Holiday Décor Tips for Renters
If you rent your home, it’s important to know how you’re allowed to decorate for the holidays. Your best bet is décor that doesn’t cause permanent damage to the rental.
Get the Do’s and Don’ts of holiday décor for your rental.
Do: Swap Screws for Suction Cups and Adhesive Hooks
Screws, nails and other permanent wall mounts leave holes in the wall when you take your decorations down. Try using suction cup hooks instead of screw hooks to hang lights around your window.
You can also swap screws for adhesive hooks and clips. Be sure to check that the adhesive doesn’t leave a mark on the wall.
Don’t: Leave Candles Unattended
Candles offer a great way to get in the holiday spirit. Choose your favorite holiday scent and enjoy the ambiance from the gentle flicker of the flame.
Candles also pose a huge fire hazard when left unattended. If you’re going to light a candle in your rental, never leave the room when it’s burning. You should also make sure to keep the open flame away from anything that’s flammable.
Do: Use Window Clings
Window clings and removable decals can be applied to any glass surface to make it a little more festive. Static helps hold the cling in place till you’re ready to take it down. They also come right off your windows after the holidays. There’s no residue to clean up and no damage to fix.
Don’t: Overload the Outlets
A lot of holiday decorations take electricity. If you plan to decorate with a lot of lights or other electronics, make sure you’re following the proper safety protocol. Never overload an outlet. Not only is this a fire hazard, but you could end up blowing a fuse and causing a loss of power to your unit and your neighbors. Be sure to unplug all electrical decorations before you leave home or go to bed.
Do: Check with Your Landlord if You’re Unsure
There’s a good chance your lease will tell you exactly what you can and can’t do to decorate your rental. If you’re unsure, however, always check with your landlord.
For example, you may want to decorate for Christmas with a real tree. Many apartment complexes have rules that prohibit real trees. As the holiday season wears on, real trees dry up and pose a fire risk.
Don’t: Stray from Good Neighbor Etiquette
It’s hard to stay quiet when you’re in the holiday spirit, but make sure you are being courteous of your neighbors. Anything that has a motion-sensor for sounds and lights should be left out of your rental holiday décor if you frequently have neighbors passing by. You should also remember to keep music and merrymaking to a minimum noise level late in the evening.
Go Ahead and Get Festive
There’s no reason to keep your apartment plain over the holidays. As long as you can decorate without causing damage to the rental or disturbing your neighbors, you can get as festive as you like.
