Designing a home that accurately reflects your style and personality when you’re restricted by landlord limitations. With renters required to leave the property in the same condition as when they began the contract, it can make adding character to your space tricky - but we don’t believe in suppressing your inner interior designer.
We believe that no matter how long you plan to rent, you should have a space that feels like your own, with a style that reflects your personality. Don’t let outdated tile flooring, old splashbacks and plain decorations hold back your interior creativity. In this blog, we’re going to cover all the renter-friendly ways that you can upgrade and decorate your rental without having to worry about losing the security deposit.
Can you decorate a rental house?
Yes, you can decorate your rental property, but there are limitations that you need to be aware of before making any changes. Restrictions may vary depending on the contract and landlord, so it’s best to consult the landlord/letting agency for a better understanding of what’s allowed, as well as to get permission for decorating your home.
A few things you can find in your rental contract include:
-
No long-term damage or permanent changes to the walls
-
No permanent damage or changes to cabinets
-
No permanent damages or changes to the flooring
Ways to decorate your rental house
Despite the restrictions, there are ways you can decorate your rental home without worrying about losing your security deposit. From temporary wall moulding to switching out light fixtures and adding stunning decorations, below we’ve included some of the best ways you decorate a rental property so you can enjoy a space that perfectly encapsulates your personal tastes.
-
Add some renter friendly panelling
There are many ways you can use wall panels to update the look of those plain white walls. Just make sure you’re attaching them with nails and not glue to avoid lasting damage and remember to take the panelling down and fill in the holes before you move out.
Panelling can be used in a variety of rooms from bedrooms to kitchens thanks to their moisture resistant properties, making them an all around solution for any home. Below we’ve included some of our favourite ways to use panelling in a rental house.
Creating a headboard for your bed can bring dept and intrigue to a bedroom that suffers from plain walls. Take these STRIVO Acoustic Slat Panels, they’re perfect for adding a pop of colour to bland white walls while incorporating warm tones and fun textures to create a cosy room that feels like home.
STRIVO Acoustic Slat Panel - Natural Ash
Or you can create a stunning splashback effect in your kitchen using these Multi Tile Medium Greystone Panels. Not only are they easy to maintain, making keeping your rental clean a breeze, but they offer unbeatable natural stone textures that will elevate the look of your rented property without worry of losing your security deposit.
Multi Tile Medium Greystone Panels
-
Switch out your lighting fixtures
Lighting fixtures are a perfectly easy way of updating your decor if you have a standard flush mount or hanging fixture. A good lighting fixture can completely transform a room, from woven chandeliers to create a natural and spacious feel to sleek black fittings that create bold contrast. Just remember to save the original fixtures to put back on before you move out.
-
Change your cabinet handles
Often in rentals, you’ll find that cabinets aren’t the most creative of styles, especially the hardware, like the fixtures. Despite being a small detail, they can make all the difference in upgrading your space. From brightening up your cabinets with some lighter, vibrant styles to adding stark contrast with some darker hardware. Cabinet handles and hardware are easy to change and won’t leave lasting damage, as you can put the originals back on before you leave.
-
Add rugs to your flooring
While you may not always be able to completely transform your flooring in a rental home, rugs are an easy way to elevate the style of a room, they can also do a lot to camouflage old, dated carpets or tiles. We recommend large rugs for a bolder impact on your space, giving the impression of carpet without actually having to fit it.
-
Temporary wall moulding
If your rental property suffers from plain white walls, a great way to add some character and depth is with picture frame moulding. For this, you’ll need to make sure you’re using renter-friendly options for mounting them to your walls, such as mounting tape and command strips. You could also use adhesive, but this might require more patching up when you remove it.
-
Upgrade plug sockets and light switches
Little details such as plug sockets and light switches can easily be overlooked when it comes to decorating, but they can make all the difference in the overall style of your home. Swapping plain white, everyday light switches for something more elegant or striking with dark colours or stylish designs. You might want to use this opportunity to match your plug sockets to the style or colour of your furniture for a more well-rounded look. Remember to keep the originals and take yours with you when you go. If you aren’t confident in your electrical ability, consult an electrician to change these for you.
-
Cover cabinets with contact paper
For a more bold change, you can even wrap your cabinets in contact paper. Contact paper is a thin, adhesive vinyl that you can stick to your cabinets, shelves and countertops to mimic effects such as wood or for a change of colour.
It’s also a good way of protecting surfaces from scuffs and staining over time, making it both practical and stylish for upgrading your rental property. They come in a wide variety of styles so you can easily find something to turn your house into a home.
-
Change bathroom and kitchen fixtures
Some landlords are more than happy to allow renters to change the fixtures so long as they get changed back before they leave. This can be anything from taps to showerheads, and while they can be a little more involved, they’re a great way to update your space. Whether you’re after something more striking, like a black and gold showerhead or differently shaped, brassy taps for a more unique style.
-
Try battery-operated wall sconces
Both practical and perfect for elevating your interior decor, battery-operated sconces are great for layering lighting for a more dynamic look and great for decorating plain walls. The best part is they won’t need any electrical wiring, just a battery charge that won’t cause any lasting damage to your rental property.
Upgrade your rental property with Panel Company
While renters may not offer as much flexibility as homeowners do, there are still many ways you can transform a space into your own without causing any permanent damage. Whether you’re changing the light fixtures to something with more character to changing up bland cabinets with stylish contact paper.
If you’re looking to make your rental feel more homely then browse our range of wall panelling for a wide variety of styles to suit your personal taste, with easy to clean and maintain properties, making it perfect for elevating your rental property into a home you’re proud of.
