Decorating Rented Property Without Sacrificing Your Deposit

Whether you’re moving into your first rental property or you’re looking for ways to enhance your rented space, check out these handy tips and tricks to help your home feel like your own without sacrificing your deposit. Before you decide to make any changes to your space, make sure you talk to your landlord and check your contract.  

Go Safe When Purchasing Larger Decor

If you’re not living in your forever home, consider neutral or safer colour options for larger, expensive items. Instead of going for a pink statement mirror, opt for a safer colour like white, black, or wood. That way, when you move house in the future, your pieces of furniture are more likely to work well in your new property. What’s more, if your interior style changes, you’ll avoid having to repurchase new furniture because your old furniture doesn’t appeal to you anymore. 

If you’re a lover of colour and subscribe to the maximalist interior style, fear not. You can jazz up your space with as many colours, patterns, and ornaments as you like! When it comes to the more significant and more costly furniture, sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Lean Items, Don't Hang

Who doesn’t love a statement mirror? They’re great for making your space appear bigger, and they’re simply a must for checking out your outfit before you leave the house. Of course, living in rented property means nails are a serious no-no. If you’re not opposed to using command strips, then be sure to check out our section on them in our handy article about Decorating on a Student Budget.  

If command strips aren’t your thing or you love a no-fuss solution, we’ve got you covered. Simply lean your pieces against a wall instead. Whether that’s a large mirror, or even framed photos or prints, don’t let living in rented property stop you from making your home feel like your own. 

Enhance Flooring With Rugs

Sometimes living in rented property means putting up with ugly carpets or old stains that won’t come out no matter how hard you try. That’s where adding a high-quality rug can help. Whether you go for a classy, fluffy rug that’s sure to feel like heaven under your feet, a textured rug to give your space dimension or a colourful statement rug for a little extra pizzazz, they’re a great item to invest in. 

Add a Funky Shower Curtain

Whether your bathroom needs a little TLC or you’d love to add a splash of colour, level up your loo with a funky shower curtain. Add some serious greenery with a shower curtain like the Habitat Leaf Print Shower Curtain for £11, the Dunelm Tropical Leaf Green Shower Curtain for £10 or the Dunelm Aqualona Tropical Leaf Shower Curtain for £12. For a classy white option, check out the Ikea Bastsjön Shower Curtain for £12, Ikea Bjärsen Shower Curtain for £2.50 or the Habitat Penny Print Shower Curtain for £11. Alternatively, if you’re all about the colour but not particularly fond of patterns, check out the H&M Home Shower Curtain for £9.99, available in white, beige, grey, dusky pink and dusky green. 

Revamp Your Kitchen With Tile Stickers

Whether you’re an avid baker, you love to cook, or the kitchen is your favourite room in the house, don’t let unsightly tiles get you down. There is an abundance of renter-friendly peel-and-stick tiles on the market that you can use by simply sticking over your current tiles to make your space feel more your own. From mosaic-style tiles and Victorian-inspired tiles to tiles with patterns and faux brick tiles, retailers like Wayfair, Dunelm, and Amazon stock some great options. 

Invest in Good Lighting

You’d be surprised what a difference high-quality lighting can make. Whether you want your space to feel modern and sleek, cosy and chic, light and airy, or dark and sultry, investing in lighting will help you achieve that. From table lamps and floor lamps to unique lamp shades and hanging pendants, it’s definitely worth checking out our handy article on Decorating your Lounge on a Budget where you can find some great options for lighting your space. 

Discuss Paint Options

If your landlord is comfortable with you painting your property, this is a simple and affordable way to really add your own personal touch to the place. Whether you opt for a classy off-white to add a tint to your walls, or you’re all about bold colours or painted ceilings that will turn heads, be sure to explore some of the Ways to Decorate on a Budget and transform your home. 

For all your painting needs, check out retailers such as B&Q, Wilko, Wickes, and Homebase where you’ll be able to stock up on painting and preparation essentials, as well as shop their fantastic range of high-quality and affordable paint colours.  

Peel and Stick Wallpaper

If painting is not an option then maybe peel-and-stick wallpaper is. If your space feels like it’s lacking some texture, we’ve got you covered. To create a panelled effect, check out the Dunelm Self Adhesive Wooden Natural Wallpaper for £26. If exposed brick is your thing, then the Wayfair Edam Brickwall Self Adhesive Panels for £18.99 might be the one for you. Another great option is the Wayfair Marble Peel and Stick Wallpaper for £23.99 which has a beautiful subtle marble effect. 

Alternatively, if you’d love to add a pattern to your walls without adding too much colour, then take a look at the Dunelm Rabbits Natural Self Adhesive Wallpaper for £15, the Wayfair Lehat Peel and Stick Wallpaper for £19.99, the Wayfair Treetops Peel and Stick Wallpaper for £35, or the Etsy Beige Boho Self Adhesive Wallpaper from £30+. These would really help to enhance your walls, especially if you’re reluctant to decorate your walls with any wall hangings. 

If you’re a lover of colour and patterns, then we’ve got something you might like too. At Wayfair, take a look at the Rhiannon Peel and Stick Wallpaper for £26.99 for a fresh and zesty feel. For lovers of traditional florals, Etsy has some lovely options including the Summer Peel and Stick Wallpaper for £40, the Lemon Dreams Wallpaper for £16, or for those whose budget can stretch a little further, the Watercolour Wild Floral Peel and Stick Wallpaper for £56. 

Enhance Your Kitchen With Under-Cabinet Lighting

So you’ve got all of your kitchen essentials, and you’ve added a few little bits and pieces here and there to make it feel more you, but it still feels like it’s missing something. If this sounds like you, then try adding under-cabinet lighting to add the finishing touch. On Amazon, there is a fantastic selection of renter-friendly under-cabinet lights for you to choose from. Whether you just want warm LED lights, or you fancy going for something with multicoloured settings for those kitchen discos, it’s sure to give your kitchen that high-quality finish. 

Give Your Toilet a Glow Up

Don’t neglect your toilet when it comes to upgrading your bathroom. If it’s looking a little unsightly, it can easily make the entire room feel unloved. Whether your loo would look best with a homely wooden toilet seat, a plain white one to keep things simple, or something a bit more flashy, there are plenty of places for you to find affordable ones. From B&Q and Amazon to Argos and Dunelm, give your loo a bit of a facelift. 

Maximise Space With Storage

Sometimes rented property can be on the smaller side meaning you might have to be clever with your space. An easy way to save space and help your home feel tidy and put together is with storage. Whether it’s hidden under-the-bed storage, a chest of drawers, or a shelving unit that doubles up as a decorative item, investing in storage is definitely worth it. 

So, next time you think about purchasing a side table, opt for a small chest of drawers like the Ikea Kullen Drawers for £29, available in white and black, which can double up as both a side table and a storage solution for all of your loose bits and pieces. Or, go for a side table like the Ikea Knarrevik Table for £12, available in black or wood, as mentioned in our article on Decorating your Lounge on a Budget, which has a handy shelf for extra storage space. 

Another great option is bookcases. Not only are they an easy way to display all of your favourite things, be it books, ornaments, or treasured photographs, but they are a great way to house those pesky bits and bobs from around the house. Try something like the Ikea Kallax Shelving Units Range for £29-£45, available in several colours including black, grey, wood, and white. Whether you have it standing upright, bookshelf style, or lying flat on the floor in place of a tv stand, it’s a great way to save on space.