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Veranda’s report features designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson on five ways renters can make a space feel more personal: work with the apartment’s constraints, discuss changes with the landlord, improve window treatments, limit spending on features that cannot be changed, and choose movable pieces. The advice is design guidance, not a report of new rental rules or a guarantee that a landlord will approve alterations.
Veranda’s rental-design report presents five recommendations from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson for making a rented home feel more personal without major renovations: assess the space as it is, ask the landlord before making changes, invest in window treatments, avoid overspending on features you cannot alter, and choose pieces that can move with you. The advice matters to renters balancing comfort and style with lease restrictions and the prospect of moving.
The designers’ first recommendation is to start with the apartment’s actual layout and conditions rather than copying an inspirational image. Room size, natural light, doorways, and what can be taken at the end of a lease all affect which choices will work. A compact living room, for example, may suit a smaller sofa and movable chairs better than a large sectional; a dim bedroom may benefit more from layered lighting than another decorative object.
Ask before making alterations, Thompson advises. She says a landlord may allow changes such as painting cabinets, replacing a light fixture, or adding trim, particularly when a renter plans to stay for a while. Approval is not assured, and renters should check their lease and get permission before changing the property.
For upgrades, Keenan recommends giving off-the-rack curtains a more finished appearance with pinch pleats or rings. Thompson says window treatments can add softness and personality and can be moved to another home. She also advises spending less on temporary fixes for features a renter cannot change, while considering adaptable furnishings and distinctive pieces, such as antiques, that may suit future homes too.
Design Choices That Can Move
The recommendations address a common constraint in renting: residents want their homes to feel personal, but may have limited control over permanent finishes. Focusing on portable furnishings and window treatments can make a space feel more complete while leaving options open when a lease ends. The approach also encourages renters to put money toward items they expect to use beyond one apartment, rather than investing heavily in a temporary workaround.
The advice is not a substitute for a lease or landlord approval. Painting, installing trim, and changing fixtures may affect the property or involve safety and building requirements. Renters need to confirm what is permitted before work begins; the designers’ suggestions do not establish that any particular alteration is allowed.
removable window treatments for rentals
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Five Principles for Rental Decorating
The report frames rental decorating as a matter of working within a home’s limits rather than trying to erase every feature a renter dislikes. Thompson says some imperfections do not need to be fixed; renters can identify what already works and build around it. That means observing the space first, including its light, dimensions, and practical constraints.
The five principles are to assess the apartment before shopping, talk with the landlord about possible changes, prioritize window treatments, avoid costly efforts to disguise unchangeable features, and choose furniture and objects that can adapt to another home. The source names Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson as the designers behind the recommendations. It does not provide cost estimates, a survey of renters, or evidence that these ideas produce the same results in every apartment.
““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
Permission and Costs Vary
The report does not say whether any landlord will approve a particular alteration, or what conditions a renter should expect if permission is granted. It also gives no prices for curtains, furnishings, or upgrades and does not quantify how much the suggested changes might affect a room. Renters should check their own lease and get written permission where needed before modifying a property.
Whether an item can move easily to another home depends on its size, condition, and fit with a future space. The report presents portability as a design consideration, not a guarantee that a purchase will remain suitable or retain its value. No broader policy change or new rental standard is reported.
Check the Lease Before Changing
For renters applying the advice, the next step is to measure rooms and entryways, consider available light, and decide which furnishings can serve more than one layout. Before painting, replacing fixtures, or adding trim, they should review the lease and ask the landlord what is permitted. The source does not announce a follow-up event or timetable; any decision about alterations will depend on the renter’s agreement and the landlord’s response.
Key Questions
What are the five designer recommendations for making a rental feel like home?
Assess the apartment first, ask the landlord about changes, improve window treatments, avoid overspending on features you cannot alter, and choose pieces that can move with you.
Can renters paint cabinets or change light fixtures?
Thompson recommends asking the landlord, but the report does not say these changes are automatically allowed. Check the lease and get approval before altering the property.
How can renters make ready-made curtains look more finished?
Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats or hanging curtains from rings rather than relying on a basic pole pocket. The report does not provide a price comparison for these options.
Which items do the designers suggest taking to a future home?
Thompson names adaptable furnishings such as a sofa, chair, chest, lamp, or table. Whether a specific piece will suit another home depends on its size and the new space.
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