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A Veranda report gathers five rental-design tips from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson: plan around the apartment’s actual limits, ask the landlord before making changes, and invest in pieces that can move with you. Their advice is guidance, not a guarantee that landlords will approve alterations or that an upgrade will suit every lease.
Veranda has published five rental-design tips from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson, focused on making an apartment feel more personal without taking on major renovations that could conflict with a lease. Their recommendations include working with a home’s existing constraints, asking a landlord about possible changes, and choosing furnishings that can move to a future home.
The first recommendation is to assess the apartment itself before planning around inspirational images. Room size, available light, doorway dimensions and lease limits can shape what will work. A small living room, for instance, may be better suited to a compact sofa and movable chairs than a large sectional; a dim bedroom may benefit more from layered lighting than another decorative object. Thompson says renters do not need to correct every flaw and can instead build on features that already work, creating a more collected-feeling home.
The designers also advise renters to ask the landlord before making changes. Thompson says a landlord might agree to painting cabinets, changing a light fixture or adding trim, particularly when a tenant expects to stay for some time. That is advice to start a conversation, not confirmation that a particular alteration is permitted; renters should check their lease and obtain approval before proceeding.
For spending, Keenan and Thompson point to window treatments and reusable furnishings. Keenan suggests improving ready-made curtains with pinch pleats or rings, while Thompson says well-chosen curtains can add softness and move with the tenant. She recommends avoiding expensive fixes for features that are difficult to change, such as unwanted kitchen cabinets, and instead considering smaller updates such as hardware. Thompson also favors personal, lasting pieces—such as an antique table, sofa, chair, lamp or chest—over disposable purchases made only to fit the current apartment.
Spend on Pieces That Can Move
The advice addresses a practical tension for renters: they want a home to reflect their tastes, but may have limited control over its finishes and cannot assume that renovation costs will benefit them over the long term. The designers’ approach separates portable investments from changes that depend on permission or are tied to one space.
That distinction can help renters make choices with both daily comfort and a future move in mind. Curtains, lighting and adaptable furniture may improve a current room while remaining useful elsewhere. By contrast, major alterations or costly attempts to conceal a fixed feature may be harder to justify without landlord approval or a longer stay.
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Designing Around a Rental Lease
The Veranda report frames renting as a set of design constraints: floors, lighting and wall colors may not match a tenant’s preferences, while a lease can limit renovations. It presents the designers’ recommendations as ways to personalize a space without assuming full ownership, rather than a checklist of changes every renter can make.
The source identifies Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson as the designers consulted. It gives examples of their advice, including Keenan’s use of IKEA linen drapes in her daughter’s apartment, but does not provide a broader survey or research showing how renters generally use these strategies.
“I don’t think you need to fix everything. Sometimes you just need to find the things that are already good and just give them a little more love.”
— Mackin Thompson, designer
landlord-approved window treatments
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Lease Terms Still Set Limits
The report does not establish whether any particular landlord will approve a proposed alteration, or what conditions an approval might carry. Lease terms and local requirements vary, so the article’s suggestion to ask is not a substitute for checking the agreement and getting permission in writing where appropriate.
It also does not compare costs, set a budget for curtains or furniture, or claim that the recommended changes will raise property value or suit every apartment. The best choices depend on a renter’s space, finances, length of stay and ability to take items along at move-out.
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Check Before Making Changes
Renters considering an alteration can start by reviewing their lease and asking the landlord what is allowed before buying materials or hiring someone. For decorating that does not change the property, they can measure rooms and doorways, consider the available light, and prioritize items they expect to use after moving.
The report offers no scheduled follow-up or formal next step. Its practical sequence is to take stock of the apartment, confirm permissions, and direct spending toward adaptable improvements rather than assume that every design idea will be feasible.
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Key Questions
What are the five rental-design recommendations?
The report advises renters to start with the apartment’s actual conditions, talk with the landlord before making changes, invest in window treatments, avoid overspending on temporary fixes, and choose pieces that can move with them.
Can renters paint cabinets or change a light fixture?
Thompson says renters can ask their landlord about changes such as painting cabinets or replacing a fixture. Approval is not guaranteed; check the lease and get permission before doing the work.
How can ready-made curtains look more finished?
Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats or hanging curtains from rings rather than using a basic pole-pocket setup. She says she has used IKEA linen drapes in her daughter’s apartment.
Where do the designers suggest spending money?
They favor window treatments and durable, reusable furnishings that can improve daily life and move to another home. Thompson advises against spending heavily to disguise features a renter cannot readily change.
Source: rss
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