Lacklustre décor can be a real downer in a rental property. But fear not, we've got some budget-friendly, portable ideas that won't damage the walls and shouldn't upset your landlord, whether you're a university student heading off to a new dorm room or a homeworker looking to enliven your rental home. Make the most of every inch and stamp your personality on your environment with these easy projects...
Give your bedroom a dreamy makeover by adding a canopy to your bed. If you don't have a four-poster it's easy to recreate the look with a hula hoop or curtain rods and fabric. This is also a clever trick if you need a little DIY dorm privacy.
Give a tired rental kitchen a revamp with a fresh lick of paint. You'll need to get the landlord's approval first but this project can totally transform an old kitchen into a refreshing new space.
Give your open-plan workstation some privacy with open shelving. Backless shelving creates an ideal temporary room divider as it won't compromise light. Use plants, stationery and decorative items to complement the living area.
Give your bedroom a worldly traveller look by adding vintage luggage at the base of your bed. They create a handy hideaway for extra duvet covers and there is no need to pack and unpack if you have to move.
If wardrobe storage in your rental property is minimal put a clothes rail on wheels to good use. Leave the basic extendable version for the boot sale and instead opt for a colourful powder-sprayed version with cool curves to make a stylish statement.
Bean bags are an ideal budget-friendly extra seating option for younger generations. Although these days they don't have to look childish, having completely evolved. These slouchy floor cushions look luxurious with supportive backs and leather look fabric. Arrange them in a corner between low-level lighting to create a relaxing lounge look.
Give a kitchen-diner a hit of greenery by using a clothes rail to hang plants. This innovative and budget-friendly idea will look pretty and fresh without compromising light.
Not only will a tablecloth protect rental furnishings from wear and tear, but a layered look will also instantly brighten a neutral décor with minimal effort. Wipeable vinyl versions are practical for everyday use, whereas colourful cotton looks stylish on social occasions.
If you can't wallpaper the walls brighten up furniture with it instead. Give plain drawers and cupboards an easy update with peel-and-stick wallpaper that can simply be cut to size. This idea is also ideal for lining the back of open shelving too.
Give your study space an organised and attractive look with plenty of coordinated stationery. It doesn't need to be back to college time to give your desk a refresh as a new supply of folders and pen holders in harmonising tones can form part of the décor too.
A modular sofa is a practical choice for rental seating as it can adapt to new spaces. Breaking it up into sections makes moving often easy too. See our sofa buying guide for more practical advice.
Keep your rental kitchen organised with a handy and rather cool oversized pegboard. It's the perfect way to hang dozens of items with minimal wall damage and keeps utensils visible and within reach.
Get the pre-party started with a drinks trolley fit for a cocktail lounge. Bring in pretty glassware and interesting bottles and pop on a candle or two to up the social atmosphere when you have guests over.
Another trick to minimising wall damage is to choose art and picture frames that stand up on their own or lean safely against walls. Picture ledges are practical as they have a small lip that keeps items secure.
Plants are good for us: fact! Not only do they purify the air we breathe but scientific studies report they increase our wellbeing in all sorts of ways. Arranged in your home against a pale backdrop will make it look super fresh, clean and botanical. If you struggle to keep plants alive, invest in a really good fake.
Give life to plain white walls with a graphic pattern based on dashes made from washi tape. Perfect for pepping up an entrance wall or adding a fun feature wall to a bedroom, all you need is a spirit level, a measuring tape and a pair of scissors. Go for black tape on white for a clean monochrome scheme or keep things light with a peachy-pink: both look fabulous on white walls. Alternatively, look for ready made laser cut stickers that are ready to go.
Pull down the plain old shower curtain and replace it with something more inspiring for your morning cleanse. This floral pastel pink and blue print is calming and elegant, jazzing up a simple white bathroom that's so common in rental properties.
If you’re craving something big and bold that will create immediate impact then look no further than a vinyl mural. These are removable and stick on and come in lots of different designs from gorgeous big-scale patterns to 3-D murals and traditional wallpaper-effect styles. Opt for a soothing and soft print behind your bed to create a relaxing feature wall that will totally transform the look and feel of your space.
Bored with your plain kitchen or bathroom? Give these important spaces a little love with a colourful tile makeover. These vinyl stickers are so easy to apply and look like the real thing. If looked after properly they can last for years but you can also remove them with a scraper without damaging the original tiles underneath.
Statement storage is a great way to add personality to your space while keeping things tidy and baskets are perfect for hiding away everything from scarves in your hallway, toys in a living room or even bits and bobs in the kitchen. Why not give yours a custom look? You can make and glue on pom-poms, try your hand at dip-dyeing or even spray paint them.
A mirror will help bounce light and make small properties seem larger, but unfortunately, they usually need extra support when mounted on walls due to weight. No drilling on walls clause in your contract? Get around this with a freestanding mirror specially designed to lean on walls. You can get adhesive pads that stick to the back of the mirror that will protect the wall, so it won't leave a mark.
