Personalising Rented Accommadation

It can be very depressing to go home every day to rented accommodation that you have been unable to personalize because of the landlord’s restrictions.  However, there are ways to overcome this.

Let’s start with your bedroom.  Is it bare and uninviting? 

*          If your bed has no headboard, consider buying a piece of plywood the width of the bed and either paint on the design of your choice or cover with padding and fabric which can be glued or stapled on.  Just lean the headboard against the wall and brace with the bed. Instant impact.   Use the same, or contrasting, fabric to make several scatter cushions for the bed, trimmed with beading or buttons to add shimmer and texture.

*          Cover an old bedroom chair with a bright new throw and stack with plump cushions. Team with a small side table and a lamp and you have created a cosy corner. 

*          If the floor is dark and dinghy try to camouflage as much as possible with bright, cotton rugs that are now readily available, at very moderate prices.

*          2 piles of hard-back books (which can be purchased very cheaply at sales) topped with a piece of glass can make a most unusual table for your personal items.

How about your living area?

*          If none of your dining chairs match, rectify that by buying eye-catching fabric and making chair covers.  Use the same fabric to make place mats and napkins, teamed with inexpensive, contrasting napkin rings. 

*          If the dining table is badly scratched keep it permanently covered with a bright cloth, dressed with a vase of fresh flowers, or a group of candles on decorative plates.

*          If your sofa is unsightly, cover with a plain throw and add scatter cushions to match the new fabric in the dining room. 

*          If necessary, re-position the furniture to make the best use of any natural light and use ribbons to make tie-backs to keep heavy drapes from blocking the windows.

• If you have large artwork that you are not allowed to hang, create a focal point by standing it on the sideboard, leaning against the wall, teamed with some colourful pottery and a trailing plant.

Bathrooms and kitchens in rented accommodation can be very dismal places.  The easiest solution is to carefully store away any unwanted items belonging to your landlord and invest in a few pieces of your own.  Bright, fluffy towels and a new shower curtain can do wonders in a bathroom as can modern, elegant crockery and accessories in the kitchen.  These will be yours to take with you to take when you are fortunate enough to buy your own home, so is money well spent.

The most effective remedy, however, for a fresh new look is a coat of paint so before doing anything else, ask your landlord if you can re-paint the walls.  He may well agree, often with the proviso that you return them to their original colour when you vacant the premises.

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