It can be tricky to make a rental house feel like a home. You don’t want to invest too much in a property that isn’t yours, but you also want a space that feels personal and enjoyable to live in.
When living in a rental you might be limited in what you can do, but there are definitely some easy and affordable ways to breathe some life into your home. Take a look at these seven landlord-friendly design tips to help stamp some personality on your rental pad.
1. Get arty
Precious family photos, sweeping landscapes, vibrant abstract paintings - nothing makes a house feel more like a home than having your own favourite photos and wall art on display.
Avoid hammering lots of pesky nails into walls and showcase your pictures at their best with an art and light hanging system. These easy-install picture rails let you chop and change your art without causing damage, so you can add personality without upsetting the landlord.
2. Spruce up your sofa
Inherited a sofa that’s past its best? Try jazzing up tired old seating with a beautiful new cover. Whether it’s to add a pop of colour, create a vibrant-patterned centre piece, or bring a touch of luxury, there are lots of fantastic companies that offer covers in just about any colour, fabric, and pattern you can imagine.
Not only will your landlord’s sofa get a new lease of life, it’ll also be protected from wear and tear, and you’ll get a gorgeous cover you can take with you wherever you go.
3. Revive with a rug
Rentals or rent to own homes often have well-worn or bland, functional flooring. Consider investing in a rug to provide an instant hit of warmth, comfort or colour to the space. Bold monochrome patterns look great against wood flooring, and colourful geometric designs can add a modern twist to tired old spaces.
As well as adding character, rugs are great for preventing further wear, covering unsightly floors and providing a little extra insulation too.
4. Wow with wallpaper
Wallpaper adds warmth and can really make a statement. In a rental, you can’t usually take a paintbrush or wallpaper paste to the walls, so you’ll need something that’s low cost and easily removed. Cue removable wallpaper.
Nowadays there are plenty of fantastic removable designs; vinyl wall murals, made-to-measure friezes, and eye-catching patterns. Not only do they look great but they’re usually wipe-clean too.
5. Make a feature out of furniture
If your rental’s unfurnished, then you’ll have bags of space to play with. Create a cosy atmosphere or bring some bold character by investing in furniture that you love.
Whether its IKEA’s finest, or a great second-hand find, make sure to pick something timeless that will look great whether your next move is to a period property or a modern apartment. If you want to spruce up some old IKEA furniture then check out IKEA hacks for some upcycling inspiration.
6. Get creative with curtains
Curtains bring a luxurious, cosy feel to otherwise cold and sterile windows. Soft, textured materials can add warmth, while bolder designs can make an eye-catching statement piece. Curtains aren’t just for living spaces either; you can smarten up a bland bathroom with a jazzy new shower curtain too!
7. Go green
Plants purify the air, reduce stress, and look fabulous while doing it! A bathroom ivy, a coffee-table bonsai, or a bookcase cactus can all bring a fresh, natural feel to your home and look fantastic against a rental’s typically neutral walls. If you’re not blessed with green fingers, invest in a great fake that will bring that botanical feel without the need for any TLC.
So, whether it’s hanging wall art, adding some greenery, or upcycling old furniture, with a little bit of money and effort you can easily turn your rental pad into a home.
Image source: innovativebuildingmaterials.com
