Renting can often be the only real option for some families. With a lack of funds for a deposit or perhaps difficulty with securing a mortgage, many families are moving into rented properties. These rented properties come with their own issues. While it might be nice to have a landlord to call on when the boiler breaks or when your little one turns a tap on and floods the bathroom. It can be challenging though to make rented homes feel like home. Often you have stipulations in your tenancy agreement about the changes you are allowed to make. Some landlords will be happy with you painting, but this is not always the case.
We are currently living in France in rented accommodation and while the rental scene is quite different over here, we still have the same challenge. We don’t want to invest a lot of cash into this property, as we will be buying our own when we return to the UK. We do, however, want it to feel homely as we will be living here for 5 years. For us it’s so important that Ava feels at home and comfortable in her surroundings.
There are numerous things you can do to inject your own personality into your home in a renting-friendly way.
First things first
The first step would be to check the rental agreement. You need to be 100% sure what is and isn’t allowed with your specific rental agreement. They are all different so checking will make sure you stay above board with your modifications.
Use wall stickers
Wall stickers such as these from JR Decal Quote Wall Stickers can be a great way to transform a room in a non-permanent, fun way. They are perfect for kid’s rooms too. These peal off without causing any damage to the wall, so PERFECT for renters or even just for kids rooms. We know how their tastes change so using these stickers and replacing them when your kid grows up could save you from a repainting job.
Add pictures of friends and family
Personally I love having our personal pictures on the walls. The second I put ours up in France I felt a little more settled. Having these meaningful pictures all around us can make such a difference. If you’re not allowed to nail into the wall you can easily use command strips to pop pretty much anything on the wall.
You can use the frame of the pictures for a splash of colour if you have plain walls.
Use soft furnishing & rugs creatively
Adding in different colours or tones, textures and fabrics with curtains, cushions, bed linen and throws can provide an instant make over. Cushions especially can provide much needed accents of colour and fun into a space and are able to be used in almost every room.
Chances are you won’t be able to replace the floor in your rental home and you probably wouldn’t want to anyway. New floors are quite an investment, not one to make in an investment property. This is where rugs can come into their own, giving you a relatively inexpensive way to add texture and colour.
They can help you create zones in open plan rooms and are great for kids. No-one likes sitting on a cold floor to play!
Change the lighting
You probably won’t even have shades on the lights when you move in. So this provides you with an immediate opportunity to inject your style and personality. You can also use table and floor standing lights to create a cosy vibe. They don’t have to cost a lot. We have so many floor standing lights in our French home (as French don’t install many actual ceiling lights!) and we picked ours up at IKEA.
I’d love to know how you have made over your rental home? What are your top tips?
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.