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Moving into a room or property for the first time can be a shock if you've just left your parents’ house. Especially when you start buying food and paying the bills. But also, because you're no longer surrounded by home comforts. It can feel strange and unsettling. This is why you need to make your new room feel like your own.
But how do you go about making your first rental property feel like home? If you're moving into somewhere new here are a few tips on how to settle in.
Before you do anything, you need to know if there are any restrictions in your tenancy agreement. Many landlords will put limitations on decorating. Your contract will spell out what you can or can't do. You may not be permitted to paint walls or even hang prints for example.
Other landlords will allow you free reign. Within reason of course. But do check your tenancy agreement carefully. If you break your contract either accidentally or by design, you (or your guarantor) could lose your security deposit. You could even risk eviction. So, it pays to be careful.
Making your room your own - and a home
Here are some quick-fire tips on how to quickly feel at home in your new rental room.
While you won't want to make a replica of your room at your parents' house strategically positioning some of your favourite objects from home will help you settle into your new rental room. We all have items we treasure for one reason or another. Keep your favourite things with you. It may be a photo or a holiday souvenir. Whatever it, or they, is keep them close and your room will begin to feel like a home.
You can make your room personal to you. Even if you're not allowed to paint. Curtains or blinds can be in your favourite colour and you can scatter cushions around. Choose bedding to reflect your personality. Pick the colours or designs that you like. After all, you don't have to please anyone but yourself.
Within the confines of your room and the restrictions of the tenancy agreement you can still express yourself. You can mount posters and pictures using new adhesive fixings which won't damage the walls. But you may still want to check with your landlord that these types of fixings are acceptable.
Most carpets in shared accommodation or even apartments tend to be neutral coloured, plain hardwearing cord. Not the most attractive of floor coverings. Make your flooring special and nicer to sit on with a soft colourful rug. It'll make a big difference to the look of your room.
If you’re in a single room it's easy to think there's little you can do to make it different or homely. But you'll be surprised at what you can achieve. There’s a growing obsession with small living spaces and there are countless TV series, books and YouTube videos dedicated to maximising space. Look online and you'll find plenty of tips and inspiration on how to turn a small room into a practical and exciting living area.
Tenants can find their ideal property faster with MakeUrMove the online letting platform bringing landlords and tenants together.
