10 Damage-Free Home Styling Hacks For Renters

How To Style Your Rental Without Damage: 10 Damage-Free Home Styling Hacks

Tenant insurance expert Duuo outlines ten damage-free home hacks for renters looking to add their personality to their homes without risking their deposits  

Did you know around 30% of rental deposits aren’t returned in full? Consequently, renters can often refrain from getting too creative with decor to avoid risking lasting damage. So, how can renters make their house a home without risking damage? 

“When renting a property, there’s a balance to strike between the terms of your tenancy agreement with your want to create a unique space that feels like home”, says Sunni Shannon of tenant insurance provider Duuo. “On the one hand, it’s important to make a space feel your own — and that might involve styling the decor to your tastes and adding complementary fixtures and fittings — while on the other, you need to ensure you comply fully with the stipulations set out in your rental agreement and nurture a positive tenant-landlord relationship throughout your tenancy, minimizing the chance of disputes when you move out.”  

As a renter, sprucing up your home, flat or apartment isn’t a complete no-go. There are several ways to style a rented property without incurring the wrath of a landlord. 

Tenant insurance experts Duuo have detailed 10 damage-free styling tips to ensure renters can spruce up their homes without the risk of damaging the property.

1. Try peel-and-stick wallpaper

Not overly fond of the magnolia colour scheme that adorns every room in your rented property? Unfortunately, many landlords are averse to custom paint or wallpapering jobs — not surprising, then, that “renter-friendly wallpaper” has seen a surge in online searches.

Peel-and-stick wallpaper works pretty much as it sounds: peel, stick, and brighten up your walls without leaving residue or damaging the existing paintwork. First, test a small patch out on a section of the wall to check that removal is damage free, and once you’re satisfied, you can spruce up the walls to your heart’s content. At the end of your tenancy, simply peel back the wallpaper and the walls will be restored to their (rather more austere) former glory. 

2. Opt for freestanding shelves

Shelves are a great way of adding a little more storage space and providing somewhere to display ornaments and knick-knacks. But what if your rental agreement forbids you from drilling holes in the wall (or you just don’t trust your own DIY skills)? 

Freestanding or ladder shelving is an ideal solution to this. Whether you want to display an array of houseplants or stack a collection of well-thumbed books, opting for a freestanding shelving unit means you can do so without having to mount anything to the wall — not a drill or a hammer in sight. 

3. Use damage-free picture hangers

One of the first questions renters often ask a new landlord is, “Can we put pictures up?”, at which point they’re usually told they can only if no damage is caused and that any holes or blemishes are patched up at the end of the tenancy.

However, the days of nailing picture hooks into the wall are long gone: Using damage-free adhesives, like Command Strips, means you can hang pictures, mirrors, coat hooks, and more to the walls without damaging them. When you move out, you can simply peel off the strips and the wall underneath will be blemish-free. 

4. Put slipcovers on furniture

If you’ve moved into a furnished rental property, you might not be especially keen on the existing furniture: chances are it’s either lacking character — landlords tend to favour modest functionality when it comes to living arrangements — or it’s looking a little well-loved. 

“Sofa covers” have seen a swell in popularity on Pinterest, with slipcovers offering an easy and relatively inexpensive way to liven up a tired-looking couch. Simply slip the cover over the existing sofa and transform it into something far more inviting. You can do the same with armchairs and dining chairs, too.

5. Create a kitchen gallery

The kitchen is often overlooked when it comes to home styling, but you don’t need to sacrifice character for function. And where space is limited, don’t be afraid to make use of otherwise redundant spaces such as the top of kitchen cabinets.

Gather a collection of framed pictures — in any size or shape — and stand them up along your kitchen cabinets to create a ‘kitchen gallery’. Your kitchen will get a style boost, you won’t have to mount anything to a wall, and you’ll make the most of limited space — ideal for small apartments or studios.

6. Decorate your floors with rugs

If you’re not floored by the flooring in your rented home — perhaps you’re miffed by your landlord’s taste in carpet or the wooden floors are a little cold and firm underfoot — introducing a rug is a great way to define your space, highlight key areas, and add a touch of coziness where it might be lacking. 

Better yet, by layering rugs you can experiment with colours, patterns, and textures: layer a smaller, more colourful rug on top of a larger, more neutral one, for example, or combine bold patterns with block colours. Incorporating different textures can effortlessly add depth to your space. 

7. Add a freestanding mirror

Mirrors aren’t just for admiring your reflection; they’re also great for bouncing natural light around a room, making it feel brighter and airier, creating an illusion of more space — ideal if your rented flat or serviced apartments in West London are more compact.

Avoid having to mount anything to the wall by opting for a freestanding mirror. Add a full-length mirror (like this one) to a bedroom corner for trying-on sessions, and a small freestanding bathroom mirror to a shelf or windowsill for shaving or applying makeup.

8. Add a memory foam mattress topper

Another potential downside of an already-furnished home is the risk of having to sleep on a mattress that’s seen better days — perhaps the springs aren’t what they used to be!

If that rings true or you’re looking for some added comfort, you don’t have to replace the old mattress with a pricey new one. Instead, get yourself a memory foam mattress topper, place it over the existing mattress, and you can hibernate in comfort at a fraction of the cost without having to toss out the original. 

9. Switch up cabinet fittings

When it comes to giving any home a style upgrade, it’s often the little details that make all the difference. Something as simple as adding new handles or fixtures to existing furniture items, therefore, can be a subtle yet striking way of adding character. 

Most cabinet handles screw on and off, for instance, so they can easily be replaced with new handles that convey elegance, industrial chic, or whatever your interior style. Just be sure to hold on to the originals so you can switch them back at the end of your tenancy.

10. Change light fixtures and lightbulbs

Lighting in itself is crucial in creating your desired at-home vibe, but you can also play around with light fixtures and fittings to infuse a little of your individual flair. Swap a traditional light fixture for something more contemporary, for example — modern pendant lighting remains a popular choice. 

By replacing the lampshades, too (while safely storing the originals, of course), you can add a pop of colour or create a more rustic vibe with something nostalgic or chic. By choosing your own shade, you can also control how light is filtered out into the room. For an even more affordable solution, consider swapping out the lightbulbs, too – LED bulbs are great energy savers and mimic natural sunlight. You can even purchase Smart LEDs that connect to an app on your phone, meaning you can control lighting in each room and save on your electricity bill. 

Renters have a responsibility to follow their tenancy agreement and have a high standard of cleanliness, but that doesn’t mean you need to shy away from making your space feel unique. While you are limited in what you can change (depending on how flexible your landlord happens to be), there are many ways to give your rental home a style upgrade without risking your deposit. Get creative, Renters!