PCS season means military families have been uprooted again and are in new homes across the world. The homes come in various sizes of small apartments in Germany to four story townhouses in Alexandria. The varying sizes and layouts of the homes provide another opportunity to make the new house a home. When it is a rental, you have to consider what changes can be temporary and easily removed, or ask for permission from the landlord to make the changes more permanent. Here are some ideas.
Removable Wallpaper
Wallpaper that can be repositioned easily is a total win. It adds a temporary change that is easily removed while adding personalization. This is a total win in the kitchen if you do not have a backsplash – just peel it off when you go to leave and viola! – clean walls! Want to make an accent wall? Try it with wallpaper! Again, it is removed easily because of the type of wallpaper it is. This may not work on textured walls as well, so keep that in mind as you plan your changes.
Wall Stickers
Especially for children’s rooms or an accent area, wall stickers are great because they are like removable wallpaper – they can be repositioned easily, and are often small enough that it will stick to textured walls. They can add personality quickly, easily, and for a relatively affordable price all with the ability to change it up again when desired.
Curtains
Adding curtains adds privacy, savings on heat and air conditioning, and makes a house feel more like home. Now, not all windows are the same size and with moving into homes of varying sizes, the window sizes will change too. Try to use what curtains you had before if you can – if the window is smaller than your curtains, consider hanging up a curtain rod higher to give the look of a taller window. This isn’t always easier said than done, but it is certainly better for the budget to use what you have.
Outdoor Garden
Whether you have a patio, deck, or yard, having an outdoor space without the clutter of boxes or pictures laying against the wall helps in helping to make a house a home. Buying plants can add up over the visits to the home improvement store, so finding a Buy Nothing or Freecycle group is a great way to get cuttings of plants like succulents or herbs like Rosemary where plants can be regrown from the cuttings. A bonus that gardening is a known stress reliever is the perfect treatment for the post-PCS season.
Change up Kitchen Knobs
An affordable changeover in the kitchen is swapping out the kitchen knobs. If the knobs are broken or covered in years of grime that won’t come clean, it is sometimes less time-consuming to change out the kitchen knobs. It can brighten a place easily.
Remove Cabinet Doors
If you aren’t a fan of the cabinet doors in your rental, consider removing them altogether and storing them. Open cabinets and shelving are a trend right now. You can even add removable wallpaper to the back of the shelves to add more personalization.
Indoor Plants
Just like having a place to “escape” to outside, adding an indoor plant adds greenery, air, and light to the space. An indoor tree in the entryway makes it feel more welcoming.
Change up the Shower Heads
The standard shower heads in most rental homes are the basic contractor shower head. Adding a removable shower head makes for both a more enjoyable shower and an easier way to clean the shower.
Change up Light Covers
Apartment complexes and on-base housing alike have the same lighting fixtures. Mixing up the lighting with different light covers adds ambiance and personalization. If you totally remove the light fixture, make sure to save the old one in a spot you will remember so you can swap it out again before you move.
Change up the Light Bulbs
The standard light bulbs aren’t just bright and, in your face, but also draining on the electricity bill. Switch to LED bulbs that will make your pocketbook happier and prevent brassy lighting.
Under Cabinet Lighting
There are lighting strips that can be mounted by adhesive strips, which can be removed easily with the next move. These are typically battery operated so do not require any wiring or drilling, and can be easily turned on with a motion sensor or pressing. The lighting change adds ambient lighting and makes chopping or reading from a recipe book a lot easier.
What are your favorite ways to personalize your new rental?
