How To Make Someone Else’s House Your Home

The limitations of a rental property can be frustrating. You want to make the space feel like your own, but aren’t permitted to renovate, or even do any permanent decorating.

However, with a bit of creativity you can fashion a beautiful living space, by making temporary changes that won’t cost a fortune.

Your walls are your canvas

Removable wallpaper and decals are all the rage and allow you to create feature walls or cover an entire room without the long-term commitment.

They are affordable, non-toxic, easy to apply and remove, and won’t ruin the underlying surface.

There are many online suppliers that offer every design and texture under the sun – so you are only limited by your imagination.   

Framed photos are a great way to give your home a personal feel and temporary removable hooks are a fantastic alternative to nails.

Just make sure that they hold the correct weight to avoid unfortunate accidents or bumps in the night.

Artwork has the ability to completely transform a room but can be expensive to collect.

A cheaper alternative is to look for vintage advertising posters or order prints online that you can frame yourself, and take with you when you move.

Large leaning mirrors are a big trend as they are casually elegant and make a room look bigger, lighter and brighter.

Go for a tall mirror where possible and place it opposite a window to amplify the natural light, or between two windows to give the illusion of a third.

Leaning ladders are another popular trend and can be used in bathrooms to hang extra towels or in living rooms to hang magazines.

Don’t look down

Old kitchen tiles or shabby carpet can seriously date a home but don’t have to be something you put up with.

Investing in a large rug or entrance hall runner can make all the difference, and placing furniture overlapping the edges gives the illusion of more space.

Another option is temporary stick on flooring which is available in many different designs and finishes.

Like wallpaper, it can be removed when you move without causing damage and won’t cost you a fortune.

Carpet tiles are another inexpensive option that can be attached with double sided tape, while there is even temporary decking available for those wanting to transform an outdoor area.

Damage free reno

If possible, remove old curtains and replace them with low cost fabric ones using the existing curtain rods.

You can also source spring-loaded curtain rods from your local hardware store to hang in front of old blinds that you can take with you when you leave.

Replacing light bulbs with a warmer colour can drastically change the ambience of a room, as can adding new light fixtures or floor and table lamps. 

An easy and quick way to refresh your kitchen or bathroom is to change out mismatched or rusty cabinet knobs. Just ensure you keep them in order to switch them back.

Shower head doing your head in? Switch it out for one you like and try adding indoor plants, candles and new towels to give an old bathroom a modern lift.

Storage in small apartments can be an issue and adding inbuilt cabinetry isn’t an option.

One answer is cube style storage solutions and stylish baskets that will easily fit into other spaces in the future.

Also consider buying a butcher’s block on wheels to add to a kitchen that lacks counter space, as it doubles as extra storage for serving bowls and crockery.

Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise!

Investing in a beautiful planter to house your indoor plant can double as an artwork and add a calming, natural element to a room.

If you aren’t a green thumb, consider investing in succulents that will last for years and require very little attention.

Stylishly selected home wares such as a console table, vase or throw will allow you to express some personal flare and consider pairing some less expensive purchases with investment pieces that will last the distance.

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