Keen to make your rental feel like home – minus forfeiting your bond? Personalising your rental doesn’t have to be impossible, and there are plenty of options that won’t leave a mark. Here are some simple tips and tricks.
Pot plants
Dotting your indoors and outdoors with pot plants is one of the easiest ways to make a rental feel like home. You can choose from an almost limitless array of shapes, sizes and colours – whether you prefer some potted colour or a dwarf citrus (or three). Even better, they can help personalise the space and move with you from home to home.
Not a green thumb? There’s never been a bigger array of fake plants on offer, from faux flower arrangements through to larger potted plants.
Have a chat
If you’re looking for some more permanent changes and you’re happy to bear the cost, make an appointment with your rental agent to discuss. If your ideas improve the property at no cost to the owner, you might find they’re more than happy to oblige. Who knows, the owner may even chip in!
Paint it
Chances are the owner will be more than happy to approve a paint job, although you should be prepared to compromise on colour. If a paint job isn’t possible, there are a wide range of adhesive wallpapers on the market. Be careful though – if you do it wrong you could be facing a pricey repair bill.
Flooring
Sick of ugly vinyl or floor tiles? Consider this adhesive, waterproof flooring option that can be laid over your current hard surface and picked back up when you move.
If you’d rather keep costs and effort low – or you are dealing with carpet – large area rugs might be a safer choice.
Choose feature furniture that suits the space
Over the last few years, we have seen an influx of affordable, occasional furniture, making it easier than ever to style an entire house. From an all white look for a Hamptons feel to edgy Brooklyn style industrial furniture, the choices are limited only by preference (and imagination).
Soft furnishings
From rugs and cushions to matching towels, creating a uniform look and style with your soft furnishings can go a long way towards personalising your rental to feel like home. If you’re not adapt at styling, plenty of department stores at different price points offer inspirational photos on their websites showing how to style their collection to create different looks.
Accessories
Much like soft furnishings, accessories can help add to your specific style. Consider candles, vases, and wall clocks through to toothbrush holders and soap dispensers.
Removable hooks
No longer do we need to nail in picture hooks to hang artwork or photos. Removable hooks have a special design that allows you to stick them to the wall – so no more holes! Simply follow the instructions on the packet and you’ll be able to remove them when you leave.
And on that note, nothing turns a house into a home like art and photographs!
Window treatments
If you hate the curtains or blinds in your current property, put them into storage and splurge on something more to your taste. Or if you’re feeling crafty, why not have a go at making your own drapes?
Light coverings
The best thing about DIY lights is there is no wiring involved – simply install them over the existing fixture. If you’re new to DIY, take the current cover, a photo and measurements to your local lighting store to see what options are available.
If you’re looking for a more flexible option, lamps can be a great way to create mood lighting. As a plus, they also come in a huge range of styles and heights, so they’re sure to fit into whatever look you’re creating.
Scents
From candles to room sprays, infusers and aroma reeds, scents are a great way to personalise your space, without having and impact on your bond. Just be sure to blow out that candle before leaving the house.
Words by Melanie Hearse
Get out of that rental and into your first home. Contact eChoice today, and let one of our brokers find you a great home loan deal.