Painting your high-rise rental apartment

Upgrade your Hamilton high-rise apartment space

The common question people ask when moving in to a new place is “can I paint my rented apartment? Most of the time landlords will be okay with you painting your high-rise rental apartment. This could be a win-win situation for you both as long as you choose a versatile, neutral color. Choose a nice shade of white, or a neutral tan color for your apartment and your landlord will probably be more happy. Sometimes darker paint colors or shades may be harder to paint over by the next tennant.

Landlord appreciation

Many landlords may even thank—or reimburse—you for putting your labor and money into improving their property if they’re pleased with the way it turns out. That said, doing anything that conflicts with what’s in the lease still puts you in danger of losing your security deposit—or worse—so renovate at your own risk. If you are interested in staying longer than your lease and making it more permanent it should be discussed with the landlord or property management. When you move in get the name and brand of the original paint color from your landlord. This may come in handy when it is apartment moving time.

Wallpaper or paint?

More and more people are choosing wallpapers as apposed to painting their high-rise rental apartment. Wallpapers are easy to remove. There are some peel-and-stick varieties that don’t leave an adhesive residue, but then there are also “paste the wall” varieties, which can be peeled off in sheets by hand rather than the troublesome wallpaper steamer.

Kitchen cupboards and drawers

If your kitchen cabinets are really dated—say, a mustard tone or that ubiquitous midcentury medium-tone wood—and it’s unequivocally clear they have passed their prime, your landlord may not mind you painting them. That is, so long as you do a good job painting. Be sure to completely remove the cabinet doors and hardware before you paint, let them dry, and then reinstall them. Don’t choose any crazy colors—go with something classic and versatile like black, white, or gray.

Your choice of paint color

As a word to the wise, dark paint colors tend to absorb light, making a room look smaller. on the other hand, soft tones of off-white, blue and green will make rooms look bigger, brighter and more inviting. Try painting your wall trim and moldings in a lighter color than your walls. These are just a few things to consider when deciding whether or not painting your high-rise rental apartment is a good idea for you.