Four walls, a roof, a door, perhaps some windows; a rough approximation of a house right there. But a home is so much more than the sum of its physical parts; a living space where you feel sheltered and sustained, somewhere you miss when you’re away and holds you in a warm embrace when you return. There really is no place like it.
When renting, it can sometimes be hard to make a space which has such a history of transience feel like your own. Of course, family are the crucial ingredient for homemaking alchemy, but interior design also plays a crucial role. With that in mind, here are 7 IDEAL ways to make your rental house a home.
Keep Things Clean
There can be a temptation in a rental property to let standards slip slightly in terms of cleanliness. A mug of tea might stay on the side a little longer than usual, the hoover might not be quite so intimate with the carpet, and the outside of the house will likely be neglected. But to turn things from functional to familial, from a house to a home, it’s important to keep things clean and tidy.
So notwithstanding the obligatory end of tenancy cleaning and a landlord’s responsibility to fix things as and when requested, a weekly cleaner or your own diligent and dedicated cleaning plan will make things feel far more hospitable.
Personalise Your Space (With Permission)
Most landlords choose a neutral decor scheme which often feels cold and impersonal. However, those uniformly white walls, beige carpets and that identikit ikea functionality are actually ideal for those wishing to make a rental property feel like their own home; a blank canvas for you to dress up as you please (within the terms of your contract).
Indeed, you can personalise your space with everything and anything that you please. Surround yourself with objects that tell a story about your life; trinkets brought back from trips, photos of your friends and family and bargains picked up from a charity shop. Doing so will change it from an emotionless space to one filled with your memories.
If you’re stuck with your landlord’s furniture, there are a few nifty ways to personalise it without actually altering it irreparably. Throws and fabrics with details, colours and patterns personal to you can help you leave your mark without actually leaving a mark.
Changing elements which are easily returned to their original state, like curtains, blinds and cushion covers, can also help you put your stamp on things. You can even brighten up the walls with peel and stick removable wallpaper which doesn’t leave any residue when you move out.
If you really want to personalise your space, it never hurts to ask the landlord if certain changes are permitted. If picture hooks are forbidden in your contract, if you have a good relationship with your landlord and ask in person, they may let you hang pictures and paintings that you love.
Moreover, they may even be happy with you painting a wall, as long as you paint it back to the original colour before you leave. Though smaller single family rentals often come with furniture, or built-in furniture like kitchen and bathroom cabinets, freestanding furniture of your own is also your friend when if comes to personalising your rental home. So, ask your landlord to take away some of their furniture so you can add your own to the space. They may of course say no, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Freestanding Artwork
Whilst you may be forbidden from hammering a hook or nail into the wall to hang your artwork, there are myriad other ways you can create aesthetic, ornamental intrigue at home.
If you have traditional prints that you would usually hang on the wall, instead consider an easel or freestanding frame with legs to display your artwork. Alternatively, there’s something rather chic about larger artwork, framed and leaning against the wall, giving the impression of an artist at work or a studio in motion.
Of course, a few small pieces of standalone sculpture won’t make any mark on the walls, too, but if you don’t own any, you can even make artistic statements from your hobbies. That guitar leant against a wall? Your old school lacrosse stick? The pestle and mortar you faithfully lugged back from Thailand? They can all look great as ornaments, too.
If these items have sentimental meaning to you, or they’re valuable, then do be aware that your landlord’s insurance doesn’t apply to you or your belongings. They have no obligation to arrange any insurance coverage for you – this responsibility falls solely with the tenant. Yet, only a survey revealed only 52% of the UK’s 4.44 million private renters have arranged tenants insurance.
Tenants’ insurance can protect your belongings and ensures you won’t be left out of pocket in the event that your personal property is damaged or stolen. This type of insurance can cover anything from water leaks to natural disasters like flooding and storms, and is certainly something worth looking at.
