Because a home typically sets the tone for the entire house, the living room is often one of the most important rooms in a rental property in terms of perceived value, tenant interest, and overall appeal when shown to potential renters. By creating comfortable, stylish, and easy-to-move furniture configurations in this area, property managers can create a competitive advantage for their rentals. Many professionals involved in property management in Houston report that the living room can significantly increase the value of the property as a whole while making it more attractive to potential buyers.
Key Design Principles for a Standout Living Room
1. Create Visual Balance with Layout and Proportion
An optimized and balanced floor layout can make your living room look and feel more open. Oakland property management experts involved in many rental markets suggest that spaces with a good, functional layout can look more spacious and help you attract high-paying tenants. Creating a seating arrangement that allows for easy movement throughout the room, while avoiding placing furniture too close to walls, makes rooms feel more open and spacious. This also allows for versatility with the arrangement based on individual lifestyle needs.
Did you know?
In recent years, Houston’s rental market has continued to grow steadily at a rate of 5-6% annual growth in average rent rates.
2. Blend Comfort with Elevated Materials
One should also take into account the need for comfort when designing your space, as comfortable seating, layered pillows and throws, and a variety of textured materials create a sense of warmth and richness, while wood, metal, or stone materials create an aura of elegance and sophistication. When you combine soft, comfortable textures with clearly defined structural design elements within the same room, you can achieve a style that is both highly comfortable and equally refined. In a rented home, this combination conveys a sense of quality and luxury without being overly personalizable and enables potential renters to envision themselves living in the space, thus reinforcing a sense of value for the property.
Did you know?
Over the past year, the average rent for Oakland properties has increased by about 4%.
3. Use Color Strategically to Define Mood
Rental living rooms are typically designed with neutral color palettes, as they are generally appealing and flexible for renters. Subtle accent colors can be incorporated into the room via artwork, rugs, and pillows, therefore giving the rental room character without making it too busy. Using light or bright colors helps to make the most of any natural light available while also giving the appearance of larger rooms; darker colors can be used effectively when used in moderation and as an accent to add dimensionality to the room. Choosing color strategically will create a calm and welcoming environment for the renter that photographs well and resonates positively with potential tenants, both online and in person.
4. Prioritize Flow and Functional Pathways
“Flow” refers to the way that people move through a space. It plays an important role in determining how comfortable and functional a room will be for users. The absence of furniture obstructing pathways from seating areas to entrances and adjacent rooms creates a more open feeling in the living area. The arrangement of furniture in a functional manner is also important for creating an overall impression of greater space; this is especially true in dense urban areas, where consumers place high value on space efficiency when renting.
5. Finish with Lighting and Thoughtful Accents
The way light is used to update a living room creates a mood and emphasizes its character. The lighting plan should incorporate a three-dimensional method of layering (ambient, task, and accent). This will provide flexibility for different usages at various times of day. For instance, floor and table lamps provide ambient lighting. Wall sconces provide accent lighting. Additionally, decorations that are minimal in design, but intentional in form, such as mirrors or plant life, will add an element of polish while maintaining neutrality so that the living room remains usable by a variety of different people and for many years.
End Point
A successful living room remodel incorporates comfort, style, and flow to provide an atmosphere that is inviting to potential renters while maintaining a sense of value. The right layout, quality materials, color scheme, and effective lighting can make a significant difference in the attractiveness of a rental unit. With the competitive nature of the rental market in cities, additional features in rental units can help them stand out and bring more prospective tenants quickly, leading to greater rental returns.