Interior design for rented property Part 1

How can you personalise your home if it’s rented?

(This week: - Unfurnished property)

Part 1:

When you read articles about interior design these days, the focus is always on those that own their own property. They talk about house extensions, and there are dramatic colour dynamics for the living room and bedroom with all sorts of interesting lighting ideas for the kitchen, or dining area.

Yes, it's boring, but you can make it more interesting

However, if you rent, then many of those options are simply unfeasible, and with so many people being in a position where they CAN’T afford to buy their own property, then there are bound be restrictions on how far you can go in terms of interior décor.

For whatever reason, you may be renting, if this is the case, then you may be feeling frustrated by the fact that you can do very little to individualise the interiors of your property because your landlords won’t allow it.

Your landlords could be either an estate agent, or the landlords themselves, who rent it out directly to earn a little extra income.

Your home is your castle…

Although you’re grateful to have a roof over your head in such hard times, sometimes you’d like to be able to give it that unique touch that says it’s yours, to add your very own idiosyncratic touches that make it instantly recognizable, your own personal “gaff,” a place where people you know feel instinctively relaxed and comfortable.

Unfurnished property

If your home is unfurnished there’s room for manoeuvre, because although you have the expense of furnishing it, you can at least add a degree of personal choice. If it isn’t, then you’re slightly hampered by the fact that the furniture isn’t in keeping with your personal tastes.

This week, we’re going to take a look at ways you can turn your home into a tranquil haven that says so much about you and less about your landlords. In this first part, its focus will be on those in unfurnished property. All you need is a little imagination and a creative way of thinking and you really can personalise it in an original way.

If you’ve just moved into your property and you’re wilting at the sight of magnolia walls and beige wall to wall carpets, or the ubiquitous imitation wood-flooring linoleum then don’t despair. Yes, it is quite neutral, bland and unimaginative, but for landlords and estate agents, it’s an easy and cheap way to maintain the property, and once you move out, they can quickly paint over it without having to worry about an undercoat. The flooring is easily replaced with cheap plain carpet or linoleum.

What’s important is how you decorate and furnish it in order to give it an original touch and make the whole place your own.

Of course you will be restricted by how many pictures you can put up, whether you’re allowed to use nails and how your landlords feel about blue tack. Don’t forget that if you use tape, that when you take your pictures and wall hangings down, you may take down half the paper down with you, so be aware. If there are already nails in the wall then there shouldn’t be a problem in you using them in order to hang something up. If there aren’t, then ask permission before you start putting things up, you want it to look original and there’s nothing worse than a bare wall.

Walls

You could put up a series of pictures of your family at various stages in their lives. A row of black and white photographs would look simple and classy against a bare wall. If there’s a picture rail then even better, you can balance pictures along it (depending on its thickness). You could also consider wall tapestries that can be hung up, not only will they hide a bare wall, and a dirty looking wall after a few months of wear, it’ll add colour, as well as matching colours in your furnishings.

Hang up inspirational quotes as picture hangings rather than stickers

What’s on trend?

Inspirational sayings that can be stuck to the wall are quite popular right now, but beware, they’ll be hell to pull off, and you may be saddled with a bill for replacing the paint/paper. Also bang on trend are wall hangings that are brass, silver or gold with  flowers, geometric shapes, flowers, or plants with gemstones and coloured beads. By all means hang those on any pre-existing nails or put some up if you’ve had permission.

 

Wall hangings can add colour to a room and conceal bare walls

If you have a favourite local artist whose landscapes you admire then why not see if they’re prepared to offer a discount if you buy a 3 part series or a couple of pictures, rather than one? They’ll draw attention away from the walls and on to the paintings.

Curtains and blinds

Curtains can be chosen to match the cushions and sofas/chairs, they don’t have to be identical, they can simply have one or two colours that bring out a colour in a set of cushions, or the colour of the sofa’s fabric.

You may have blinds, in which case you’ll have to stick with them and you probably won’t be able to change them. However, if there’s a curtain rail you could perhaps hang curtains up, so they can be drawn at night.

Woods

If you’re going with woods then try and stick to one e.g. dark or light, pine, oak, or mahogany. That’s book cabinets, coffee tables, corner tables and if you don’t have your TV mounted to the wall, then a cabinet to sit the TV and DVD player.

A unique feature for your coffee table could be a vintage suitcase or chest that could be used for coffee and magazines. They can be sourced in online antique stores and shabby chic interior stores.

Either brand new or second hand, a chest can really add a unique touch to a room

Rugs

Purchasing a rug will not only save on wear and tear to your carpets, it’ll also brighten the room and offer a soft and much warmer tread for your feet. Pick something that matches something in the room, perhaps a colour or two in the furnishings or woodwork.

Rugs can brighten a room too and their softer on your feet

Rugs can add colour as well as wall hangings -