How to Negotiate Decor Changes with Your Landlord

How to Negotiate Decor Changes with Your Landlord (What Actually Works)

Introduction

I have lived in the same rental townhouse for 10 years. In that time, I have hung curtains, swapped hardware, installed peel-and-stick backsplash, added lighting, and made dozens of changes that made this space feel like mine.

Almost all of it was approved by my landlord. And the few things that weren’t — I found reenter-friendly workarounds that didn’t require permission at all.

Negotiating decor changes with your landlord is not as intimidating as it sounds. But it does require knowing what to ask for, how to ask for it, and what to do when the answer is no. Here’s what actually works.

Read Your Lease Before You Ask for Anything

Before you approach your landlord about a single change, read your lease. The whole thing.

Most leases have a section on alterations or modifications. It will tell you what requires written permission, what’s outright prohibited, and what’s allowed without asking at all.

Knowing this before you start a conversation with your landlord puts you in a much stronger position — and prevents you from asking permission for something you already have the right to do.

In most standard leases, minor changes like hanging pictures, swapping light bulbs, and adding removable window treatments don’t require permission at all. Know what’s already yours before you start negotiating for more.

Know What You’re Actually Asking For

Before you approach your landlord, be specific about what you want and why it’s reasonable.

Vague requests get vague answers. “I want to make some changes to the place” will not land the same way as “I’d like to swap the cabinet hardware in the kitchen — I’ll keep the originals and reinstall them when I leave.”

The more specific and reversible your request, the easier it is for a landlord to say yes. Come prepared with exactly what you want to do, how you plan to do it, and how you’ll restore everything to its original condition when you move out.

The Changes Most Landlords Will Say Yes To

In my experience landlords are most receptive to changes that are clearly reversible and that maintain or improve the property. Things that fall into this category include:

Swapping cabinet or door hardware — keep the originals in a bag and reinstall at move out. This is one of the easiest wins to negotiate because the landlord can see immediately that there’s no risk to the property.

Painting an accent wall — offer to repaint it back to the original colour before you leave, or offer to pay for the paint. Many landlords will agree to a neutral colour change if you handle the restoration.

Peel and stick backsplash or wallpaper — quality products remove cleanly. Showing your landlord the product specifications and removal instructions before you ask makes this a much easier conversation.

Additional lighting — plug-in fixtures, floor lamps, and battery-operated lighting require no permission at all. For hardwired changes, you’ll need to ask, but most landlords who trust their tenants will consider it.

How to Have the Conversation

Approach your landlord in writing — email is ideal because it creates a record of both the request and the approval. Keep the tone professional and matter of fact. You’re not asking for a favour, you’re making a reasonable request as a long-term tenant.

A simple template that works:

“Hi [landlord name], I’d love to make a small update to the [kitchen/bathroom/bedroom] — specifically [describe the change]. I plan to [describe how you’ll restore it] before moving out. Happy to provide product details or photos if that’s helpful. Let me know if you’re okay with this.”

Short, specific, and shows you’ve already thought through the restoration. Most reasonable landlords will respond positively to this approach.

Always Get Approval in Writing

If your landlord says yes verbally, follow up with an email confirming what was discussed. Something as simple as “Thanks for approving the hardware swap in the kitchen — just wanted to confirm in writing so we’re both on the same page” is enough.

This protects you at move-out. Without written confirmation, an approved change can become a disputed charge against your deposit. Written confirmation eliminates that risk entirely.

What to Do When the Answer Is No

Sometimes landlords say no. When that happens, you have two options — negotiate a compromise or find a renter-friendly workaround.

A compromise might look like agreeing to use a specific product, paying for a professional installation, or limiting the change to one room. If you’ve been a reliable tenant for several years, you have more leverage than you think — long-term tenants save landlords significant money in vacancy and turnover costs, and most landlords know it.

A workaround means achieving the same visual result without touching anything permanent. Peel-and-stick products, removable wallpaper, plug-in lighting, furniture placement, and textiles can transform a rental without a single permanent change. This is the foundation of everything I teach at House of Eme — you have more options than you think without ever asking permission.

The Honest Truth After 10 Years

The landlord relationship matters. A good one gives you flexibility, understanding, and the kind of trust that makes a rental feel genuinely like home.

Treat your landlord with respect, honour your commitments, and keep your requests reasonable — and most of the time you’ll get more than you expected.

And for everything else — there’s always a renter-friendly way around it.

You can also check out these links, research local laws and regulations about tenant rights and responsibilities. This will help you understand your legal standing when making decor changes.