Summer Decorating Ideas for Your Rental Home

Image via: Kirklands

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Use your own bed sheets

Rental bedding is often of compromised quality. So, up the comfort level by making the bed with your own bed sheets from home. A pop of summer color or patterns will instantly personalize your rented space and will make sure that you are comfortable after those long beach days. It’s also a good solution if you find it difficult to sleep in new places.

Go for rugs

Not every tenant is lucky enough to find a house with gorgeous hardwood floors. If you fall into that other category of having wall to wall carpet flooring, a stylish area rug could be your solution. Just make sure to stick with light, summery colors so that a room does not look busy and bulky. Not only will it help to spruce up your rental but will also help to cover the imperfect floors.

Image via: The Key Bunch

Hang colorful curtains

We are assuming you have a difficult landlord and you want to avoid sticky wallpapers or holes in the walls. No worries, we have a great alternative for both you and your landlord. Liven up your space by hanging some colorful curtains. Consider lighter, sheer drapes in shades like white, yellow, or green. It will bring in a lot of natural light, giving your space an airy feeling.

Add organic appeal

Bring life into your rental space with some real living things. Tiny plants like succulents in a large shell will not only add natural textures and colors to your space, but will also help to improve your overall air quality. Alternatively, you can opt for terrarium or cacti, or simply pick fresh cut flowers and change the water frequently.

Image via: Traditional Interiors

These simple summer decorating ideas will make your rental feel homier without annoying your landlord. The conclusion- you don’t have to worry about losing your security deposit while you create a space that’s homey and inviting.

For anyone who has attended, planned or had a summer wedding, you know how truly inspirational they are! Summer wedding decor can be elaborate or as simple as everyday items found in the grocery store.

Today, my Guest Blogger, Susanna Miles from Kiss Wedding, shares with us beautiful inspiration for summer wedding decorations and the simplicity of capturing weddings with gorgeous images.

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Looking for fresh ideas for summer wedding decorations? Selecting decor that suits your style and budget can feel like running a race in high heels. It’s actually easy as pie. Work these ideas into your wedding planning and get the big day of your dreams.

There’s an art to choosing summer wedding decorations. The trick is to make incorporate them with the setting, theme and color scheme. From budget to blowout there are decor ideas that suit every bride’s bank balance.

Not sure which color scheme will work for you? Here are some wedding color combinations that’ll rock your world!

Summer Wedding Decorations: Seasonal Details

It’s all in the detail, ladies! Little touches make a big difference. Summer spells holidays, sun and lazy days at the beach. Channel the breezy, beach style with colored sea glass scattered on tables. Use driftwood for reception signage.

Get fruity! Summer fruits are zesty and come in traffic-stopping shades. Lemons and limes make stunning centrepieces.

And let’s not forget other seasonal foods like granny smith apples make fab summer wedding decorations and taste great too.

Try colorful cupcakes decorated with pretty summer flowers. Or strawberries and pineapple pieces that guests can dip into melted chocolate.

Paper fans tick two boxes; they’re decorative and help guests beat the heat. Hang them up in the reception venue or give them to guests as personalized favors.

Summer Wedding Decorations: Aisle Arrangements

Aisle arrangements can bold and beautiful or chic and simple. Or you could go for super romantic, frothy florals. There are aisle arrangements for every budget and theme.

Check out this gorgeous wedding aisle décor? The couple who planned this wedding kept it simple and special by sticking to just two colors in their color scheme. And the simple arches are a total hit too!

Summer Wedding Decorations: Lanterns & Lighting

Yellow tealights channel the spirit of summer and give a soft, warm glow.

Fairy lights are a bride’s best friend. Inexpensive and sparkly, they give a reception room that fairytale effect. Planning an outdoor wedding? Wrap clear fairy lights around tree trunks for a really romantic atmosphere.

Freestanding lanterns are awesome for backyard and garden weddings. As night falls and guests hit the dance floor, the lawn is illuminated in true vintage style. Gorgeous!

Hungry for more big bridal ideas? Try these suggestions for dazzling Wedding Reception Decorations

Susanna Miles, from (kisswedding.com) and real wedding blog (kisswedding.com/blog) is a place for brides to go for simple wedding ideas that make planning a wedding on a budget a heck of a lot easier.  The Guide, the Workbook and now the eCourse however help brides de-stress by de-mystifying the wedding industry, simplifying planning, and uncovering alot of the myths surrounding inexpensive wedding ideas.

