Renting a Home in London? How to Create a Personalised Space without Losing Your Deposit

Renting a property in London is cheaper than buying a home, especially if you’re sharing. However, it comes with restrictions on personalising your home because you’ll lose the deposit if you make permanent changes. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can make changes to a room without hammering nails into the wall or repainting – continue reading to find out how.

No-Nails Frames, Artwork, and Wall Hangings

Many people shy away from putting things on the walls of their rented property because nails leave holes. However, you can hang artwork, photos, and much more on the wall by using command strips or hooks. The idea behind them is that you can hang your items without leaving marks or holes on the wall. Although, you should keep in mind that command strips can only hold so much weight, so don’t overdo it.

Create Layers

Use different textures, lighting, patterns, pictures, books, colours, and plants to create layers in your home. Layering your home is a great way to make a rental property feel like a home. Use sofa throws, cushions, and rugs, and fill any shelves however you like. If you’re struggling to make a decision, choose a large material like a rug or curtain, and then build your layers from there.

Use Stylish Storage

Storage comes in different shapes and sizes, but nothing spells style like a storage basket, which can be used in bedrooms and bathrooms. You can store anything in your basket, whether it be towels, bedding, or magazines, and you can even use them to house plants.

Multi-Purpose Furniture

Depending on how much space you have, you may need to think smart when it comes to buying furniture, which is why we recommend getting your hands on multi-purpose furniture. For example, you could have a dining table that doubles as a workstation. If you’re tight on space, furniture that stacks is always a winner.

Lay Down a Statement Rug

Many rental properties have dull wooden floors or boring carpets because they’re easy to maintain and they’re cheap. Fortunately, you can easily add some personality to a room by laying down a statement rug. Not only will a vibrant look fantastic, but it’ll also protect the floor underneath from any potential damage. For example, if you spill a glass of red onto your rug, it’s not the end of the world because it won’t come out of your security deposit.

Get Some Plants

Indoor plants are highly beneficial because they recycle oxygen, improve moods, and add life to any room. There are countless different houseplants to consider, but we like the Rubber Plant, Swiss Cheese plant, Peace Lily, and the Kentia Palm. The beauty of plants is that you can never have too many and looking after them doesn’t have to be a chore, especially as many of them are relatively low maintenance.

Change the Walls

Landlords get a bad rep for not allowing personalisation, but not all of them are the same. If you dream of having a statement wall, there’s no harm in asking your landlord. To reassure them, you can hire a handymen London to carry out the work to a professional standard. You can even agree to reset the wall at the end of your tenancy. To find a handyman, you can post your job online and wait for suitable responses – follow this link to learn more.

If the landlord isn’t budging on the rules of the contract, there are ways to personalise a wall without paint. For example, you can apply easy-peel stickers that leave no trace. They come in many different shapes and sizes – you can even stick on fake tiles for an authentic and unique look.

Step Outdoors

If you’re lucky enough to have a small outdoor area – even if it’s a courtyard – that’s great news. You can easily personalise an outdoor area without voiding a rental deposit. After all, in the majority of tenancy agreements, it’s the tenant’s responsibility to maintain and keep the garden. This means that as long as you don’t make any major alterations, you can go wild. For example, if you’ve got an empty flowerbed, you’re able to put your own plants in there. Further, you can bring in garden furniture to create an outdoor retreat.

Light Fixtures

If your rental property is missing natural light, you can bring in lamps to make the space feel more homely. If you’re aiming for personalisation, we recommend choosing a lamp that stands out against the rest of the furniture and the colour of the walls.

When you rent a home in London, the chances are you’re moving into a boring blank space and you’re unable to redecorate or hand anything up on the room. Fortunately, all of the methods outlined above will tell you how to achieve personality in rented accommodation without breaking your contract.

*This is a collaborative post