For apartment dwellers, creating a comfortable home that expresses your personality faces one major hurdle - and Tracy Parkison, president of Black Hills Multi-housing Association and manager of Kahler Property Management, makes no bones about it: "We expect it to be left the way it was moved into." Add that restriction to an apartment ambiance that is often mostly beige, and the creativity bar rises even higher.

Landlords, of course, must operate their units so that turn-around expenses and time are minimal. That is why neutral colors and rules designed to minimize wear and tear are necessary. Common restrictions include no painting and no large nail holes, according to Parkison. An over-arching rule is that no changes or modifications can be done without permission. And, according to Parkison, "If, by chance, they are given permission to do extra painting, they need to restore it to the way it was."

That is not to say that nothing changes in the world of apartment decor. New apartments are featuring dark woods, darker countertops and up-to-date fixtures and appliances, Parkison said.

While modern features may be attractive to potential tenants, Parkison says that is not the first thing people look for. "The first thing they are looking for is something to be fresh and clean," she said. Other amenities that are popular are larger master bedrooms, dishwashers and two baths, even for a two-bedroom apartment, she said. Laundry hook-ups are also in demand. But, overall, it's "paint, new flooring and cleaning that go a long way to make something look nice."

A good understanding between tenant and landlord is the way to go in making sure issues don't arise that cause tension and dissatisfaction. That's why reading your lease before you sign is vital, according to Parkison. "We sit down with people with their lease, and we ask them to initial every paragraph after they read it," Parkison said.

Most landlords require a security deposit to cover damage and cleanup expenses when a tenant moves. In order to get a security deposit returned, landlords often require that tenants get the carpet professionally cleaned, fill in nail holes and clean the kitchen appliances.

As with most areas of life, communication is key. "They need to make sure that they do understand what the landlord's expectations are, and they need to be sure the landlord understands what their expectations are," Parkison said. "The lines of communication just need to be open all the time."

Make apartment a home

While landlord rules are not made to be broken, there are many ways around the various size, color and layout issues that come with the apartment or town-home lifestyle.

Here are some hints for making your apartment a home:

Choose a theme - Many apartments are small, so decorating the whole in a similar fashion will visually enlarge the space.

Keep it simple - Simple pieces of furniture also can make a small space seem roomy. For the bedroom, consider a simple platform bed or perhaps a futon.

A little color, please - Pillows, blankets, throw rugs all can provide contrast to basic beige apartment color schemes. Or, hang or frame large and colorful fabric pieces to give a room a different appeal.

Organize - Store items in their logical spot - CDs near the entertainment area or magazines near the sofa. And save money: Buy and keep only what you really need.

Renters learn to add their own flair

The first thing you notice upon entering Matt Balvin's home, located in Kirkwood Meadow Apartments on Rapid City's west side, is the large and colorful aquarium, located along the living room wall. The pristine clarity of the water shows off his pet fish and adds to the apartment's well-kept yet comfortable feel.

Balvin and his wife, Elizabeth, have lived at Kirkwood Meadow since their marriage in 2003. He says the apartment came together without any particular effort or discussion between the couple.

Yet, the decor is put together in a way that blends each area of the two-bedroom unit together nicely. Colorful works of art, including a large mountain scene adjacent to the aquarium and a number of original paintings and wall hangings throughout the home, gives it a distinctly bright and pleasant appeal.

An Oriental rug, along with an antique radio cabinet placed in the apartment's second bedroom, is visible from the apartment's entrance, and its unique look pulls one's attention past the door and on into the home.

Adding to the appeal are many decorative pieces of chinaware, stuffed animals and a light-filled deck area off the living room with a space-creating view of a wide lawn with mature trees and shrubs.

With more than five years of making their apartment a home, the Balvins have not allowed their "stuff" to overtake the 820 square feet of living space. The items they have on display are enough to introduce you to who they are and what they like, but they do not overwhelm with clutter and disarray.

For Brenda Fritzie, who lives with her two children in a town home in south Rapid City, clutter-free living is one of the best things about being a renter. In fact, the necessity of keeping family belongings to a minimum is one of the advantages of renting, according to Fritzie.

Even though the walls in her three-bedroom, two-bath home are mostly bare, unique and well-conceived furniture arrangements make her home stand out. In particular, a dark-hued counter-height table with chairs provides a richly colored contrast to the light walls in the dining area, making it the focal point of the combined living room, dining and kitchen area.

A unique end table Fritzie created from a hobby store elephant and a glass top creates some flair for the simple living room layout. And a free-standing electric fireplace fills a long wall and adds a homey accent.

A small concrete pad outside is the bare minimum outdoor space, but a comfortable and colorful set of wicker furniture makes it a pleasant spot for an afternoon of grilling.

Contact Laura Tonkyn at 394-8405 or laura.tonkyn@rapidcityjournal.com.