or to small
invest in a profesional decorator and photographer
stage the apartment
Wish you success!
You don’t want to miss any of my blog posts? Follow me on my FB page, or Bloglovin' or even better subscribe to my newsletter