One Cheap Way To Make A Rental Property Feel More Like Home

According to data from the United States Census Bureau, over 131 million housing units were occupied by renters in 2023. There are plenty of advantages to renting — a smaller initial investment, more flexibility when it comes to moving, decreased maintenance costs — but it also comes with a few downsides. Because rental properties have to stay marketable and appealing to future tenants, they're usually fairly bland inside. Unless you get prior approval from your landlord, they also don't offer many opportunities when it comes to customization. Thankfully, there's a rental-friendly DIY that can allow you to make your space feel more like your own that's reversible, impactful, and surprisingly inexpensive: changing up the lights.

When you move in to your rental property, there will already be light fixtures dotted throughout the space, but there are a few different ways that you can alter the setup to better align with your taste. Creative lighting can completely transform a room, so this is one of the simplest ways to make a big impact when you're limited by a rental agreement. Once it's time to move out, all you have to do is reverse your alterations back to the original. As long as there aren't any permanent changes or damages, you can rest assured that you'll receive your deposit back in full.

There are a few different ways to alter the lighting in your rental, but the easiest method by far is to swap out plain lightbulbs for something with more options for customization. Smart bulbs, like this Amazon Basics Smart A19 LED Light Bulb, connect to your Wi-Fi network and give you the opportunity to adjust the brightness and color of your lights through existing smart devices. It might seem like a simple switch, but changing the color of your lighting can completely alter the tone of your existing flooring and wall color to better align with your taste. Warm toned lighting, for example, can bring some life back to gray wood flooring and make it easier to pair with your existing furniture and decor.

If you're willing to put in a bit more work, you can also cover or replace your existing light fixtures so they better align with your taste. Brands like Tulip Shades carry light covers that are specifically designed to fit over and work in conjunction with ceiling lights, while many hanging lights can easily be modified with the addition of a shade. In certain situations, it's also possible to completely remove and replace your fixtures with something new, though it's best to err on the side of caution if this change requires complex installation. If you opt for this method, just remember to hang on to the old light and swap it back before moving out.