A few weeks ago we sold our family home, packed up all of our belongings and moved into a rental property. I took a little social media break to settle our family of four into a converted barn in the Kent countryside, which sounds idyllic but while the view from the window is beautiful rolling fields and woolly livestock, the house itself is a far stretch from the lovingly curated home we just left. Thankfully our rental experience will only be short term but living in a magnolia box with mismatched furniture has definitely had me thinking about rental friendly décor. Here are a few ideas to help make someone else’s property feel more like your home without upsetting the landlord and forgoing your deposit!
Walls
Obviously, the quickest way to add personality to a house is to put some colour on the walls. Always check with your landlord before taking the plunge but when painting isn’t an option peel and stick wallpaper is a brilliant alternative. Easy to apply and remove, you could also use it on a feature wall or inside alcoves and cupboards. B&Q and Homebase now stock removable wallpaper (although options are very limited), sites like Wayfair and Spoonflower and even Etsy have a huge variety.
While you might not be able to drill into the walls, artwork is thankfully still an option, whether its family photos, paintings or prints the 3M Command strips are brilliant. They don’t leave a mark when removed and can hold over a stone in weight. I use these strips regularly to display all my framed prints and wall hangings.
Command strips for hanging frames and wall hangings
While you might not be able to drill into the walls, artwork is thankfully still an option, whether its family photos, paintings or prints the 3M Command strips are brilliant.
Floors
Grungy carpets or scuffed floorboards often go hand in hand with rental accommodation. I discovered Lorena Canals a while ago and with two children their rugs are an absolute lifesaver as you can literally throw them in the washing machine. These peel and stick tiles are also great for kitchens and bathrooms as they can be removed when the lease is up.
For playrooms I still love my Gus + Beau playmat, they come as packs of individual tiles that you can join together to fit odd-shaped spaces.
Lorena Canals Washable Play Rug Ecocity
Gus & Beau Confetti Playmat Set in Sand