How To Personalise A Rented Space to Feel More Like Your Own

Living in rented accommodation, whether by choice or because you’re saving up for your own home, can have its restrictions - particularly when it comes to decorating.

For the first time since 2010, renting is cheaper than buying in the UK and is becoming an increasingly attractive option for people. However, it can be difficult to make a space your own. This is because many landlords don’t allow for cosmetic changes to be made to their properties such as painting the walls, hanging pictures, and replacing the carpets.

So, how do you make your rented accommodation feel more like home when you’re faced with certain restrictions? 

Thankfully, we have some r! Our tips will help you add your own personality to a space without risking the deposit or jeopardising your tenant/landlord relationship.

Use Reusable Hooks for Displaying Artwork

When decorating a rental property, it’s important to come up with clever solutions!

One of the easiest ways to make a space feel like home is by displaying your artwork and family photos. However, you may be wondering how to do this when you’re not allowed to make holes in your walls.

Well, you can utilise reusable hooks and sticky strips for displaying your artwork. Both options have a peel-off back that exposes the sticky side.

This can be stuck directly onto a pre-cleaned wall (simply wipe clean to ensure the hook/strip sticks properly) and your picture can be hung on top. Sticky strips have one side that sticks to the wall and the other that sticks to your picture frames for a secure attachment to the wall. 

Reusable hooks and sticky strips are an easy way to hang artwork around your rental without damaging the walls. So, buy your photo frames, hang your favourite posters, and display your family photos to make your house feel like a home. 

Create Ambience with the Right Lighting

A recent study carried out by the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that the way you light your home can result in both positive and negative emotions. For example, harsh levels of bright light can make you uncomfortable, while dimmed lighting can encourage relaxation.

Utilising the positive benefits of lighting in your home is a great way to create an environment that feels warm and inviting. 

Choosing lights for your home that create a warm glow is a great way to subtly brighten any room and help establish a cosy and relaxing atmosphere. Decorating a rental property by creating an ambience in this way will quickly help a space feel more like your own.

Cover Your Floor with a Cosy Rug

Has your carpet seen better days? Often in rentals, the state of the carpets is questionable and tenants are forced to live with carpets that are quite literally falling apart. Although this is worth reporting to your landlord in the hopes of a solution, another solution is to cover up the old carpets with large rugs.

Large rugs are a great way to brighten up your rental space while protecting the old carpet underneath. They are also a great option if you simply don’t like the colour of the existing carpets. What’s more, when you move out you can simply roll up the rug and take it with you.

Incorporating large rugs into your home is a lovely way to add more colour, express your style, and make your space feel more like home.

Free-Standing Bedside Tables

Free-standing bedside tables are another great way to make your space feel more like home. Although a small detail, bedside tables are an item of furniture that is used every day. Whether it’s to hold your latest read, store your iPhone, or house your alarm clock, a bedside table is a must-have for any rental accommodation and is a great way to bring a bit of your personality into your space.

Free-standing bedside tables are a popular choice amongst renters as they are typically cheaper than fitted furniture and are wonderfully portable, meaning you can take them with you when you leave.

Whether you’re upcycling furniture you already own or you’re currently shopping for bedside tables, these items of furniture will help your place feel like home.

Self-adhesive Countertops and Wallpaper

Self-adhesives have become extremely popular in recent years. They are a stress-free and affordable decorating solution and a great way to make your rented space feel more like home. They can be used to cover walls, cabinets, stairs, countertops, kitchen backsplashes, and so much more. 

If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your current space and add your own personal touch, self-adhesives could be the solution for you! 

Cosy Furnishings

The best way to make your rental feel more like your home is to include cosy furnishings. Adding soft and cosy furnishings such as throws and giant throw cushions for the sofa is a lovely way to brighten up your space and enjoy a comfortable, cosy night in.

And there you have it, a few great tips for decorating a rental property. We hope our tips help you create a home that you enjoy spending time in - and at a fraction of the cost!

Have you recently furnished your rental property? Whether you revamped the entire house or just picked up a few furnishings for the living room, we'd love to see your photos! Share with the B&M Community on Facebook, X and Instagram.