Why Collaborating with an Interior Designer is Key to Improving the Quality of Your Rental Apartment

As a renter, it can be challenging to create a space that truly feels like your own: Rental apartments often come with limitations, such as restrictions on painting walls or hanging artwork. You also might not be inclined to spend a huge amount of money on a space that you don’t own. This doesn’t mean, however, that there is nothing that you can do to improve your rental. Collaborating with an interior designer who is experienced in working within these parameters will help you elevate the look and feel of your apartment while being cognizant of the boundaries. About 25% of our clients at B Squared Design are renters! Here are several tried and true methods that we use to improve their homes:

Maximizing space + storage:

An interior designer will be able to help you make the most of your rental apartment's layout, regardless of its size. We take extensive measurements and choose furniture and accessories that precisely fit the space in order to create the most functional and useable interior. So many of the rooms that we deal with in Hong Kong (or any other big city for that matter) have a common issue: severe lack of storage space. We find creative solutions for housing our clients’ belongings, such as custom built-in shelving or storage ottomans. We are constantly coming up with new ways to deal with the clutter that so often comes with apartment living.

Adding personality + creating a cohesive design:

An interior designer will help you inject a bland, boring space with personality and character, even if you aren’t allowed to make any major changes like tearing down walls or updating bathrooms. We choose artwork, accessories, and furniture that reflect your sensibilities and style, and choose colors, patterns, and textures for furniture that complement each other. We are magicians at creating a harmonious look that also fits the lifestyle of those who inhabit the apartment (e.g. kids, pets, elderly).

Working within your budget + making impactful temporary changes:

You yourself might not know them, but interior designers make sure that all changes are compliant with both the building’s regulations and the landlord’s rules. It is important to follow the lease terms when making design suggestions, so that our clients don’t run into issues later. In addition, we also propose numerous temporary changes that can easily be removed to reinstate the rental back to its original condition upon vacating. Some examples of this are: adding wallpaper, painting feature walls, hanging new curtains, adding new light fixtures, and installing temporary flooring.

Saving time (and money):

Designing a space on your own can be a time-consuming and expensive process. Most likely you don’t want to spend weeks sourcing items or spend an enormous sum on furnishings for a space that you don’t own. An interior designer will help you avoid costly mistakes and can help you find best prices on furniture and decor. We also have access to a wide range of resources that are not available to the general public, including access to custom furniture, unique decor items, and trade discounts.

Working with an interior designer can help you create a rental apartment that feels like home by maximizing your space, creating a cohesive design, and adding personality and character to your space. Best of all, an interior designer will work within your limitations as a renter to create a space that reflects your own personal style and meets your needs.

Ready to get your own rental makeover started? Schedule a Discovery Call with us and we’ll show you how smooth and fun the project will be!