All of the elements of the K.i.s.s. brand are based on keeping it simple & special – the very things that kept me sane while planning my own wedding and thousands since.

For more wedding ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Happy first day of June! Even though summer doesn’t officially start until June 21st, June has always been known as the wedding month. With warm weather outside, outdoor weddings, especially backyard ones can be beautiful, sentimental, and easier to plan.

Today, my Guest Blogger, Susanna Miles from Kiss Wedding, gives tips to consider for planning a backyard wedding. From the decor to favors for the guests, see how a backyard wedding can be a gorgeous event to plan and attend.

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Think you can’t afford a beautiful big day? Think again! Planning a backyard wedding at home could be the answer. You don’t need a bloated budget to get the fairytale effect. Throw the stuffy wedding rule book in the bin! Banish those budget calculators and planners that claim you need $25k to get hitched. All it takes is a little creativity and some smart outdoor wedding ideas.

We’re talking homey, relaxed and fun backyard weddings that don’t break the bank. It’s the way forward for budget-savvy brides who don’t want to compromise on beauty.

Why do it?

Planning a backyard wedding can be a stress-free and really rewarding experience. We’re all watching the dollars and cents right now. And instead of focusing entirely on budget wedding invitations, open or closed bars, or cheap wedding rings it makes total sense to save on your venue by holding your big day at home.

Backyard weddings get brides and grooms back into the driving seat. Get family and friends to pitch in and put your personal stamp on the celebrations. Have a big day that suits your style and your budget. You get exactly what you want, when you want it.

Backyard Wedding Ideas that Suit Your Style

What type of wedding suits your personality? Select a style and check out some backyard wedding ideas before you start planning a backyard wedding.

Are you a champagne and cupcake kinda gal? Do cocktails and canapés tickle your fancy? Maybe you’re an informal buffet bride? The great thing about backyard weddings their versatility. You can adapt ideas to suit all sorts of different styles. Enjoy an intimate sit-down dinner in the garden. Fire up the BBQ and crack open the hot sauce. Do English afternoon tea on the lawn. There’s a backyard wedding to suit every bride.

Tips for Planning a Wedding In Your Backyard

Here’s what you’ll need to do to prepare:

1.     Get out your green thumb and plant flowers. Choose varieties that bloom at the right time of year.

2.     Try to plant flowers over a course of a couple weeks to guarantee some bloom at the right time.

3.     Select flowers that fit with the wedding theme (both in style and color).

4.     Plant alot of annuals as extras. Plant early in the season and slightly closer to the wedding to fill odd spaces.

5.     Potted trees are a nice touch. If your budget doesn’t stretch to buying, ask a florist about hiring instead.

6.     Paint or stain decks. Don’t leave this until the last minute, ladies! Paint and stain give the best finish when applied in spring and fall.

Things to Buy or Rent

Planning a backyard wedding involves spending money wisely. The trick is to decide what really matters to you and spend accordingly.

Tents/canopies –these serve two purposes. They transform your garden into a reception space and provide cover for guests.

A dancefloor. We’re not talking a floor the size of a stately home ballroom here, girls.

Heaters – if you don’t want to buy you can always rent. Don’t forget the gas! Check if this is included in the hire price.

Chairs, tables and linen – choose a local rental company to cut delivery costs.

Plates, cutlery, glasses and coffee cups.

Lighting – lanterns and fairy lights give a gorgeous, romantic glow.

Citronella candles –these will keep bugs under control if you’re getting spliced in summer.

Games and puzzles for the kids. One of the best backyard wedding ideas ever! Inexpensive and will keep tears and grizzling at bay during speeches. ­­

Backyard Wedding Ideas: Food & Drink

Cookies and mini cupcakes are ideal for backyard weddings. They’re fun to make and can save you serious amounts of cash!

Invest in a couple of fun cookie cutters and choose freezer-friendly recipes. Freeze the dough then defrost the day before and bake. Saves tons of time!

If you are planning on serving savouries, buy in bulk from your local supermarket.

Have champagne for toasts and offer cider, coffee and soft drinks.

Inexpensive outdoor wedding ideas with the wow factor

Want to know the best thing about planning a backyard wedding?

The things you buy can be used again over the years. Trees and perennials look fab and bloom for decades. They’ll be a constant reminder of your big day.

Baby photos and pics of the parents and grandparents make beautiful displays and add the personal touch.

