As a tenant, keeping your deposit safe is of the utmost importance. The average amount you’ll need to put down these days easily runs into four figures, so ensuring that you’ll get every penny back is obviously in your best interest.
The problem is, however, that you’ll also want to make your new living quarters actually feel like your own home. You’ll naturally want to bring a little of your own personality to what may well be a sea of beige, but doing so can often leave a tenant terrified their landlord will take exception and withhold their hard-earned cash.
Thankfully, there’s plenty you can do without putting holes in the walls or slapping that super-trendy colour of the year onto every flat surface you can find. All you need is a little imagination and a few carefully chosen accessories to transform that soulless space into a haven of homeliness.
Here are a few ideas to help you make your rented accommodation more welcoming and reflective of your character.
Don’t get hung up
As we touched on above, holes in the wall are a landlord no-no, but that doesn’t mean you can’t display your favourite artwork or photographs. Many modern homes, rented or otherwise, now choose to lean frames against the wall rather than hang them...a very landlord-friendly solution!
Remember, you’re not limited to the floor, either. Make use of existing features, such as fireplaces, cabinet tops, and bookshelves to position your pictures. Mirrors, too, can be propped up in this way, and they also bring the added bonus of making a room look bigger as well, which is something that is welcome in many rented spaces.
Think about floor coverings
Few things get used more frequently in a home than the floor, and damage to carpets, wooden floors, and laminate comes high on the list of ways to lose a deposit. Luckily, there’s an easy way to help prevent this from happening to you...and you get the added benefit of bringing personalisation and colour into the home, too.
Adding a bright or textured rug, therefore, serves a dual purpose. You get to show off a little bit of your character whilst protecting your landlord’s property. Everyone wins!
Become a plant parent
While pets may be off the list if you’re living in rented accommodation, plants most certainly are not. Lush greens will be accentuated by the neutral colour schemes found in many rentals, and there’s nothing stopping you from growing your own colourful flowering indoor plants providing there’s enough natural light.
Plants, like rugs, can also serve you in more ways than one. Not only will they make the place feel more homely and colourful, some say they also help purify the air and can brighten one’s mood, as well as one’s home.
Be bright
Another way to add a personal statement without affecting your deposit is to bring in a few quirky lamps to brighten up your new apartment or house. There are literally hundreds of different designs available these days, with every taste catered for, so choose one that best reflects your personality and the rest of your belongings.
Little touches
Our final tip for making a rental feel more like home is simple: accessorise. Make use of super-colourful throws and scatter cushions. Find a strategic place for books and old vinyl. Showcase collectibles and unusual ornaments. In short, making the tiny things ‘pop’ will bring a wealth of character to your rental, and make it feel a lot more like home.
Looking to rent in or around Wanstead and Buckhurst Hill? Take a look at our latest rentals here or give our friendly team a call to find out more about how we can help you find the right property for you and your family.
