Sprucing Up a Rental

So, you want to make your rental a place of your own, somewhere you can enjoy living. But neutral walls, somebody else’s sofa and blue carpet just don’t cut it. To help, I’ve gathered up some handy tips and tricks that won’t break the bank or jeopardise your deposit.

Before you start, know the rules. Have a thorough read of your contract to know exactly what you can and can’t do when it comes to decoration. On top of this, have a chat with your landlord or property agent. As Badi note, some “landlords request that you leave the property the same as it was when you first moved in, especially if you have a short term contract”, but “others are happy for you to make changes if it improves the property or can be changed back before you leave.”

If, having looked at the contract and spoken to those in charge, substantial decoration seems out of the question, don’t be disheartened. As quoted in House and Garden, “Orson Welles said, ‘The enemy of art is the absence of limitations,’ and if you see the limitations of your situation as a challenge to be inventive and creative, you'll find you can cover all manner of sins and create a truly unique and beautiful living space without wasting money or making any permanent changes.” With this in mind, try the below:

One

Have a clear out. Ask your landlord or property agent if they can take away anything you don’t want. If they can’t, perhaps dismantle such items and find somewhere to store them. Can’t dismantle or haven’t got storage? Worst case scenario, you can try to cover or hide them. At the same time, sort through your own stuff too. You might even be able to make a bit of money selling on sites such as eBay, Gumtree and Shpock – one (wo)mans junk and all that.

Two

Think back to the elements and principles of interior design.

Light

Light is often neglected in rentals, but it is oh so important. Firstly, you need to think about the brightness (watts or lumen output) and colour (Kelvin) of the bulb. The higher the lumen, the stronger the bulb and the lower the kelvin, the warmer the light. On a recent interior design course, Katie Goring (of Studio Goring) explained how she always goes for 2700 Kelvin and 800 lumen for the perfect downlight. Need more info? This article from Which? is a great resource for choosing the right bulb.

Next, think about the amount of light. Experimenting with the lumen output or using dimmers is great for the main source of light in a room, but you’ll probably want other sources too. Lamps change the atmosphere of a room entirely and are especially useful if a space is lacking natural light.

Finally, think about what adorns those lights and lamps. “Investing in small but spectacular signature lamps with fun shades will provide your space with personality,” says Joanna Wood in House and Garden.

Colour

As mentioned, you might be able to paint your walls if they look like they need a fresh lick of paint or if you promise to return them to the original colour at the end of your tenancy. Here, ‘sensible’ colours are likely to keep everyone happy and going white often feels cleaner and fresher, wiping away the sins of any previous tenant. However, if painting is a definite no no, you can always use wallpaper panels (which you can take with you when you leave) or bring colour in elsewhere (including textiles, art, flowers etc.).

Scale and proportion

As Glamour Magazine note, “no matter if your rental property comes furnished, part-furnished or unfurnished, chances are you’ll start with the bare bones – bed, table, sofa”, which all tend to be at one height or level. However, everything learnt so far emphasises the need for varying levels, enough to keep interest up as one looks around the room. It is therefore worth supplementing what furniture is already there.

Three

Which brings us to point three: furniture. It is worth spending money on the stuff that you will take with you when your tenancy ends – the standout or key pieces, perhaps bought for the rooms you use most. As Money Supermarket note, “armchairs, bookcases, chests, drawers, sofas, and sideboards all make a huge difference to a room, giving you a sense of ownership.” Find your style and ensure continuity with these pieces, so that they can be used in your new spaces in the future. It is also worth looking second-hand here. Aforementioned online stores, as well as neighbourhood groups on Facebook and charity shops can be gold mines in the hunt for furniture.

Four

Consider your soft furnishings. Pillows, blankets and throws in varying patterns, colours and textures enable you to add your own personality to a place and are easy to change whenever you want. Rugs can be used to hide any flooring you don’t like and are also useful in zoning open plan spaces. Finally, removing and storing existing window dressings and replacing with those of your choosing (especially in a better quality) can make a huge difference – what’s more, you can take these with you when you leave.  

Five

Nothing is more personal than art. With cheap online stores such as Desenio and Iamfy, you can find new prints to go with what you already own and get these framed beautifully. Gallery walls are a thing at the moment and the below pictures provide heaps of inspiration. But don’t worry if you can’t use nails or picture hooks – try command strips, using a ledge or even leaning against the wall.

Six

Plants. They bring colour, have many health benefits and look great. Nothing more needs to be said here. The more the merrier. All the plants.

Seven

There are all sorts of products out there that help in the fight against bland rental properties. Fixtures, fittings and ironmongery “on anything from kitchen cabinetry, bathroom cabinetry, wardrobe doors and entrance doors" is just one such example, notes Abbie de Bunsen in House and Garden. Indeed “ironmongery is like jewellery and can turn something simple and relatively ordinary into something special and memorable and upgrade the feel of the whole space." I find Anthropology a great first point of call with the above in mind:

How have you spruced up your rental? I’d love to see! Also, I just love the title of this post because my housemate’s surname is Spruce, which makes all kinds of sense.

*Main image source: https://blog.oka.com/expert-designs/dressing-sofa-cushions/