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A Veranda report outlines five designer recommendations for making a rental feel more personal without committing to major renovations: assess the apartment’s limits, talk with the landlord, improve curtains, avoid overspending on features you cannot change, and choose furniture that can move with you. The advice comes from designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson; it is guidance, not a report on new rental rules or a measured study of design outcomes.
Veranda has published five designer recommendations for making a rental feel more like home without relying on major renovations that could conflict with a lease. Designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson advise renters to work with the apartment’s existing conditions, ask landlords before making changes, invest selectively in window treatments and furniture, and favor pieces they can take to a future home.
The report’s first recommendation is to start with the apartment itself, rather than designing around an idealized image. Renters should consider room dimensions, available light, doorway sizes and which items can move with them. A compact sofa and movable chairs may work better in a small living room, while a dim bedroom may benefit more from layered lighting than from another decorative accessory. Thompson’s advice is not to correct every flaw, but to identify what already works and build on it.
Second, renters can ask the landlord about proposed changes. Thompson says a landlord may approve projects such as painting cabinets, changing a light fixture or adding trim, particularly when the renter expects to stay. Permission matters: the report does not suggest that tenants should make these alterations without checking their lease or getting approval.
Third, Keenan and Thompson point to window treatments as a way to make rooms feel more finished. Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats to ready-made curtains or hanging them from rings. Thompson says curtains can add softness and personality and may be taken to a future home. The fourth and fifth recommendations are to avoid spending heavily to disguise features that cannot be changed, and to choose adaptable, durable furniture—such as a sofa, chair, chest, lamp or table—that can serve in another space later.
A More Portable Rental Setup
The advice addresses a common constraint of renting: residents may want a more personal space but have limited control over permanent finishes. Its central practical point is to direct spending toward improvements that can travel or meaningfully affect daily life, rather than costly work on a feature that may remain unchanged or need to be restored at move-out.
That distinction can help renters weigh both immediate comfort and longer-term value. Curtains, lamps and furniture can change how a room feels without requiring the same commitment as a renovation. Meanwhile, talking with a landlord can clarify whether a desired alteration is permitted and whether the owner is willing to approve it. The article offers design guidance, not financial advice or a guarantee that a landlord will agree.
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The Five Recommendations
The source report, published by Veranda, draws on interviews with designers Fran Keenan and Mackin Thompson. It frames the recommendations around a tension familiar to renters: apartments may have floors, lighting or wall colors that do not match a resident’s preferences, while leases and move-out plans can limit what is sensible to change.
The five tips are connected by a preference for selective, adaptable choices: assess the actual space; seek permission for larger alterations; improve curtains; limit spending on unchangeable features; and choose furnishings that can move. The report gives examples rather than a ranked list or a universal budget plan. It does not specify costs, lease terms, or how common landlord approvals are.
““I don’t think you need to fix everything.””
— Mackin Thompson, interior designer
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Lease Rules and Costs Vary
The report does not provide typical costs, a budget range or evidence comparing outcomes for the suggested upgrades. It also does not establish how likely landlords are to approve changes. Approval depends on the individual property, lease and landlord; renters should check their own agreement and obtain permission before altering fixtures, finishes or built-in features.
It remains a matter of personal circumstances which purchases will be worth carrying to a future home. A piece that is durable may still be difficult to move or may not suit a later layout. The article offers designer judgment and examples, not a guarantee that any item will fit, last for a particular period or increase a rental’s value.
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Check Before Making Changes
For renters applying the advice, the next steps are practical: measure rooms and doorways, note natural light and existing constraints, and decide which changes can be reversed or moved. Before painting, changing a fixture or adding trim, review the lease and ask the landlord for approval, preferably with a clear description of the proposed work.
The report does not announce a formal program or future update. Its recommendations can be adapted to each apartment, budget and lease, with renters choosing whether to begin with curtains, lighting, movable furniture or a conversation with the property owner.
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Key Questions
What is the first thing to do when personalizing a rental?
Assess the apartment you have: measure the rooms and doorways, notice how much natural light each space receives, and identify which features can or cannot be changed. The report recommends letting those conditions guide furniture and lighting choices.
Should renters ask their landlord before painting or changing a fixture?
Yes. Thompson recommends discussing proposed changes with the landlord. Renters should also check their lease and get permission before altering cabinets, light fixtures, trim or other parts of the property.
What curtain changes do the designers suggest?
Keenan suggests adding pinch pleats to ready-made curtains or hanging curtains from rings rather than using a basic pole pocket. Thompson says window treatments can make a room feel more finished and can move with the renter.
What should renters avoid spending heavily on?
Thompson advises against spending a lot to disguise a feature that cannot be changed, such as cabinets a renter dislikes. She suggests considering smaller changes, like new hardware or a landlord-approved paint job, and putting more of the budget toward items that add personality.
Which furnishings may be useful beyond one rental?
The designers recommend considering durable, adaptable pieces such as a sofa, chair, chest, lamp or table. Whether a specific item will suit a future home depends on its size, condition and the renter’s next space.
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