Making your rental property feel like home

Make sure you’ve done your homework, you don’t want to risk losing your deposit. The UK Government website recommends getting authorisation before attempting repairs or decorating:

“Get your landlord’s permission before attempting repairs or decorating. It’s worth getting contents insurance to cover your possessions too, because the landlord’s insurance won’t cover your things.”

Although a landlord will be responsible for some of the home’s repairs, check the details and any small print in your tenancy agreement before you start any projects. You may also be asked to return the property to its original state, so that’s something to consider too.

A lick of paint
A fresh coat of paint is a quick and affordable way to transform a room and neutral colours are often favoured in rental properties. Paint experts Lick offer inspiration by mood, a great starting point before you get going on your next project, we love the references to ‘calm and relaxing’ and ‘cosy and warm’ moods.

Or, if you’re more restricted on what you can paint in your property, purchase an MDF and paint that in a bold shade to bring colour into your home without the risk of upsetting your landlord.

Show off your artwork
If you’re conscious of drilling into the walls, look out for self-adhesive picture hanging strips, they are an easy-to-use solution that lets you create gallery walls and hang your favourite photos and artwork without the need for nails or tools. You can use these for small mirrors too to reflect light around the room and make a space feel larger.

Another style tip if you have large spaces of walls to fill, look to create a fabric art piece - if you’re handy with the drill, start off by creating a wooden frame and staple your piece of fabric to it, et voila, a unique piece of art! Pieces like this don’t need to be hung on the walls, using the leaning technique, layering smaller and larger pieces creating clusters of art.

Get creative with vinyl!
Vinyl decals, murals and stickers can bring a room to life and one of the main benefits is their easy removal.

If your bathroom or kitchen is in need of an easy upgrade, look at peel and stick vinyl tile stickers. Make a style statement with bold colours and patterns, the beauty of these stickers is they allow you to tap into a trend without committing to decorating full walls at a larger expense. We love the Moroccan and Mediterranean terracotta inspired designs with star patterns.

Incorporate textures and furnishings
The beauty of soft furnishings is they allow you to bring colour and texture into a room in a quick and easy way. From cushions to ornaments, you can easily switch these up based on the latest interior trends and seasons. As reported in The Sunday Times, interior design expert Kelly Hoppen offers advice on tips for a ‘Happy Home’ including dressing your home for the season.

“If you have a lot of thick velvets and wool in your home, swap them for lighter fabrics in spring. Take cushion covers off and change them or swap velvet cushions for linen.”

Flooring in rental properties can be hard to update, so look at rugs that cover a large area of floor, from jute styles to patterned designs - another quick way to bring in colour and texture.