As you may know from following us on Instagram and Twitter, I'm (Jasmine) currently in the midst of buying a house with my husband. We've gone for a new build and as we bought off-plan, we got to choose our floors, kitchen, carpets and really make it our own without having to do anything ourselves except pay for it. That's a post for another time, but having been renting for over 5 years, we know the struggle of moving into a rental property and having to put up with things that you're not allowed to change. I'm here however, to tell you that actually, you can make a rental your own, it just take a few tactically placed items of decor, some DIY and some elbow grease.
Tenants not liking the decor is a common problem with rental properties, made even more tricky when you have a super strict landlord that won’t let you do as much as hammer a nail into a wall, let alone re-decorate. I for example have used some white marble fablon and re-covered the worktops in my kitchen to get rid of the horrible dark brown that was there. This isn't the easiest DIY task, but it looks great! Plus we can just warm it up with a hairdryer and just peel it off before we move out - no harm done! Here's some other tips to help you make your rental more homely and more 'yours'.
Brighten up white walls
Neutral walls are common with rental properties, and they actually work in your favour. White walls might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they provide a great base for you to make your own mark on the space. If you’re not able to paint, add some pops of colour to your walls with artwork. Select some of your favourite art, buy some frames, and create your very own mini gallery. If you can’t use nails, buy some self-adhesive strips to hang your frames with, or simply get some decorative tape for a more scrapbook style display.
Layer up textiles
If you’re stuck with an ugly old sofa, it’s time to shop for some textiles. You’d be surprised how much you can transform the look of your sofa with some DIY upholstery methods, using blankets and fabrics to drape over and tuck into your sofa. Be varied in the types of textiles you use, for example, combining a patterned throw with a soft blanket for a touch of character, and don’t forget to finish with some cushions!
Plants are your friends
Plants are the number one way to breathe new life into a room. Look at any interior inspo on Pinterest and the likelihood is you’ll spot a plant or two. Some examples of great houseplants include spider plants, ivy and aloe vera, which all have the added benefit of purifying the air. Bringing greenery into the home is another good excuse to add a pop of colour with some bright and bold plant pots.
Upcycle boring furniture
You might need to get the landlords permission if the furniture belongs to them, or alternatively you can buy yourself some cheap second hand pieces. Upcycling old furniture is all the rage right now, and since it’s so easy to do, there’s no reason not to get involved. Re-paint dull coffee tables or cabinets if you want to add more colour, or simply add a coat of gloss to wooden furniture. If you don’t want to go too full on, think about just painting the handles on a chest of drawers — even the smallest touch can make a big difference.
Invest in some key pieces
While your new property might be furnished, you can often work out a deal with the landlord to keep certain items in storage to make space for your own pieces. Invest in some eye catching statement pieces like a crushed velvet divan bed to bring some luxury* to your bedroom. Bringing pieces of furniture that are reflective of your personal taste into your rented property is sure to make the space feel more homely. Look for items that are on trend but that you know you’ll be happy to hold on to once you move to the next place.
Do you have any tips of your own on ways to transform a rented flat or house?
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