If you’re on a tight budget, you have to get creative when updating your living space. Living in a rental only further restricts what you can do, since you can’t make any huge structural changes.
So then, how can you upgrade a rental while working within a budget? There are many ways you can do it— you just have to pay attention to the details. Here are five possible ways you can go about upgrading your rental.
- Improve your lighting
Poor lighting in your living space can make it feel dim and gloomy, like you’re living in a cave. Replacing or enhancing the lighting in your rental is typically easy and inexpensive. Many standard light fixtures that come with a rental can simply be unscrewed and replaced.
However, if you want to improve your lighting but don’t want to go through the hassle of replacing the whole fixture, just replace the lightbulbs themselves. The brightness of a bulb can totally transform the feel of the room, and all you need to make the switch is a new lightbulb and your own two hands.
To really take it to the next level, try layering the light in your rental. Space out your lamps and arrange them at various heights to provide your space with a warm, even glow.
- Install new blinds or curtains
Rentals usually come with pretty bland window coverings already installed. To break up the monotony of a room’s walls and give it some character, consider hanging up some patterned curtains from Loft Curtains.
Hanging curtains is an easy way to upgrade your rental and add a splash of bold color to a room, giving it a renewed sense of life and energy.
You should also take functionality into account. Maybe you live in the city and have to deal with all sorts of lights penetrating through your window late at night. Installing black-out curtains can be a great solution, as they’ll block out the light and give you the darkness you need to get to sleep.
- Invest in a nice piece of furniture
It may be somewhat expensive upfront, but getting a piece of high-quality furniture is a good investment. If it’s well-crafted using solid materials, then a nice piece of furniture can last you a long time. It’s much better than dealing with cheap, low-quality furniture that’s uncomfortable and unpleasant to look at.
Also, if you spend too little on furniture, it’s unlikely that it’ll last you a very long time. You’ll have to keep buying new furniture to replace the cheap, old furniture, which can add up to a lot of money over time. So, when shopping for furniture, buy from established brand names with a reputation for quality, such as Lexington Furniture.
- Get a few plants
Getting some houseplants is a great and inexpensive way to brighten up a room. They reinvigorate the space by bringing a touch of nature to it. Plants can make a room feel more calm, serene, and comfortable.
Not only that, but having houseplants can benefit your mood as well. Several studies have suggested that houseplants can contribute to a positive mood and increased productivity, while at the same time reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Hang up prints and posters
Hanging up artwork on your walls allows you to express yourself and inject a little of your own personality into your living space. Artwork can also bring some texture and color to a room, making it more aesthetically appealing both to yourself and any future houseguests.
While original artwork can be expensive, you can generally get prints, posters, and other artwork at a very reasonable price. Look online on websites like AllPosters for prints of your favorite artist’s works, or posters depicting your favorite movies or musicians.
You can also visit thrift stores to find some offbeat vintage art, especially since some pieces found at these shops are already in a frame. Speaking of which, it’s always a nice touch to get a frame for any poster or print you purchase.
Those are just a few ways that you can upgrade your rental without going broke. In the end, you should tailor your space to what makes you happy. Focus on the details, since all the little things end up working together to form the whole.