How to Decorate an Apartment for Rent Without Worrying About Repair

What is important and what is not very important? Where to invest and where to save? And what kind of decor to choose for an apartment that will be lived in by people with different tastes and preferences? We explain.

Choose neutral colors as the base

It is not advisable to use bright colors in the decoration of a rental apartment. First, this will narrow the number of potential tenants: not everyone is ready to live with orange walls or red-green tiles in the bathroom.

And secondly, it will be more difficult (and more expensive) to select furniture and decor for such an interior. It is better if the main colors are white, beige, or cream tones. They combine with any color accents and also visually make the space look larger and cleaner.

Design: Evgenia Lebedeva

Choose easy-to-maintain materials

No wallpapers on the walls! Only practical washable paint or decorative plaster that is not affected by dirt or scratches. By the way, plaster can be applied yourself, and no need to thoroughly prepare the walls.

Design: Oxana Savchuk and Irina Baklanova

Lay durable flooring

Flooring is one of the main cost items, but it's worth it. Quality floor materials set the tone for the entire interior and last much longer than imitations.

A winning combination is a parquet board that can always be sanded to perfect condition, and durable ceramic granite in “wet” zones.

Design: Evgenia Lebedeva

Don’t cut corners on the kitchen

The most important thing in kitchen furniture is a reliable profile, and it’s not necessarily natural wood. Solid wood is very capricious and can deform due to water or temperature changes.

It’s better to choose tested MDF. And for it, matte doors in white or “wood-like” color — the easiest to maintain.

Design: Olga Kalitina

Plan storage spaces

If there is no space for a full wardrobe, make it a niche behind the doors or a platform under the bed. This way you free up space in the apartment — often, tenants already have a minimal set of furniture and this gives them the opportunity to remove rarely used or seasonal items from the interior.

Design: Ksenia Konovalova

Purchase affordable furniture

Unlike finishing materials, furniture may need to be replaced several times, so it’s not worth looking for exclusive items; choose something from mass-market.

Yes, and don’t overdo it by filling every corner with furniture. Buy only what is necessary: a sofa for the living room, a bed for the bedroom, and a TV stand.

Design: Tatiana Petrova

Don’t skimp on plumbing

All communications, all connections and toilet installation are sealed in gypsum board and covered with tiles. Even the smallest leak — you’ll have to tear everything down.

But you don’t need to spend on finishing. For example, for this bathroom Olga Kalitina chose the simplest and cheapest tiles in three different shades and complemented them with gold mixers and brass countertops — this solution looks elegant and very expensive — take note!

Design: Olga Kalitina

Make the bedroom isolated

Even if it’s a small studio, it’s better to have both a bed and a sofa in the room. This way you not only conveniently divide the space into private and public zones, but also create an opportunity to find some privacy when needed. Walls don’t need to be built — just as in the example, light curtains are enough.

Design: Tatiana Petrova

Limit decor to a minimum

It’s not worth decorating an apartment you won’t live in with your personal taste decor. A few pictures and original lamps for ambiance will be enough. Leave the shelves free — tenants will find something to put there.

Design: Olga Kalitina