How To Make A Rented House A Home

Turning a rented house into a cosy home may seem like a real challenge. But with the right interior décor tips, you can transform your bland shell of a rented house into a home that you truly love. And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg either! 

Here are our top tips for making a rented house a home:

Check With The Landlord

Whether you are renting for a private landlord or a housing association, there will be restrictions on what you can and can’t do to your rented property. Many housing associations are very flexible when it comes to decorating or making changes to your home.

But you should always check your lease or tenancy agreement first. This will outline the changes you can and cannot make to your house. If you don’t stick to the restrictions outlined in your tenancy agreement, you may face hefty fines when you move out.

If you are unsure of something, always check with your landlord beforehand as rules differ greatly from landlord to landlord. Most landlords want their tenants to be happy in their home, meaning many will allow certain requests. 

For example, some landlords are happy for you to re-wallpaper as long as it is done professionally. Whereas others won’t even allow you to change the paint colour. And some landlords will allow you to paint the house whatever colour you like, as long as you return it to its neutral colour scheme when you move out. 

Take Advantage Of The Neutral Colour Palette

If you aren’t allowed to change the colour scheme, or you can’t afford to fork out for tins of bold coloured paint, there’s no need to worry. Neutral colour palettes are always on-trend. Whether it’s a crisp white, warm cream or cool grey, you can turn the neutral house into a stylish and cosy home.

Having neutral walls and floors allows you to go bold with your furniture and soft furnishings. So, don’t be afraid to add a splash of colour. You could upcycle the furniture you currently have or buy new furniture. 

With large mirrors, bold coloured furniture, patterned rugs, artwork and soft lighting, your neutral walls will blend into the background and provide a simple canvas for your tasteful interior décor.

Or Use Removeable Wallpaper

If you’re not allowed to paint your walls, but you’d really like a change, you could always opt for removable wallpaper. Self-adhesive wallpaper is a renter’s best friend. 

This clever creation allows you to transform a room with stick-on wallpaper that is easy to apply and just as easy to remove. And the best thing is, it’s doesn’t damage the wall or paintwork when removed. 

Good quality removable wallpaper can be expensive, but you don’t need much to create a stunning feature wall in your living room or bedroom. Removable wall stickers are also an excellent idea, especially in a child’s bedroom.

Add Area Rugs & Soft Furnishings

Most rented properties have hardwearing floors or neutral carpets. And unless your landlord agrees, there’s isn’t much you can do to change them. But you can alter the look of a room completely by adding stylish area rugs. 

Perhaps add a huge colourful rug underneath your bed to give your bedroom an elegant and expensive look. Or add a bold area rug to your lounge to brighten up the space. You can also add flat-weave rugs or runners to your kitchen to add personality and warmth.

Similarly, soft furnishings made a huge difference to a home. Layer up the throws and cushions to add texture, colour and warmth to your lounge and bedroom.

Don’t Let “No Hanging” Stop You

Many landlords have a “no hanging” or “no nails” policy, meaning you aren’t allowed to hang pictures, mirrors or wall hangings using nails or screws. Some landlords will offer to visit your house and put picture hooks up for you. 

But if they don’t, you could always use adhesive hanging strips that allow you to hang mirrors, pictures and wall art without damaging the wall or paintwork. Adhesive hooks are also a great idea. You can use them to hang photo frames, coats or even lightweight curtains. 

Alternatively, you could get creative with the positioning of your mirrors and wall art. For example, you could lean a large freestanding mirror against the wall – it’s on-trend and will add light and depth to the room.

Add Photographs And Personal Items

Don’t forget to add personal touches to your rented home. Your favourite ornaments, fridge magnets, books, scented candles and photographs should be seen throughout your home.

Freestanding storage is an excellent addition to a rented home. It proves a stylish place to display your photographs, ornaments and more.

Be Thrifty

If you’re making a rented house a home on a budget, you probably want to save money wherever you can. We recommend checking out Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, eBay and your local charities shops for furniture and home décor bargains.

Plants, Plants And More Plants

Plants and flowers breathe life into a house. You can pick indoor plants and flower bouquets up from most supermarkets at an affordable price. Or head to a garden centre for lots of choices.

Choosing The Right Lettings Agent

You might think it’s a weird one but choosing the right estate agent can drastically help you make a rented house a home. Companies like Ben Siggins Estate Agents have great relationships with landlords to get things fixed quickly should anything go wrong and to even advocate for you with the landlord. Experienced letting advisors will also make themselves available to you, to answer any questions you may or may not have about what you can do to the property whilst you’re a tenant.