Apartment Decorating That Won't Risk Your Security Deposit

Decorating your home is a very personal undertaking but when you live in an apartment, it's subject to the restrictions set out in your lease. You still want the living room, bedroom, and even the kitchen to feel like it's your home but if you start chipping away at the walls or applying a new paint color, you may be putting your security deposit at risk.

To help you protect your deposit, you can decorate without damaging your apartment, it just takes a few upcycling ideas to make the magic happen!

Why Upcycle to Decorate Your Apartment?

Is upcycling the same as recycling? No, upcycling is not the same as the trash you toss into the recycle bin or bag. Upcycling is about taking old furniture, bits of unused fabric, or even an old picnic basket and finding ways of repurposing these items so that you can enjoy unique decor while saving money. These repurposed items also don't involve painting the walls or knocking nails into the walls so you won't have to be concerned about your deposit.

One thing you should always consider when decorating is the lease. Give it a read before you add any furniture, remove the carpets, or toss the old accessories to prevent compromising your refund.

Let's start with a few upcycling ideas...

Old and Broken Chairs

If you have a vintage chair that you don't know where to place, giving it a makeover and a new purpose can do wonders for your space.

Give a wooden chair a new look by sanding the old varnish and paint, and upgrading it with a new chestnut or cherry varnish or a brand new coat of paint. Gray and white are popular neutral shades but if you want a stand-out conversation piece then paint your old chair in bright blue, green, or yellow for impact. Seats with a cushion can also be replaced with an updated fabric making them look brand new without spending too much money.

To add some drama to your home, spray paint old furniture such as chairs, coffee tables, or dressers in metallic paint. If a beautiful metallic sheen is not for you, think about chalk paint and distress the surface for a naturally aged appearance.

Use Glass Jars for Storage

Did you know that a normal glass honey jar or mason jar is perfect for storing your odds and ends? It also makes a great bathroom tumbler rather than pay for these bathroom extras?

You can paint the jars, tie a ribbon around it, or you can fill it with beach sand and shells if you love the sea! You can also use your empty jars to store spices, cookies, and other odds and ends in your kitchen!

Add Patio or Indoor Plants

Small pots are inexpensive to buy and you can use these planters to grow your own seeds including herbs and flowers. Even if you have a broken terracotta pot, you can use the pieces to create a miniature cactus garden. Driftwood is another way to add succulents to the patio or yard.

Why Read Your Lease to Decorate?

Your lease provides a set of rules and regulations that tenants must abide by for the duration of the lease. If you paint and it says that tenants cannot paint or change the walls, then you're in contravention of the lease. By understanding your lease or speaking to the landlord, you will know exactly where your limits are and you can better protect your security deposit.

You can decorate your apartment, it just takes some knowledge of the lease and a little bit of creativity to reuse what you have, rather than spend money on buying new items.

You can find old or vintage furniture at craft markets, yard sales, and used furniture stores. Pick pieces that offer form and function so that it not only looks great in your apartment but offers storage, seating, or another purpose.

Decorating is about finding ways of improving your space but in an apartment, it's also about using your imagination without creating permanent changes.

When you're prepared, you can decorate an apartment with confidence!