Vintage cake platters – they look fab and can be picked up for next to nothing from flea markets.

Mini pumpkins – a cost effective choice for the fall bride.

Susanna Miles, from (kisswedding.com) and real wedding blog (kisswedding.com/blog) is a place for brides to go for simple wedding ideas that make planning a wedding on a budget a heck of a lot easier.  The Guide, the Workbook and now the eCourse however help brides de-stress by de-mystifying the wedding industry, simplifying planning, and uncovering alot of the myths surrounding inexpensive wedding ideas.

All of the elements of the K.i.s.s. brand are based on keeping it simple & special – the very things that kept me sane while planning my own wedding and thousands since.

For more wedding ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

One of the dreaded aspects of moving out of a rental is receiving your security deposit or rental bond back from your landlord or leasing company. It was a hefty sum to put down as deposit in the beginning and you want to ensure you get every penny back, right? Today, our Guest Blogger gives tips to ensure you will receive it back, and to ensure your next rental experience will be just as enjoyable.

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Top 6 tips to avoid loosing rental bond (security deposit)

When moving out of a rental property, the tenant attached to the lease should make every attempt to ensure that the property is in good condition. More often than not, a landlord will insist on a security deposit , in which case it is in your best interest to conduct a thorough sweep of the property to check for damages sustained during residence. By doing so, you are taking a large step toward making sure the security deposit you made upon moving in is returned.

1. Cover holes in walls

The first and most common type of damage sustained during residence in a rental property are holes in the wall. Most people choose to hang up pictures of friends and family or decorative wall art, which leads to nail and tack holes scattered across the wall. This type of damage is relatively minor but can still have an impact on a landlord’s decision to withhold some of the security deposit. Fortunately, this type of damage is also easily repaired.
For smaller holes left behind by small tacks, you may be able to make repairs with a simple coat of paint. For more stubborn holes left behind by nails and screws, you can cover up the damage by applying putty or plaster to the affected areas with a putty knife. Make sure to smooth out the material as much as you can so that it blends in with the rest of the wall. Applying another coat of paint is recommended, but not required.

2. Remove stains from carpets and make floors look shiny

The carpet is an important place to check for damages. Scan every inch of every room and make note of any damages sustained by the carpet; depending on how many stains you find, you may want to consider having the floors professionally cleaned. If you cannot afford to have cleaners come in to shampoo the carpets, consider renting a deep cleaner yourself and give all the carpets a scrub down. If you have wood floors, give the floor in each room a wipe down with high quality wood cleaning solution and buff out whatever scuff marks you can.

3. Fix damaged windows blinds

Broken blinds are another concern. Many rental properties contain cheap blinds that dry out and crack during hotter months. Fortunately, these are fairly cheap and easy to replace, so consider checking the blinds before your move-out inspection.

4. Fix lights and windows

Replace all broken light bulbs, clean and check for cracks in the windows because the landlord will check whether the windows still close properly and he/she wants the apartment look bright and clean. Dirty windows block sunshine and make the rooms look darker and worn-down. Use window cleaning sprays and old newspapers to clean the windows because paper cleans the window surface quite well.

5. Fix the toilet and sink drains

Check if there are any plumbing issues like clogged toilets or sink drains because the landlord will definitely check. Especially bathroom sink drains can be easily clogged by hair and first try removing hair that blocks the sinkhole, then use chemicals to clean the pipes but if none of these help, call a plumber who’ll use a special pipe cleaning tool.

6. Remove mold

Also make sure to check for mold, as mold can have a detrimental effect on your security deposit. Mold grows on moist surfaces, probably in areas wet by water or humidity and mold can be removed from hard surfaces by scrubbing but it’s impossible to remove from porous surfaces. Normally the landlord doesn’t expect you to scrub the bathroom ceiling and repaint it but changing the plastic shower curtain and scrubbing the shower tiles is quite easy.

The rule of thumb is to keep the place looking as neat and clean as it was when you moved in. If the kitchen floor needs mopping, mop it. If the walls need scrubbing, scrub them. The landlord will be looking for any minor problems with the property, but if you conduct your own inspection beforehand, replace broken items, and clean everything from top to bottom, you are more likely to see your security deposit back.

Kori is the owner of a furniture removals company in Sydney and he started publishing articles to help people with useful information about home removals and packing.

If you’re interested in being a Guest Blogger on Stagetecture, click here.