I've been renting apartments and homes for over twenty years. And because I love the freedom to pick up and move whenever wanderlust strikes, I anticipate renting for a good many more.

Renting doesn't mean that we have no attachment to our physical surroundings, though. Our living-space is important to both health and mental well-being, so it deserves a little consideration, and occasionally some extra work.

One of the beauties of renting, of course, is that you're not ultimately responsible for the maintenance of a house. In the meantime, however, you can often make arrangements with the landlord to customize your living space with small and fairly inexpensive improvements like paint, updated cabinetry, flooring, or carpet. Usually, in fact, the owner/landlord will deduct part or even all of the cost of those improvements from your rent.

Take a good look around. Whether you've just moved in, or you've been in the same rental for a few years makes little difference. Think about what you'd like to do with your living space to make it more "yours"—make a list. Do your homework, first, whether it's a trip to your local home-and-garden place, a call to a flooring company, or collecting a handful of paint chips to compare to the carpet and woodwork. Be realistic, and understand that the changes you want make should also improve the value of the property. Painting the living room black might suit your personality, but isn't likely to have a positive effect on the next renter, should you eventually decide to move on. Have a solid idea of the time and expense you're looking at, the specific improvements you'd like to make, then talk to your landlord or building manager.

It should go without saying that you need to be pleasant and business-like when you talk to your landlord about the changes you'd like to make. Don't refer to your rental unit as a dump, even affectionately. Be specific about what you'd like to improve. If you have paint or flooring samples, share them. Be clear about what you're willing to do, and what you're willing to pay for, and what you're asking your landlord to be responsible for.

If your landlord agrees to the changes you'd like, and especially if he or she agrees to foot part of the bill, write out the agreement (with attached estimates and agreed-upon limits.) Then do what you say you'll do, and in a timely manner. Follow-through is critical. You might want to make more changes, somewhere down the line, and how you manage this first agreement can make all the difference in what your landlord will trust you with in the future. Improvements to your living space ultimately benefit both of you, and having the terms of those improvements in writing will prevent misunderstandings. Since you plan to live here for a while, this too is worth a little extra effort.

Something as simple as a coat of paint can give your place a fresh new feel. If you're planning to stay for a while, it makes sense to invest a bit of time and sweat-equity into making your living situation even more pleasant and suited to your own tastes.