How to decorate a rented home
I often get asked for more advice on decorating a rental home, because rather than buying a property many people prefer to rent. But decorating a rented property has its drawbacks, the biggest being the landlord. So how do you go about decorating a rented home?
First off, before you sign a rental agreement and having already seen the property, discuss things with your landlord. It's a given that there are going to be things that could be improved upon but you also need to discuss whether or not he or she is agreeable to certain improvements - if you agree to restore to original condition when you leave.
Hanging pictures, for instance, is not that big of a deal. A few picture hooks here and there are easily fixed with a bit of interior crack filler when you move out. You could even offer to repaint the room with a couple of coats of white paint to have the room even better looking than it was when you moved in. Any landlord should agree to small improvements if you discuss these at the onset.
Small improvements won't cost you much and will do a lot to make a rented property feel more like home, so weigh up the cost as opposed to living in a house or a home.
For major improvements such as replacing grubby flooring, modernising a kitchen, updating a bathroom, etc., sit down with the landlord to find out if they are willing to chip in towards the cost. After all, they will reap the benefits of these improvements when you leave. If this is not an option and you can't afford to do it on your own, cosmetic changes can make a big difference.
ABOVE: Inject colour, texture and personality into a rented property. Use lightweight materials such as softboard, x-board and canvas frames to create your own artwork that can be attached to the wall with strong double sided tape such as Pattex No More Nails.
Flooring
It's an unfortunate fact that many rental house have pretty dingy flooring. If it doesn’t date back to the 50’s, then it is probably so full of stains that it looks awful. Flooring can be an expensive investment for landlords and that is why they tend to be overlooked when they fix up a rental for a new tenant.
If your landlord is happy with updating the flooring, then you won’t have too much of a problem - if you aren’t getting new flooring, you can easily consider purchasing a few area rugs to cover up the floors where you can.
The great thing about area rugs is that you can take it with you when you move and usually, you can always find a new area to lay it down when you do move.
ABOVE: A large rug easily covers dingy rental home flooring.
When shopping for a rug - the bigger the better. If you are covering up dingy carpets, broken tiles or scratched laminate you want a rug that hides as much as possible.
Keep it neutral - rather a single colour with a simple design than a bold, busy pattern in various colours. It might look nice now but when you move to the rug might not blend in with the style of the house. Shop wisely for a rug that will last no matter where you live.
Furniture
Although you probably already have all the furniture you need, when buying new furniture to replace dated or worn pieces - keep it simple. A fairly light-coloured lounge suite is easily dressed up with a few pillows and cushions to make it feel like home. Alternatively, find out how to make your own slipcovers for the furniture that you already own, so that you can change the look as you feel like it. The latter is a great idea when there are kids at home as slipcovers can be washed regularly to keep your furniture looking in good condition.
ABOVE: Quick-change rental decorating: Slipcovered furniture, large area rug, decorative floor lamps and Roman blinds create a home - rented or not.
Fittings
Investing in modern light fittings is one of the ways to instantly update and change the look of a home. Shop for fittings that match your decor style and that can be taken with you should you leave. It's an easy DIY project to replace light fittings if you have a fair understanding of basic electrical and be sure to pack the original fittings in a safe place so that they can be reattached later on.
ABOVE: You don't necessarily need to add art to walls to make an impact. In the bedroom above the window treatments make all the difference. Roman blinds are easy to make and can use fabrics and colours that add contrast to any room.
BELOW: Add your own personal touch to windows by creating a valance or pelmet to high ugly rods and rails.
Fabrics, whether on upholstered furniture, pillows and cushions, bedding or window treatments, are wonderful for creating a house that feels like a home. You can use fabrics to create wonderful design effects and they are fairly inexpensive depending on the type of fabric that you are using and the way that you are using it. Another bonus for fabrics is the fact that they can be picked up easily and taken to a new home when you move.
Bathrooms and kitchen
Without the cooperation of the landlord, decorating a bathroom or kitchens is best left to cosmetic touches here and there. Try to decorate around what is already there to improve the general look of the room. A new shower curtain and mats in matching colours, soft fluffy towels and a small vase of fresh flowers will do the trick.
Keep the rooms as organised and uncluttered as possible - a few decorative items here and there to add colour and interest are all that is required.
Where storage is limited, you can easily knock up a cupboard or two to offer extra shelving. Our above-toilet storage unit is just one of the easy ways to add storage without damaging walls, and is easily removed should you move.
ABOVE and BELOW: Depending on the condition of the existing floor, you could consider the option of installing vinyl flooring, either tiles or solid sheets, to cover up. Your local Builders Warehouse has a selection of vinyl floor designs that range in price from around R150 per running metre upwards, or at around R800 for a small bathroom or kitchen.
In the end, with the cooperation of your landlord, anyone who rents can have a beautifully decorated home.
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