Before owning my current (and first) home, I was a serial renter. We moved across countries and, even within one city, I loved experiencing different neighbourhoods and ways of living.
Not many of the places we lived in were new or beautifully finished, but that never stopped me from making them feel like home. Decorating a rental often gets a bad rep, as though it is somehow less than decorating a home you own. Not true! Especially if you’re settling into a long-term lease.
Renting has its perks (zero responsibility for maintenance costs) and it’s downsides (less than pretty finishes and awkward layouts). But I’m a firm believer that you should always plan to decorate your rental, even if in small temporary ways.
Not owning affords you the opportunity to invest in furniture pieces you’ve always wanted, without the worry of mortgage payments, the emergency savings fund and saving for a new kitchen, like your home-owning friends might have to. You can rest safe in the knowledge that if your washing machine breaks down – hey, it’s not your problem.
Sure, you may not live there for forever (you may not live in a home you own forever either), but ignoring the things you dislike about your home is a sure fire way of feeling miserable every time you walk in the door.
These pictures show the last rental home we lived in, and how I “Reno’d” the different spaces in the house. Without these changes the house would have felt cold and uninviting, making me (and everyone) less than comfortable during our time there. Instead we gave the home so much personality that the incoming tenants loved everything so much they asked to buy my furniture along with renting the apartment.
It should also go without saying that making changes doesn’t have to be expensive, and knowing your budget doesn’t have to be limiting. Rather use your budget as an opportunity to get creative and decide where you want to splurge (the statement rug or artwork) and save (by painting that room yourself)
These are a few of our used and used again top tips for making a rental feel like home
The Basics
Get permission first (and don’t bill the landlord).
Although I’m not always known for following this very important rule (ahem), it is in the best interest of your deposit to get approval in writing first – even if the agreement is simply that you’ll return everything to its original condition when you leave.
More often than not if you are making improvements to an apartment, a landlord will be very open to it – especially if it adds value. If your landlord is a little more sticky and you plan to remove the circa 1983 lampshade from your living room, store it safely so you can reinstall it before moving out.
Top Tip: Take detailed photos of all the spaces before you make your changes, and keep a recover of paint colours and finishes. Future you will thank you.
Declutter Second
Before buying anything new, give your home a proper clear-out. Packing away currently displayed objects and removing all clutter will change how a space feels and give you a new perspective.
I’d also recommend living with this minimal approach for a couple of weeks. You’ll quickly discover what you genuinely miss and what was simply taking up space.
There is nothing wrong with treasured objects living in storage boxes for 6 months or year, before being brought out again.
Paint
If your landlord hasn’t given your new digs a fresh coat of paint and you are sitting in the glow of landlord yellow walls, painting is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to personalise your space. Nothing says new like a fresh coat of white paint. Whether you decide to paint yourself or outsource the job, painting a room brings you the biggest return for your money. Is it also the easiest to return to a neutral state if needed.
If you want to take it one step further, wallpaper is also an easy way to personalise a space. It doesn’t need to cover an entire room – even a feature wall or small section can make a big difference. You can also consider removable wallpaper. There are so many great options that are easier than ever to install and to remove.
Upgrade Fixtures
Cabinet hardware is easy to change. Try to find options with the same hole spacing so you don’t have to drill additional holes into the cabinets. Whether you opt for contemporary black options or leather pulls for a lovely texture, remember to keep the old one’s somewhere safe if you want to switch out when you move on.
You can take this one step further by swapping out bathroom fixtures or even kitchen fixtures. One of the best upgrades I ever made in a rental was replacing a disappointing shower head. I bought a lovely new fixture which changed the game in my bathroom. When I moved I simply unscrewed it, put the old one back and took my shower head with me to my new home.
While we are talking bathrooms, and this one could be just me, but if your apartment is a little or older or the bathroom is looking dodge, replacing the toilet seat is a wonderful (and hygienic) upgrade for your space. The same applies to any homes with shower curtains. Get yourself a new one. Immediately.
Light Up Your Home
Lighting is often one of the weakest features in a rental home. Can you say hello boob light?! (Read our post here on the boob light and upgrade alternatives)
Luckily swapping out a shade or two is quite straightforward, and great lighting creates a cosy and welcoming feeling while dressing up a room. Good quality lighting fixtures are readily available from many retailers, at a fraction of the cost of designer pieces. Whether you decide on replacing the ceiling shade, or adding a standing flooring lamp, think of lighting as the jewellery to your room.
If you are replacing anything beyond a light shade, please get the help of an electrician.
Make Use of Rugs
A beautiful area rug or runner will not only cover a multitude of flooring sins, but they will warm up your home and inject it with much needed personality. They are also one of the easiest ways to pulling together different spaces, and bring colour and texture to a room.
Best of all, they are yours forever, so find something you really love.
Artwork
Like rugs, artwork is an investment that stays with you long after you move. Whether you opt for a large, framed prints or your budget can stretch to original pieces, nothing brings a space to life quite like beautiful pictures. It is also a nod your design style, making your rental space that much more personal.
If you have larger areas of wall to cover consider creating a gallery wall, or opt for A3 prints in A2 picture frames to create a big impact.
Have you heard of Command Strips? These amazing, damage free hanging strips have saved me over my rental years and perfect for anyone not allowed to drill holes in walls. Consider them a velcro strip for your wall, that you can then hang your pictures off of. Once you are done, you simply pull the strip down and it comes off the wall leaving no damage behind.
Window Treatments
Swapping out tired, faded curtains that don’t block out the light or hang nicely, for a fresh pair is a game changer in rental bedrooms. There are really good and affordable options on the market, so it’s of the easiest upgrades to justify.
We also recommend removing Venetian blinds wherever possible. These guys never work smoothly, they tend to warp over time and are magnets for dust. As far as budget options go, roller blinds are an excellent option which we use time and time again. You can consider semi-sheer options that still let in light while offering privacy, and blockout options where needed.
Plants + Flowers
Need to fill an awkward space? A large and leafy plant in a pretty container can be the missing piece to your décor puzzle. Bringing the outdoors in immediately adds life to any room and make it feel more welcoming. Sometimes it’s the simplest addition that make a rental feel like home.
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