It can be a balancing act making a rented property feel like your own. You want somewhere that feels warm and personal but without spending a fortune changing a flat or house owned by someone else and making alterations that put a deposit at risk. Higher average mortgage rates and hefty deposits mean buying a home is out of reach for many, who are renting for longer.
The good news is that transforming a rental doesn't have to mean a major renovation. With a free weekend, a relatively small budget and a few clever changes, even a bland or tired-looking place can be spruced-up. We asked B&Q chief executive Graham Bell and interior designers Lara Clarke and Lydia Lloyd for their top tips that won't break the bank or annoy a landlord.
Before making anything permanent, check what your tenancy agreement allows. Bell, of DIY chain B&Q, says many landlords may be open to sensible improvements, particularly where something is being upgraded rather than fundamentally changed. But getting permission first avoids an expensive argument when you move out.
Bell also says it is important to take time to prepare properly. "The biggest mistake is that people don't plan enough," he says. "It's all the planning that goes into it that's important, making sure you have everything.
"My dad would tell me to always measure twice and cut once." He recommends deciding exactly what you want to achieve, measuring the space and buying everything you need before you start. Online tutorials can also help with relatively simple DIY projects. If you don't want to spend money improving someone else's property, focus on temporary changes that can come with you when you move.
Bell recommends renter-friendly products such as stick-on tiles for the kitchen, suction storage products in the bathroom and expandable blinds that can be fitted without drilling. Interior designer Clarke says artwork is probably the easiest way to make a rental feel more homely because it "instantly makes a space feel more occupied and finished". She suggests looking for affordable vintage oil paintings, exhibition posters or framed sketches at antique markets, then securing them with command strips so they can be removed without leaving holes in the plaster.
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