Living in rented can be great as often you are given a blank canvas with neutral décor. However they can also pose their challenges! It can often seem hard to add your own personality into a rented property and make it a home rather than just a house. But with a few clever tricks and ideas you can create a space that is not only practical but a true reflection of you and your style.
I have lived in various rented properties for the last 7 years, from my first one bed flat to our current 3 bed terrace. Each has been very different in terms of the amount of decorating we were allowed to do and also our budget in which we had at the time. Being creative, with a love for interiors, I often struggled with the limitations in which I had to work in. However this pushed me to think outside the box and to experiment with different options!
To me there are 5 key elements that can really transform a rented property and I would love to share these with you.
1. Painting
Often rented properties are known as being a magnolia box. It’s a brilliant neutral colour for landlords that is not going to be offensive to anyone and enables the property to be rented easily. However, once living in the space in can seem cold and lacking any personality. An obvious answer, if you have been given permission is to paint the walls! I would suggest going for light colours that can easily be painted back, but that also gives some colour for example soft blues or greens.
2. Wall Art
Using pre-existing nails or Command hooks to add personal touches with meaningful photos, wall art or quotes. I tend to go with what hooks are already up as often they are in the right place already however I have sometimes added more or moved some around slightly! Small holes can easily be filled in, if and when you move out so they don’t cause too much damage!
Another option for wall art is a fabric canvas. A couple of years ago it became a bit of a thing of mine to do. Using a large art canvas, I upholstered it with fabric and created bold wall art that tied in with the rest of the colour scheme.
3. Furniture
Buying good quality furniture that either adds colour or style into your interiors can lift a room without needing to paint walls or do any major changes. Furniture is so versatile and can be moved from property to property with you!
4. Lighting
Changing lampshades is a very quick but effective swap to personalise a space. They can be themed perfectly with your room and are a great way to tie a design together. When I moved into my current home the lampshades were full of holes and in complete tatters! I think they were one of the first things we changed, but because they were on our tenancy inventory we have had to store them in the loft in the meantime! Luckily though it means we will be able to take our current lampshades with us to our next house!
Changing the lightbulb itself can also change the whole feel of a room,! For example, our downstairs cloakroom doesn’t have a window. For months it was dark and dingy until I changed the bulb to a daylight bulb! The difference is amazing, it now seems like there is a window in there and that the room is bathed in ‘natural’ light!
5. Soft Furnishings
Of course I couldn’t leave soft furnishings off the list! To me this is probably the element of an interior that offers the most potential in personalising the space. The possibilities really are endless! The obvious answer is through the window treatment, whether that is curtains or blinds. I have always used this space as a chance to add colour or a bold print and is often the focal point of the room. I then pick a couple of colours out to carry on throughout the rest of the room through cushions and furniture.
So really, with rented properties you just need to work with what you’ve got in terms of space but there are plenty of ways to make it a home!
Please remember to get permission from the landlord before doing anything to your rented property!
A selection of photos from my rented properties over the last few years. Showing ways I have added personal touches and made them more homely! By no means are most of these styled photos! Please excuse the mess and chaos of our house when we had 3 toddlers!
Jessica Sews 