Four ways to hang curtains in a rental.

Your guide to hanging temporary curtains and blinds in a rental property.

Rentals can often feel impersonal and cold, with few options for making the apartment or house feel like home while you are living there. But renting shouldn't mean sacrificing privacy, or having a darkened room to sleep in. Whether it's a short term stay or a long term rental, you want to feel comfortable in your space.

One way you can add ambience to a rental property is by installing temporary curtains or blinds. With no drilling required, you can remove them and take them with you when you move on without leaving a trace. Or, if your landlord permits you to make improvements in your rental, you can help the owner to save costs with DIY curtains and roller blinds from iSeekBlinds.

Here are a few ideas you can use to hang curtains or blinds and make any rental feel more like home.

Hang temporary blinds

Temporary blinds provide a simple solution for a bare window. Blinds offer a modern, contemporary look, and unlike standard blinds, you can take these down when you move.

Temporary blinds are inexpensive, easy to install and often made from high-quality paper that you can install yourself. They are also an ideal solution to cover your windows when waiting for your custom-made Curtains, Blinds or Plantation Shutters too!

Black temporary blinds will provide privacy and room darkening, making them ideal for bedrooms; and white temporary blinds will filter the light whilst providing daytime privacy. 

You won't need tools to install them. All you need to do is cut the blinds to size and mount them to your window, avoiding any water-based paint surfaces. For large windows, two blinds can overlap to provide full coverage.

When you no longer need the blinds, you can recycle them or pack them up and take them to your next property.

Use a tension rod

A tension rod means you can hang curtains without worrying about drilling into the wall. A tension rod sits inside the window architrave or between two walls and relies on tension from a spring inside the rod to hold it in place.

Tension rods are a subtle and elegant way to complete the look of your room with sheer curtains that look natural. There's the option to place the curtain rod high in the window for maximum coverage.

Placing a tension rod lower in the window gives a 'country curtain' style coverage, perfect for letting natural light into the room whilst still providing privacy in the kitchen or bathroom.

The limitation with a tension rod is that it can't usually support heavier drapes. You can still hang blackout curtains if you select lighter fabrics with a total curtain weight under 3kg. 

Suspend curtains from Command hooks

Command hooks are another removable option for hanging curtains. These hooks come in different colours and weight ratings, so you can choose a pair of hooks that suit the curtains.

Once the hooks are mounted, you can mount tab top or eyelet curtains on a piece of dowel suspended between the hooks or invest in a curtain rod.

When choosing the curtain rod, remember to be mindful of the weight. A lighter rod will be less likely to tip the total weight over the capacity of the hooks.

Use a twist-and-fit curtain rod

A twist-and-fit curtain rod is like a tension rod, but it looks like a regular curtain rail. Twist and fit rods sit inside the window architrave, and you won't need any tools to install them.

The advantage of twist-and-fit curtain rods is the variety of options. You can select the colour, size and finish to achieve a homey, complete look.

High-end twist-and-fit curtain rods can also hold heavier curtains, allowing you to hang drapes or blackout curtains safely without using a drill.

Tips for hanging curtains in a rental property

• Choose lightweight curtain fabrics:
  Most temporary methods to hang curtains can't support the weight of heavy drapes or thick fabrics. You are limited to lighter curtain materials that fall under the maximum weight your temporary curtain rod or rail can support.
• Be prepared to leave curtains long:
  When you move, you may want to re-use the same curtains in your next property. After all, your curtains match the rest of your decor, so it's nice to keep it all together. Sometimes this will mean leaving curtains long to retain their original size. A curtain that drapes onto the floor provides opulence and you can clean curtains regularly to reduce any dust build-up. It also future-proofs you if your next rental has higher windows.
• Be careful with water-based paint:
  Command hooks and other removable wall hangings don't always come off as seamlessly as you would like, especially if the paint is water-based or a low-quality specification. Chipped paint can mean a deduction from your security bond. Before hanging temporary hooks, it might pay to get a paint sample to match the walls. That way, if any paint does come off when you remove the sticky pad behind the hook, you can touch it up.

Now you have options for making a rental your own and getting privacy. Which window treatment are you going to use?

What next?

If you’re in need of some inspiration, visit our gallery or Instagram page for ideas and real-life photos from our customers.  Once you’ve decided which product you prefer, make use of our free fabric samples. They will allow you to see and feel the fabrics before selecting the one you like best.

So, if you've got a home that could benefit from a refresh, let us help you! The DIY process is easy to follow, and it will make a world of difference to your home, we promise.

Need some help? You can either Contact our customer service team or book in a free design consultation with me.

Thanks for reading!
Cheers, 

Mike Gubby.