Renting your first apartment is very exciting. You have finally reached a point in your life where you can have your own place that you can call home. However, with this newfound independence comes the responsibility of turning your apartment into a home. This can be a daunting task for first-time renters, but with a little bit of planning and research, it does not have to be.
Here are four tips for renovating your first apartment.
Find Out What You Can and Can’t Do
The first thing you have to do when renovating your first apartment is to find out what you are and are not allowed to do. Every apartment complex has different rules and regulations about what tenants can and cannot do in terms of renovations.
Some complexes allow cosmetic changes and renovations like painting walls, closing up holes, and hanging pictures, while others do not allow any changes to be made at all.
It is important to know the rules of your complex before you start any type of renovation so that you do not get in trouble with your landlord.
Get Inspired
You should know what you want your finished apartment to look like before you start making any permanent changes. You don’t have the luxury of changing your mind several times like you would if you owned your own place. So, start looking for inspiration.
Look through magazines, scroll through Pinterest, and save any images that catch your eye on any social media apps. And be open-minded about your sources of inspiration; let yourself be inspired by pictures whether they’re of rooms in assisted living facilities or of rooms in a European boarding school.
Start with the Important Stuff
When you have a solid idea of what your finished product should look like, it is time to start making changes. But, before you start painting or buying new furniture, take care of any important projects that need to be done like fixing any holes in the walls.
It’s best not to DIY any major projects like electrical work or plumbing. These are best left to the professionals. But, if you’re feeling handy, there are plenty of small projects like hanging pictures or shelves that you can do on your own.
Take Your Time
Finally, take your time when renovating your apartment. Don’t try to do everything all at once. This will just lead to frustration and an unfinished product.
Start with one room and focus on making that space perfect before moving on to the next room. And don’t feel like you have to finish your renovations all at once; you can take your time and spread them out over several months.
With these four tips, you can successfully renovate your first apartment and make it a place that you love coming home to. So remember to take your time, start with the important projects, get inspired, and find out what you can and cannot do before you start making any changes.
