Decorating Tips That Won’t Ruin Your Security Deposit

The freedoms associated with living in an off campus student apartment are hard to ignore — spacious floor plans with private bedrooms and en suite bathrooms, fun-filled amenities perfect for an afternoon with friends, and a close-to-campus location surrounded by a plethora of shopping, dining, and entertainment options are just a few of the benefits that residents get to enjoy at The Quad at Delaware. So when it comes time to decorate your UMN housing, residents look for the best ways to add their own flair without causing lasting damages that will eat away at their security deposit. To save time and money when it comes time to move out, follow these tips from The Quad at Delaware to keep your space looking spiffy without leaving permanent damage.

Make Use Of Removable Decorations

When it comes to decorating, your first instinct might be to hang as many things as you can on the walls, and rightfully so — walls present a perfect canvas to show off your style without cluttering up the living space. Unfortunately, a good chunk of wall decorations requires the use of a hammer and nail to keep things properly hung, which can leave lasting holes throughout the apartment. To avoid leaving these cosmetic blemishes, utilize materials that can be taken down easily without causing hard-to-repair damages. Removable wallpaper, wall decals, and even certain kinds of stickers make for a great way to add a personal touch to your UMN off campus apartment and can be removed easily once it comes time to move out.

For a more practical decoration, curtains can help keep out unwanted light while also adding a bit of color to any room. And if you’re set on hanging up polaroid photos and decorative art pieces, then consider using a non-intrusive attachment method, such as sticky tack or Command hooks, as these can easily be removed without leaving holes in the wall.

Add Style Off The Walls

When it comes to decorating an apartment, sometimes a bit of creativity is needed. While most residents only make The Quad at Delaware a temporary living arrangement as they complete their degree at the University of Minnesota, that doesn’t mean they want to live in an impersonal, bland space. If the idea of adding décor to the walls isn’t appealing, don’t fret, there’s still plenty of ways to show off your style. Rugs, throw pillows, and bookcases are a great way to make a room your own while still providing an opportunity to show off your interests and personal taste. If practicality is your thing, glass storage containers throughout the kitchen are a sleek way to keep items like sugar or coffee stored and fresh. For those that love a bit of green in their life, a house plant or two can add a natural look to the room with the added benefit of keeping the air a bit fresher.

Incorporate More Lighting

While there’s certainly no shortage of natural lighting in our UMN student apartments, a bit of extra lighting can really add that extra brightness to make a room pop. Traditional standing lamps can help brighten an entire room, adding warmth to the space even when the sun goes down, while desk-side lamps can provide just enough light for a late-night reading session. If you’re a fan of more subtle, soft lights, then consider hanging string lights with command strips to give a faint glow to the room or stick LEDs to the underside of a desk to add some exciting colors to your living space. Whether you’re looking for a casual warm glow or want to keep the place bright and full of life, the right set of lights can make a home personal without jeopardizing the security deposit.

Rearrange The Furniture

Sometimes adding a bunch of knickknacks isn’t necessary to spruce up the living space in your UMN apartment. In many cases, simply rearranging the layout of the furniture throughout your home can revitalize a living space and make it feel fresh again. Try swapping around the direction the bed faces or moving the TV to a different space in the living room and see if that satisfies the redecorating urge. As always, be careful as you move furniture, as it can be easy to accidentally chip paint off the walls or damage the furniture, which can directly hurt your security deposit, especially if your apartment comes pre-furnished. Whether choosing to entirely redecorate or just refresh the area, it’s important to keep go slow and be careful.

Have questions on what can hurt your security deposit? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about The Quad at Delaware!