Read: How to frame, hang and display your artwork to catch the attention of your guests
Go Green
In your rental home, where perhaps garden space is scant and permanent flourishes of aesthetic delight banned by your landlord, having some flowers and plants indoors can offer a solution to both problems. The benefits of using plants in your own home are myriad. Not only do they purify the air and balance out a house’s humidity, fantastic foliage can help you feel more relaxed and calm, which in turn benefits your everyday mood. That’s even before we consider the visual appeal. A must, then, when making things more homely.
Some of the easiest house plants to take care of include a snake plant, spider plant, pothos, coffee arabica, monstera, peperomia and of course, all types of succulents.
That said, be mindful not to place your plants behind electronics equipment; there’s always the possibility of a spillage causing a problem when you go to water them. You’ll be thankful for that tenant’s insurance if you such a spillage does occur, mind.
Meet The Neighbours
“Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours”. Yep, we couldn’t agree more, especially when you’ve just moved into a rented place and want to make friends and feel at home with haste.
If the relationship with your neighbours is harmonious, life is so much easier; an extra pair of eyes on your place while you’re away, a tolerance of a bit of late night noise from time to time, a friendly cup of sugar lent when you’re out…you get the picture.
On the flipside, should the mood be fractious, then domestic bliss suffers and your house may never feel like a home. So, get round there with urgency, introduce yourself, smile and project good cheer. The rest writes itself.
Kitchen Confidential
There’s one narrative thread with runs through so many of the best homes; that the kitchen is the hub of the house. This is where bread is baked and broken, where families draw their faces away from screens for a short while and actually make eye contact. Relationships are nurtured and souls are nourished in the kitchen, so it’s a good idea to focus your initial efforts here after moving in.
The good news is that it’s also one of the easiest rooms to get right, simply by adding a few accessories which even a dictatorial (aren’t they all?) landlord couldn’t object to. This could be as basic as putting in a hanging rack for utensils, or having your spice collection on display, to using brightly colour crockery to add a new, confident colour scheme to the overall aesthetic of your home.
Organised Chaos
Have you noticed that the houses which feel really, truly cosy aren’t always in perfect order? Furniture may not be aligned, items certainly aren’t placed at right angles, and scant regard for symmetry is obvious. So, though we realise we’ve already extolled the virtues of keeping things clean, this ‘lived in’ feel creates real warmth, and can be enhanced with a few interior design touches.
In terms of those ‘short term’ and likely to be allowed in a rental, then mismatched furniture scored from antique dealers, clashing textures provided by throws, cushions and rugs, and coffee table books and vinyl collections all bring the right ‘organised chaos’ appeal.
Be warned. While cobbling anything that carries a single digit price tag at the jumble sale may serendipitously result in a synergetic style, it is, frankly, unlikely. Better to have thematic thread running through your design ideas – such as matching lines or motifs, giving a little guidance to your thrifty foraging.
Understanding Your Rights As A Tenant
While making your rental house feel like a home, it’s crucial to understand your rights as a tenant. Familiarise yourself with the terms of your lease, including what changes you can make to the property and your maintenance responsibilities.
Clear communication with your landlord about any modifications can prevent misunderstandings. Keep a record of all communications, especially those related to repairs and permissions, and document the property’s condition when you move in and out to avoid disputes. Tenants’ insurance is also essential to protect your belongings from unforeseen events like water leaks or theft, providing peace of mind and financial protection.
Another way to protect yourself financially is through rent reporting. By using rent reporting services, you can have your on-time rental payments reported to credit bureaus, helping to build your credit score and demonstrating your reliability as a tenant. This can be beneficial if you need to move to a new rental property or apply for a loan in the future.
If you believe your rights are being violated, seek legal advice from tenant advocacy groups or legal aid organisations. Maintaining respectful and open communication with your landlord and neighbours can also help prevent conflicts and foster a positive living environment.
The Bottom Line
Making a rental house feel like a home involves a blend of personal touches, cleanliness, and understanding your rights as a tenant. By personalising your space within the terms of your lease, keeping things tidy, and protecting yourself with tenants’ insurance and rent reporting, you can create a secure and comfortable living environment. Building good relationships with your neighbours and landlord further enhances this experience, ensuring that your rental property truly feels like home.
