Just because you’re renting, doesn’t mean you should have to compromise on comfort and style. As a tenant, there are many ways you can breathe new life into your home, making it look and feel cosy and personal, without losing your deposit. Here are some great ideas to inspire your rental home makeover.
LIGHTING
Lighting plays an important role in setting the tone of your home by creating instant ambience and atmosphere. Investing in inexpensive, modern light fittings can create a statement in any room, plus it’s also a great way to add personality and a personal touch to your interior. If you want to make the lighting in your rental property a little more homely and to your taste, then consider a new light fitting for your living room, dining space or kitchen – it could be a modern ceiling light, a stylish pendant, or a statement chandelier. For something a little simpler, introduce floor and table lamps into your living area and bedroom. They will not only set the mood, but are easy and affordable ways to add personality, depth and style.
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
When you move into a new rental, oftentimes people think the hardware is permanent, but you can in fact change it. One of the most effective and affordable ways to transform the look of your rental property is to update the fixtures and fittings in your kitchen or bathroom. This could be replacing the shower head in the bathroom, buying some new handles and knobs for doors, drawers and cupboards, or installing new tapware in the kitchen. For high impact, coordinate handles and tapware by using the same colour, style and material in each space. Remember, anything that you remove must be put back on at the end of your lease.
WINDOWS
Window treatments play a pivotal role in your home’s aesthetics and can instantly elevate the look and feel of a property. If your rental property’s window furnishings aren’t really your style or detract from what may otherwise be a very warm and homely interior, then buying new window furnishings may be your best option. If your budget allows, you could consider roman or wooden blinds, plantation shutters, bamboo shades or lined drapery to create the aesthetic you’re after. An update to your windows can make a world of difference to your interior but be sure to put the original treatments back on before you move out.
ARTWORK
There’s not a lot of change that can be made to the walls of a rental property, but it can be surprising how much a piece of artwork can impact your space. Transform an empty wall with a striking painting, a print, a canvas, a statement mirror, or a gallery wall of photos. Art is a great way to attract the eye and add your own touch to an interior, and mirrors help make a room look more spacious by adding depth and reflecting light.
FINISHING TOUCHES
An easy and budget-friendly way to spruce up your interior decor and truly make your rental property feel more homely is to decorate with pieces that reflect your style and personality. For instance, give your living room a makeover with new cushions, a textured throw, a ibrant statement rug or a modern vase or clock. Likewise, inject your personality into your bedroom with new bedding and soft furnishings, and don’t be afraid to layer and mix and match different patterns and textures to really bring your room to life.
ADD A TOUCH OF NATURE
When it comes to sprucing up your rental property, houseplants and flowers are perfect for giving rooms an instant facelift for little cost, and help to make your interior feel bright, fresh and homely. If you have a garden, consider planting new flowers in existing garden eds to add some colour, texture and contrast. If you only have a balcony or patio, you could buy some pots, planters or hanging baskets to scatter around and make the space your own.
KNOW THE LAW
In 2019, reforms to the ACT Residential Tenancies Act gave tenants greater freedoms to make basic modifications to rental properties in order to make them more homely and comfortable to live in. The change to the law has meant that thousands of tenants in the ACT have been able to seek approval to make minor and special alterations to their rental properties. This means any renovation, alteration or addition that can be removed or undone at the end of the tenancy so that, except for fair wear and tear, the property is returned to substantially the same condition as when the tenancy commenced. Be sure to check with your property manager before making any changes, just to make sure you and your deposit are protected.
