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Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Alaina
Spruce up your rental property to match the holiday charm by getting creative with your festive DIY and damage-free decorations. Aside from getting you into a celebratory mood, decorating for the holidays can make your house more cozy during a time when family and friends like to get together. Unfortunately, decking the halls could also wreck it by chipping the paint, leaving scratch marks, and even damaging furniture.
As a result, landlords are often restrictive on what changes tenants can make to avoid needless repairs that can reduce the property’s value. That’s why I’ve put together the perfect guide on how to create a festive ambiance without rental property damage, so you can decorate without losing your security deposit.
Choose Damage-Free Decorations
One of the easiest ways to avoid rental property damage is to use damage-free decorations. Stay away from decorations that require you to nail, screw, or force them into your walls or ceilings. Check your lease to see what decorations are allowed in your rental.
As a rule of thumb, if you’re set on mounting something, opt for temporary solutions like adhesive hooks, suction cups, or command strips that don’t leave marks on your walls. Remember to keep the items lightweight, or below the recommended load-bearing capacity of your stick-on hooks. The last thing you want is your fragile decorations falling to the ground, or worse scratching the walls and floors as they tumble.
On the other hand, you can also install floating shelves or buy a modular bookshelf that allows you to display your seasonal ornaments without the fear of them falling.
Get Creative with Lighting
Don’t underestimate the power of lighting in setting the right mood in your home. You’ll be surprised how quickly the right light can take a room from boring to cozy and homely with just a flick. For instance, hanging up fairy lights can make your home seem like a winter wonderland, and glowing lanterns can add a rustic charm to your house.
You can also easily find other lightning options online in different festive designs such as snowflakes, candy canes, and Santa’s sled. Beyond instantly giving your home more festive charm, LED options are especially practical because they consume less electricity which tends to run higher during the holiday season.
Avoid Permanent Changes
Keep your security deposit intact by opting for temporary damage-free decorations that preserve your rental’s integrity. If you’re trying to achieve a total makeover it can be tempting to make drastic changes like repainting an entire wall. However, this decision can easily backfire if it violates your lease agreement, so skip permanent changes in favor of temporary additions like peel-and-stick wallpaper or removable wall decals.
These damage-free decoration options come in such versatile designs, that you can even select a more festive backdrop like a winter wonderland or Santa’s grotto. Then when the holidays are over, you can easily remove them, roll them up, and store them until next year.
Emergency Preparedness Plan for Landlords and Tenants
Use a Safety Checklist
Conduct regular inspections to ensure your property remains in top-notch condition. With so much cooking, candles, and lights, the holiday season comes with more than just cheer, there’s also the increased risk of fires. As a result, it’s essential for landlords to follow a safety checklist that ensures your smoke alarms, fire extinguisher, and carbon monoxide detectors are working.
For tenants, ask your local property manager in Philadelphia about steps to take in case an emergency takes place. Generally, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit with flashlights, batteries, and water in case of a power outage or bad weather.
Create an Emergency Contact List
Keep a list of emergency contacts handy that can make it easier for tenants to call the right people when they need help. Besides local police, fire department, and medical services, you can also include technicians like plumbers and electricians for minor problems.
Remember to share this list with your tenants, and give them a direct run-through on how to approach emergencies. For renters, it’s essential to follow the right steps to report faulty equipment or emergencies, so your landlord can quickly make repairs.
Conclusion
Add more charm to your home by breaking out your holiday decorations. However, if you’re a tenant it’s essential to ensure you can create a festive ambiance by using damage-free decorations to avoid property damage. These items are less likely to leave a mark, and you can easily pack and store them away for next season.
The last thing you want during the holidays is your landlord taking a big chunk out of your security deposit or sending you a bill for repairs because your decorations scratched the walls or chipped the paint.
Lightning also goes a long way in creating the right mood, so splurge on decorative fairy lights and other festive decor that light up your rooms. If you’re looking to go all out, you can even opt for holiday-themed temporary wallpaper and removable decals. In the midst of decorating, remember to use a safety checklist and keep your emergency contact list close.