With so many people choosing to rent properties rather than committing to buy, it’s no surprise to see a surge in interest in ways to update and upgrade homes without the commitment. Most rental agreements provide a seemingly endless list of things that you cannot do to the property. No nails in the wall, no changing the paint colours, no wallpaper - you get the picture. However, with a few clever tweaks and additions, you can soon turn a rental into a stylish abode.
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Brighten up your space
If your home is looking a little drab and dreary, it’s worth having a chat with your landlord about whether you can give it a new coat of paint. Offering to update dull walls to a fresh, bright white will give the room a wonderful Scandi-style vibe that’s the perfect blank canvas for adding your own personality. If you can’t paint the walls, look for other ways to bring white into your home. White furniture, rugs and curtains will all go a long way in brightening up a room.
We love the texture of this stunning Gallery Direct Lima Rug, a fantastic addition to any space and great value for any rental property.
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Bring the outdoors, in.
Houseplants offer a multitude of benefits to any home. Not only do they help purify the air, they add beautiful pops of colour to a room and can even be used as a distraction to hide wall cracks, marks and anything else you’d rather hide! Opt for plants that don’t require much maintenance, such as ivy, aloe vera, succulents and spider plants. Faux flowers and plants are another great option for rented properties, instantly adding colour and dimension to a room with minimal effort.
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Create a lighting concept
When you’re limited to what you can actually do in a home, lighting is soon to become your favourite compromise. Lighting can transform a space from drab to fab in the click of a switch, you simply need to be clever in how you create a lighting concept that works for each room. Play around with heights and choose tall floor lamps to give the illusion of grand ceilings, or bring warmth to dark corners with table lamps. Replace existing ceiling light fittings (keeping them in a safe place in case you move out) with striking ceiling pendants that will become the focal point of any room. Whatever style you want to decorate your home in, chances are you can create the foundations through well thought lighting.
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Throw some style
If you’re living in a furnished rental property, or you’re looking for ways to spruce up your own furniture, throws and blankets are a great option. We’ve come a long way from the days of throwing cheap fleece blankets over sofas and hoping they would do the job. Today, there’s an array of stunning natural fabrics, colours, shades and textures to choose from that will give even the oldest sofa or armchair a new lease of life. Neutral colours are perfect for rented properties as they create a canvas that’s just waiting for bright scatter cushions or bold patterns. Layer different textures to add dimension to your home and craft that cosy Scandi-decor feel that’s still incredibly on-trend.
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Whatever your style, make sure you add your own stamp to your rental property with the wide range of soft furnishings and accessories available at Olivias. For more inspiration, take a look at our newest arrivals!