A common frustration with renting is not being able to personalise your space, but there are a few wallet-friendly ways to decorate and add a stylish splash around the house, without causing any permanent damage.
The challenge for most renters is weighing up the financial risk and aesthetic payoff, as well as deciding how much time, energy and money should be invested in sprucing up someone else’s property.
There is no doubt it’s worth the effort, but which areas do you focus on and which do you suck up and learn to live with? Here is our list of quick, easy and cost-effective ways to brighten up your rental home:
Invest in the right furniture:
Choose your furniture wisely. Being cost-effective doesn’t mean having to live with cheap and disposable furniture like most renters assume. And doing so will only emphasise the ‘unhomeliness’ of a temporary home.
Make a conscious effort to invest in quality furniture. It may cost you more now, but it will save you a fortune in the long run and will prevent having to replace worn out furniture ever so often.
Second hand goods work well for renters who may not have enough room in their budget to splurge on state-of-the-art furniture. You are bound to spot a few high quality pieces that will spruce up the look of your home without costing you a fortune.
Make a statement with paint:
Nothing adds a pop of colour quite like a new splash of paint to the walls. It is the simplest way to add your own personal touch to a space that may not feel like yours just yet.
If your lease agreement doesn’t allow for it, then why not liven up the area with some removable wallpaper? Unlike paint, it’s easy to install (just peel and stick) and is available in a variety of patterns which will allow you to bring out your inner personality and create something more suited to your liking.
Aside from visual appeal, it is also a budget-friendly option which can be reused multiple times without losing cohesion.
Find out more on how to paint a room perfectly
Light up your home:
We all know that beautiful lighting can make a big design statement, but somehow it’s (almost) always the worst feature in any rental home.
Don’t feel gloomy at the thought of living with outdated ceiling lights. Replacing a lighting fixture is the easiest DIY project you could ever take on - you just need your landlord’s approval.
Consider swapping out those unattractive fixtures and replace them with something that is more representative of your taste. Just store the original lights in a safe place and put them back on when you move out.
Learn more about the latest lighting trends for your home
Let your artistic side shine:
A super-strict lease is still no excuse for having bare walls. Artwork, photos, and decorative touches are the soul of a house and should be taken advantage of.
Hanging up a few framed paintings to show your aesthetics, or simply creating a memory wall with a photo collage will make your rental home feel more like you.
If your landlord won’t allow you to knock in some nails around the house, there is also the option of a few chic-looking decals to spice up your walls and add an extra touch to your furniture.
Follow this guideline for purchasing art
Cover up unappealing floors:
Not every renter is lucky enough to find a place with beautiful hardwood floors.
So whether you are trying to cover up cold and colourless tiles or wall-to-wall carpeting, a good area rug will cover a multitude of sins.
Throwing down a stylish rug is an affordable way to cover up your imperfect floors and can work wonders in refining the style of your home.
Bring life into your home:
Fresh flowers and plants should be seen as your best allies, whether it is used to add a pop of colour to your kitchen or to fill an empty space around the house.
It’s also an affordable way to integrate nature in its simplest form - especially for those lacking a backyard or a front garden.
If you’re worried about the effort to maintain them, then consider plants which are easy to keep alive and have a longer life span, like a cactus.
Every house should be a home, even if it’s just a temporary one. Considering these quick fixes will spruce up your rental space and have you comfortable in no time.