
Weekend decorator: How to make a rental unit feel more like home
Dear Virginie,
Article content
I rent a lovely house but hate the feeling that it isn't 'ours,' given the cabinets, flooring, fixtures and blinds all came with the place. What changes can I make to freshen it up and make it feel more custom for our family without doing anything to irritate our landlords?
Article content
Article content
Paint is the obvious first choice. I wouldn't tackle anything like trim or doors — it's too much work — but a quick coat on a wall can go a long way towards changing the look of a room, or even the whole house. Generally, landlords don't love really dark walls, so if that's what you want, be prepared to spend a lot of time repainting when you leave. (You'll often be required to return the walls to their original colour; and some leases will specify that you need to ask the landlord for clearance before you paint.) And don't paint anything that is wood without asking first – my guess is you'll get a hard no to that. Ditto the ceilings, unless you're willing to paint them basic white again before you leave.
Article content
Article content
Article content
You may be surprised to learn that, once the painting's done, you can actually change hanging light fixtures. Remember to photograph the old one and keep it so you can replace it before you move out. Again, check with the landlord to make sure they don't want you to hire a licensed electrician to make the switch, but replacing chandeliers and pendants with new cheap and cheerful ones (or maybe not even cheap, since you can take them with you) will go a long way towards adding your own touch to your home.
Article content
Curtains would be my next piece of advice. If your place already has curtain rods, you're in luck. You just need to find some ready-made panels that match your style and replace whatever was there when you moved in. If not, invest in some nice curtain rods and curtains to frame your windows. Choose heavy fabrics like lined linen panels for a custom look, and make sure they hang to the floor. It's better to buy longer ones and have them altered at the dry cleaners — and ask them to hem them without cutting off the length, in case you have higher ceilings in your next place. A living room, dining room and bedroom will look amazing with floor-to-ceiling drapes. If you're a modernist, choose plain fabrics, and if you're a maximalist, go wild with pattern. You can easily remove the rods and patch, sand and paint any holes when you leave.
Article content
Article content
Article content
The kitchen and bathroom are harder to make your own. In the bathroom, you can always replace a shower curtain. If you can find handles and knobs that line up with the existing holes in your cabinetry, you can change those, too. Make sure to photograph and keep the old ones to replace them when you leave. There isn't much you can do though if you hate the cupboards and counters in your kitchen and bathroom. If they are badly dated or damaged, you may be able to strike a deal with the landlord to have them painted or changed, or split the cost of updating them, but that is money you won't get back. If you're really feeling ambitious, you could apply peel and stick wallpaper over the cabinets, but make sure to try it out in a small area before committing to the whole project.
Article content
Article content
Another fun use for peel-and-stick wallpaper in a rental is to use it to create a feature wall. Again, try it out in an inconspicuous spot to make sure you can safely remove it without damaging the existing wall. Peel-and-stick works best on smooth, somewhat glossy paint. It definitely will not work on stucco walls, textured walls or walls that already have wallpaper on them.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBC
17-07-2025
- CBC
#TheMoment an ancient spearhead was unearthed on a family farm
Laura Vellenga tells The National about the moment her family discovered pieces of a rare ancient spearhead on their farm that could date back to 10,000 BC.


CTV News
15-07-2025
- CTV News
Roman-era mosaic panel with erotic theme that was stolen during World War II returns to Pompeii
Restorers set on display a Roman mosaic depicting a pair of lovers, which was repatriated from Germany, in Pompeii archeological park, Italy, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) POMPEII, Italy — A mosaic panel on travertine slabs, depicting an erotic theme from the Roman era, was returned to the archeological park of Pompeii on Tuesday, after being stolen by a Nazi German captain during World War II. The artwork was repatriated from Germany through diplomatic channels, arranged by the Italian Consulate in Stuttgart, Germany, after having been returned from the heirs of the last owner, a deceased German citizen. The owner had received the mosaic as a gift from a Wehrmacht captain, assigned to the military supply chain in Italy during the war. The mosaic — dating between mid- to last century B.C. and the first century — is considered a work of 'extraordinary cultural interest,' experts said. 'It is the moment when the theme of domestic love becomes an artistic subject,' said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii and co-author of an essay dedicated to the returned work. 'While the Hellenistic period, from the fourth to the first century B.C., exulted the passion of mythological and heroic figures, now we see a new theme.' The heirs of the mosaic's last owner in Germany contacted the Carabinieri unit in Rome that's dedicated to protecting cultural heritage, which was in charge of the investigation, asking for information on how to return the mosaic to the Italian state. Authorities carried out the necessary checks to establish its authenticity and provenance, and then worked to repatriate the mosaic in September 2023. The collaboration with the Archaeological Park of Pompeii was also key, as it made it possible to trace it to near the Mount Vesuvius volcano, despite the scarcity of data on the original context of its discovery, the Carabinieri said. The panel was then assigned to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii where, suitably catalogued, it will be protected and available for educational and research purposes. 'Today's return is like healing an open wound,' Zuchtriegel said, adding that the mosaic allows to reconstruct the story of that period, the first century AD, before Pompeii was destroyed by the Vesuvius eruption in AD 79. The park's director also highlighted how the return by the heirs of its owner signals an important change in 'mentality,' as 'the sense of possession (of stolen art) becomes a heavy burden.' 'We see that often in the many letters we receive from people who may have stolen just a stone, to bring home a piece of Pompeii,' Zuchtriegel said. He recalled the so-called 'Pompeii curse,' which according to a popular superstition hits whoever steals artifacts in Pompeii. The world-known legend suggests that those who steal finds from the ancient city of Pompeii will experience bad luck or misfortune. That has been fuelled over the years by several tourists who return stolen items, claiming they brought them bad luck and caused tragic events. ___ Zampano reported from Rome. Giada Zampano And Andrea Rosa, The Associated Press


CTV News
14-07-2025
- CTV News
Leaders of Holy Land churches condemn Israeli settler violence during a West Bank visit
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa arrives at the Vatican, May 5, 2025, to attend the General Congregation of cardinals in the New Synod Hall. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)