If you are allowed to paint walls why not go wild and break the mould? Painting shapes on a wall is a great way to up the stakes and highlight certain areas if you rent a studio apartment. This fabulous feature wall uses colours you wouldn't necessarily put together and is picked out with matching bed linen for a retro-cool finish.
The right lighting can add an instant focal point and atmosphere to any room. Give a gloomy corner ambience with a large floor lamp, create wow-factor with a cluster of pendants or dress a ceiling light with an oversized drum shade to create a look that's striking and sets a restful mood. You can even make your own by customising affordable paper lampshades with paint; keep it simple to achieve striking results.
Transform dated or plain kitchen tiles into a vibrant, patterned border that will give your space a big dose of personality. You may want to use a white tile paint before applying your design but always check with the landlord before committing to a big change that can't be easily reversed.
Get into the party spirit by decorating with paper garlands. They are a lightweight alternative to mounted wall art and can add a decorative element with minimal effort.
Inherited some IKEA furniture? If so, you're in luck as there are some fantastic companies out there making beautiful covers to fit their most popular designs. Ideal for renters, it will protect the landlord's furniture and you can take it with you when you leave plus there are dozens of colours and fabrics to choose from. There are also super-stretchy covers that can be pulled tight and tucked to fit any couch shape.
Give your boring bed a new lease of life with a creative headboard. You could reuse a wood pallet or sand down recycled wood and hand-paint patterns with stencils. It will give your room a fabulous focal point and a zen-like atmosphere. Complete the unique look with geometric patterned bed linen and accessories.
Have you heard of IKEA hacks? There's a whole community of crafters transforming our favourite products into one-off pieces that fit perfectly into their homes. Take a plain inexpensive cabinet, four wooden spindles, acrylic spray paint and, voilà, you've just created a funky neon pink IKEA hack sideboard. Why not go mad and do two side by side for maximum impact and storage?
Brighten up a neutral bathroom and create a put-together look with a few pieces that carry the same theme. Here, the distinctive towels, bath mats and radio are all by designer Orla Kiely, whose retro designs bring a 70s feel to what would otherwise be a very plain room. We love the coloured tiles that have been used as a shelf splashback too, something you can easily create with tile stickers or paint.
After a bed and sofa, freestanding storage is a must for renters but it can also become a beautiful part of the décor. Choose a combination of styles that mix up open shelves and cupboards so that you can hide clutter too. Our secret interior design tip? Colour match a paint for the woodwork to make it look bespoke.
A kitchen island is often high on anyone's wish list but if you've got a small kitchen then a butcher's table is the next best thing. It instantly creates extra space for food preparation as well as providing much-needed storage space on open shelves underneath. Go for a light but flat-pack design that you can take with you when you leave or get creative and repurpose a bureau or desk from another part of your house.
Nothing creates the feeling of luxury more than reams of rich textiles, and dressing your windows up to the nines will give any room the wow-factor. Hang them as high as possible and allow the fabric to pool slightly on the floor and don't be afraid to go for a bold colour, even in a neutral room.
You should always check with individual landlords before you tackle any semi-permanent jobs. But if your landlord won't allow you to paint or wallpaper your walls, you can still create a feature by covering a sheet of lightweight MDF in fabric or wallpaper. This stylish colour block of royal blue has been safely secured by placing the bed in front of it.
Update well-used small appliances like kettles, toasters and blenders with newer sleeker versions. Choose a colour theme and run with it by coordinating all your kitchenware, then display special pieces on open-shelving for a streamlined and contemporary look. Copper is still going strong as a favourite kitchen trend.
A bit of minor re-upholstery can work wonders to give an old piece of furniture new life. This mid-century bench has a smart new seat pad which can be very simply sewn either on a machine, hand-sewn or even glued. And of course, being small-scale and portable means it can easily go with you when you move.
Blackboard paint is a great idea if you like to change your decor up often. Bright accessories stand out against black and you can have fun with your choices of wall art every month or even week! To keep your landlord happy, you'll have to change it back before you leave.
While rugs can do a lot of the work in covering up a floor that you find less than desirable, you can go for something a bit move ambitious and give the whole surface a new look with stickers. This cool black and white design looks clean and modern and will lift the whole room in one fell swoop. The stickers are washable, heat and scratch-resistant until removed.
Sort out your bathroom storage without the stress and expense of drilling into walls with hooks and shelving that works with suction to stick to a surface. Use different colours for different members of the household or keep it all coordinated for a more polished look.
Not only will a stylish room divider help you to utilise the space in a way that makes sense to you but with this ingenious pegboard design you can add elements of wall storage without having to drill a single hole! From wall clocks to shelving, jewellery hooks to hanging plants, the only limit is your imagination.
Loved this? See more beautiful bedroom decorating ideas