Decorating Rental Homes with Window Coverings

Rental properties have unique considerations when it comes to decorating. If you are an owner, you want something attractive that will bring in renters. But you also want decorations that are tough, that will last through several tenants, and don't cost more than the potential increase in rent they signal. Some owners opt to split the difference, and put the good custom shades in the "show" rooms (kitchen, bedroom, living room) and the standard cheap blinds in the laundry room, basement, second bathroom etc.

Renters have a completely different set of circumstances. They want to decorate their home, but since they do not own it, they are not about to invest a whole lot. Imagine if you spent thousands on window blinds then moved away in 6 months. Sometimes it can be hard for the renter and owner to agree on who should pay for blinds. Unless the renter is planning on packing up those shades when they move, having the renter pay is really not an option. However, buying custom window coverings can be positive for both parties.

It makes the home more attractive and allows it to be rented for more in the future. Any happy loyal tenants reduces turnover. Every week that a space is unrented is lost money. For custom shades, the big box hardware stores are out. All their blinds are prefabricated for pennies in poor conditions in foreign countries. Trying to fit a premade blind into a window frame can be a trying experience. Despite what you may think, there are no standard dimensions for windows, even replacement windows. Builders just follow the designs given to them by the architect, and even then all the frames might not have the exact same dimensions. Cellular shades can save money.

If you are buying a prefabricated blind, your only options would be to cut it down or use a smaller size. If you use a smaller size that is bound to leave gaps along the side, defeating the purpose of blind use for privacy, light control and insulation. If you cut the blind, well you have just created a custom blind, again defeating the purpose of having it be mass produced.

So if you are hanging window coverings in a whole house consider the custom approach. Buying custom blinds online is actually not that expensive. The cheapest option are vinyl blinds. These will not look good unless you get the right style to match your interior. Even then, these shades are fragile and may not be the best for rental properties. Faux wood blinds are a good alternative.