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Interior Design Tips for Your Rented Property

While you may want to add some personality into your home, your landlord may not be on board.  Some landlords are happy to allow rooms to be painted, on the condition that you return the house to its original state, but most won’t allow any permanent changes to be made.

Risking losing your deposit is a big gamble just for the sake of a bit of décor, but there are plenty of ways to decorate without breaking your landlord’s rules.  And while we suggest ALWAYS checking with your landlord before making any changes to a property, here are some tips to inspire you.

  1. Soft furnishings

If you’re stuck with white or beige walls that you can’t change, embrace the plain!  Think bright cushions, and colourful bedding sets to liven up your rooms.  Rugs and big bold ornaments are all perfect ways to add interest to your home without risking your deposit!

  1. Removable wallpaper

Did you know that there is such a thing as removable wallpaper?!  It’s easy to apply, simple to remove, reposition, and even reuse without damaging the wall or even leaving residue.  It comes in a huge range of styles and can be used to cover whole walls, or to decorate alcoves and add interest to smaller areas.  We can’t vouch for every brand, nor how it will react with your walls, so this is one tip you’ll want to test on a small area first, and you should run past your landlord if you’re in any doubt!

  1. Move the furniture

If you’re living in a furnished flat, try rearranging the furniture or add some of your own pieces to what is already there.  Just swapping a few things around can transform a room, giving it a whole new look.

  1. Gallery walls

With command hooks and no-hole hanging strips, you can display your art without damaging the walls.  Paintings, photos, mirrors and other decorations can be put up, moved and changed to suit your mood.  Creating a gallery wall with all of your favourite things is a brilliant way to make a property feel like a home.

  1. Light it up

You can’t move the ceiling lights, but with some standard lamps or table lamps you can completely change the atmosphere and how a room is lit.  Check if you can change the light fitting (if you promise to put the old one back) or choose a statement light shade for a pendant fitting to make a big difference in any room.

So those are our top tips.  If you have any questions about what you can and can’t do in your rented property, give your letting agent a call.  If you’re looking for a new rented property, get in touch with Bensons and we’ll let you know what’s available in your area.

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