10 Things Renters Can Do To Personalise Their Home

With property prices constantly increasing, more and more of us are choosing to rent our homes rather than buy them outright. Rented homes may come with certain aspects that we cannot change depending on the specifications provided by the landlord, but this absolutely does not mean we cannot make it our own.

These top ten tips from interior designer Zoe Warren at PriceYourJob.co.uk on how to personalise your rental are sure to take your property from a blank canvas to a home in no time at all!

Furniture

Furniture is the essence of any home and is one of the main things a renter will want to focus on to make the property their own. Rented Properties may come furnished or unfurnished, and ultimately, this is the landlord's decision, but either way, you can get creative and adjust it to your tastes.

If the property is unfurnished, as a renter, you will be buying your own pieces, so the first step is going to be to measure the space and see what fits where. Think of it like a jigsaw puzzle! Once you have your measurements, it is time to start shopping for furniture to fill your space. There are many things you may wish to consider here, such as quality, types of material, and colour schemes.

If the property comes furnished, fear not—you can still make it your own by rearranging moveable pieces to suit your own personal style and taste. If moving the main pieces of furniture is not an option, you can always add simple, easy-to-move items such as bean bags and ottomans to add your own personal touch.

Soft Furnishings

The simplest way to add flair to existing pieces of furniture within your home, such as sofas and beds, is by adding some soft furnishings.

Blankets, pillows, and cushions will not only serve to add that extra layer of comfort and warmth but can also be used to enhance the appearance of your furniture. They will instantly add a touch of colour and texture to a piece, all without making any permanent changes to the existing frame.

You could choose fabrics that fit in with your existing colour scheme or go for something entirely different for a bright pop of colour, so it really is the perfect way to adapt your home to your own personal tastes.

If your budget allows, you may even wish to consider buying different sets of soft furnishings for different seasons to keep your home feeling fresh and new—perhaps that cosy tartan throw you have laid down for autumn, and winter could be switched up for a colourful floral one in spring and summer!

Curtains and Blinds

Nothing makes a home feel cosier during those dark winter nights than a set of curtains or blinds to keep out the cold and leave you curled up in your warm, tranquil nest. They can also be utilised to add a lot of depth and character to a room, and how you choose to approach this is entirely up to you.

A set of neutral-coloured curtains or blinds can open a room up and make it feel more airy and spacious. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a brighter, more vibrant colour that will really pop and turn your window coverings into a feature piece.

Rugs

Much like your soft furnishings and window coverings, rugs are a simple and easily removable item that can be placed down to add an extra layer of depth to any room.

Flooring is an aspect of a rental property that will often not be changed entirely by each tenant, but the addition of a rug can completely change the look and feel. Size, colour, and pattern are all things to think carefully about when purchasing your rug, as you will want to use it to enhance the room with some vibrancy but not completely overwhelm your space.

As well as being used to spruce up plain carpet space, rugs are perfect for adding warmth and cosiness to rooms with hard flooring such as wood, tiles, and laminate.

Paint

Whether walls within a rented property can be painted is, again, entirely landlord-dependent. If allowed to, a fresh splash of paint in your rooms will allow you to personalise them to fit in with your own tastes and colour scheme and leave the space feeling clean and new. It also leaves much room for creativity, perhaps you want your walls throughout the home to be consistent or, alternatively, give each room its own personal flair.

Individual rooms can also be enhanced with a feature wall that is painted a different colour to the rest of the walls in the room, really serving to highlight it and add an extra touch of character.

If painting the walls within your property is not an option, you may be able to consider painting the furniture. Giving your dark wood furniture a lighter shade or vice versa can change the entire appearance of a room.

Or, for more subtle but super creative changes, you could think about using stencils to add some extra patterns and colours to your existing pieces.

Storage

Many rental properties, particularly flats and apartments, often, unfortunately, come with a lack of built-in storage space. Adding furniture such as wardrobes, units of drawers, and moveable cupboards will add the additional storage you need whilst once again allowing you to make your own personalised choices.

If making changes to larger furnishings isn’t possible within your budget or rental agreement, try adding portable boxes and storage containers. These are sold in any homeware store and can be added to your existing shelves and cupboards to create that extra layer of storage. They also come in a variety of different colours, textures, and patterns, so they are perfect for showing off your personality within a room.

Lighting

The lighting you choose for a room is vital in setting the tone and atmosphere you wish to create and is one of the most highly adaptable ways to change up your home. Lightbulbs come in a variety of different colours and levels of brightness, and you will want to think carefully about your needs in each room—for example, you may wish to go for a warmer tone in your living room but bright, cooler colours in the kitchen and bathroom.

Light fixtures are also very easy to change, and vibrant lampshades or chandelier-type fittings are sure to grab attention. You can even take the personalisation as far as your light switches—many shops and independent sellers now create easily changeable light switch covers that come in a range of colours, patterns, textures, and shapes.

Accessories

When moving into a new home, one thing that will often travel with you is the trinkets and accessories that you have collected over the years. What better way to add your personality to a property than by showing them off?

Shelves, mantelpieces, and tabletops within your home are all perfect surfaces to place your collectables and decorative items. Simple statues, candles, and other artefacts are a surefire way to spruce up any plain-looking surface—or maybe you want to use it to showcase your collection of favourite books or vinyl records!

Houseplants

Whether real or artificial, houseplants can make any property feel more homely and bring that fresh outdoor feel indoors. This can be particularly beneficial for renters who do not have a garden attached to their home as it helps to provide that element of nature you may feel you are lacking. There are many different types of houseplants that you can use to personalise your space, and it all depends on the vibe you are going for.

Green leafy plants are currently very popular, and whether it be a large potted plant in the corner of a room or smaller ones dotted along shelves, they can add a sense of calm whilst also providing a splash of colour against plain, neutral walls. For those looking for that extra hint of vibrancy, consider adding brightly coloured flowers—these really fit the mood in the summer months but can also uplift any room during winter.

Artwork and Photos

Nothing makes us who we are like the style and tastes we have developed and the memories we have made over the years. Therefore, there is no better way to personalise a rented property than by framing and hanging up our favourite photographs and pieces of artwork.

The artwork you choose can really set the vibe of a room as well—whether it be boho chic or a more classical look, guests will instantly know what you are aiming for. The best part is hanging up your favourite mementoes, which is totally possible without using drills and nails if your landlord would prefer to keep the walls looking smooth.

Most DIY and homeware stores will sell no-hole picture strips, which you can easily attach to your walls, shelves, and other surfaces, providing a great place for propping up frames.

Mirrors

Rented homes come in many different shapes and sizes, but if feeling like you have a lack of space is an issue for you, try adding some mirrors! These reflective surfaces can really open up a room and make it feel much larger than it actually is, providing an excellent way of enhancing natural light.

These highly flexible items can be built into furniture, hung up on walls or placed on a portable stand so they can be easily fitted into your space requirements and rental agreement requirements.

So there we have it—and I am sure this article will have conjured up much of your own inspiration and ideas. Every lived-in property deserves to feel like a home, and I wish you the happiest of journeys in creating yours!