Genius Holiday Decorating Tips...for renter's

It's November, and how fitting this next blog post is, which just so happens to be a guest article, from Jim Williams, with On-Site Property Management.  For the month of October, my design topic was 'Planning For The Holidays'.  Keeping along that theme, but incorporating November's topic, 'Christmas', Jim shares with all of you some great holiday decorating ideas...for renter's.  


The holiday season is the time of the year when people are able to spend the most time with their family and friends. That’s when neighbors are friendliest, there are lots of gifts, plenty of food to share, and time away from the daily stress of life. And the buildup to the season is just as enjoyable as the holidays themselves; half the fun is the excitement of decorating your home. Many people relish the chance to go back to being children for just a few days of the year.


But when you live in a rented home, your experience may be a little different from the experience of someone living in their property. You are somewhat limited in the options you have for decorating the house, condo, or apartment.


You have to think about how your decorations could damage the landlord's property or affect other people in the building. Landlords are usually wary of tenants hanging ornaments on their property and often include this in the lease agreement.


From the point of view of a tenant, this clause could put a damper on your decorating ideas and make the holiday season a little less enjoyable. But from an owner's perspective, there are good reasons to do this.


Allowing tenants to put nails in the walls of a rental will damage and devalue their property. But just because your landlord has placed limitations on what you can do when decorating the home, he or she has not barred you from decorating altogether.


There are things you can do to get your home into the holiday season without violating the property owner's restrictions. Here are some important considerations and tips for when you are putting up holiday decorations in a rented apartment.


Keep your neighbors in mind



This is particularly important when you live in a multi-family rental or a condo. You have to think about how your decorations will affect other people in the building. But even if the rental is a single-family dwelling, considering neighbors' well-being is still important.


As a general rule, it is best to avoid decorations that obstruct pathways, disturb the peace, or anything that could fall on people. Be careful of motion-detecting ornaments that play music when someone passes, putting decorations on your balcony railing (they could fall and hurt someone), as well as low-hanging decorations that block the way.


Avoid fire and injury hazards
Decorative lights use electricity and that makes them a risk. There is a huge chance that your lights could start a fire or shock somebody. There is also a possibility that lights that are not firmly secured can get dislodged and become a tripping hazard.


The first step to ensuring that your holiday lights are safe is to buy quality lights; the cheap stuff may not have passed quality control. If the lights are going to be hung outside, make sure they are rated for outdoor use. Before you hang the lights and switch them on, make sure to test them first.


Do not damage the walls and doors
Many tenants take issue with their landlord's refusal to let them hang things on the walls using nails. They feel they are left with no way of placing their pictures, ornaments, or decals on the walls of the rental. But this is only because people assume that the only way to hang stuff on walls is by using nails. There are lots of options for placing decorations on the walls, doors, and, windows which do not involve making holes in the property. Here are a few of them.

• Suction hooks and clips

Suction hooks and clips will stick to any surface that is smooth, flat and clean. They can be used on glass, wood, or other smooth surfaces, in place of screw hooks. They are strong enough to hold lightweight decorations in place.

• Adhesive hooks

Adhesive hooks work the same way as suction cups; they can be used on any clean, smooth, and flat surface. After the holidays, you can peel them away without leaving any marks. Use them to hold stockings, wreaths, and strands of light.

• Frames for hanging lights​

This is a plastic frame that you press in place between the windowsill and the top jamb. They can be customized to fit any window size. And there are clips on the plastic frame for holding mini lights (not LEDs) in place.

• Brick clips

Brick clips are designed to hold heavier decorations in homes where there is a brick wall or fireplace. The metal clips grab onto the top and bottom parts of the brick without damaging the façade. They have two small hooks for hanging things lights, stockings, or wreaths.

• Window clings

Window clings use static electricity to adhere themselves to your windows. They are a great way to decorate windows and mirrors. They can be peeled away after use without leaving any marks.


We hope these tips will give you some holiday decorating ideas to enjoy your holidays in your rental. Have fun!


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