Ideally our homes should suit our lifestyle, and when you own your own property it’s far easier to do this. If you’re short on space you can get an extension or if you need more storage, you can invest in fitted wardrobes built into the rooms where you need it. When you rent, it’s not that easy. You can’t make dramatic changes to the structure and are fairly limited to what you can do.
But you still want the place to be personal to you. Even the best apartments in the most luxurious of locations need a little tweaking to make them personal to you after all the place where you’re living should still feel like your home. Here are some of the ways you can personalize your privately rented property- without upsetting the landlord!
Redecorate
You’re probably not going to be able to do major redecoration, but if you have a word with your landlord, there may be a couple of adjustment you could make. They might allow you to paint or paper one wall, giving you a feature wall and break up all of the neutral that’s commonly used in rented homes. You may just have to agree to remove/ repaint over this at the end of your lease. Just adding a bit of color to one wall like this can make all the difference, especially if it’s a shade that you love. So chat with your landlord or estate agent and find out exactly what you can and can’t do.
Switch Up The Light Fittings
The great thing about light fittings (even proper, wired in fixtures) is that you can always remove them and put the original fitting back when you leave. You could have a statement piece put in such as a chandelier or other bold light fitting. An electrician will be able to fit it in an hour and remove it even quicker when you come to move house. This can help to bring personality to the home and bring a different look instead of standard fittings that will most likely be used. If you know you’re going to be living in your home for a while, you could even consider changing things like door handles taps, this gives any home a more expensive look and again are things you can change back. Be sure to keep the old fittings somewhere safe, and speak to your landlord if you’re unsure if this is allowed.
Add Personal Items
Even if your rented home is a completely blank canvas and you’re unable to change any of the decor or fixtures, there’s plenty you can do just with personal items. A large rug over wooden floors for example immediately makes everything look cozier. Artwork on the walls helps to distract from an all-neutral theme (use Command Hooks if you’re not allowed to put holes in the walls). Vases of fresh flowers, living plants, framed photos all help to bring a cozy and personal touch to any room. If your rented home came with furniture, throws and cushions could help to put your personal spin on it especially if it’s not exactly your personal style. There are lots you can do to make the place feel like home.