A rented home must be styled well, not only for comfort, but also for aesthetic appeal. Nevertheless, when doing up a rented place, one must follow certain restrictions and guidelines laid down by the landlord.
“In a rented house, civil work is a limitation. While most people paint their houses before they move in, any other civil work is usually avoided, unless the lease is for a long period. There are other simple ways, to spruce up the home and personalise it. Also, avoid investing in furniture or finishes that you would need to leave behind, when moving out,” explains Lekha Gupta, senior architect at L.A.B. (Language Architecture Body).
When doing up a rented home, try and select a theme first – classical, vintage, kitschy and so on – and then opt for apt furniture and soft furnishings, such as pillows, curtains and rugs, to add some colour, Gupta suggests. “You can also brighten up the décor, with art work or posters or standing lamps. Buy small furniture pieces, ideally modular furniture that is easy to assemble and dis-assemble, when you shift,” adds Gupta.
Adding a personal touch to a rental home
You can also use fabrics to spruce up your home. For curtains, the choice of the fabric, will depend on the room and the privacy needed. In the bedroom, one can have thick curtains but for the study or living room, opt for sheers so that there is ample natural sunlight and fresh breeze. Full-length curtains with floral prints, geometric designs or simple pale sheers can add glamour to the room. You can experiment with different combinations, such as white and turquoise, neutral with bronze undertones, or cream with pale green accents.
Inexpensive ways to change the look of the walls and flooring
While it may not be possible to change the flooring, one can opt for vinyl flooring, which is easy to paste and remove, offers Priyanka Rohra, co-founder/ principal designer at Big Nose Designs. “Walls can also change the look of the house. If you have an empty wall, frame and hang an old rug. Use it as a backdrop behind the bed or above your sofa on the wall. Alternatively, you can just buy old frames, paint them in colour of your choice and put up the empty frames on the wall, like a collage. Another thing that can add colour to your walls, without troubling your landlord, are decals. There are many options available today and some vendors even offer customised designs for decals. These can be applied easily and are reusable. If the owner allows, you can also opt for a false ceiling,” adds Rohra.
See also: Check these Vastu Shastra norms, before moving into a rental home
As lighting is an important element of home décor, one can play around with LED downlights, spot lights and decorative lights. For the kitchen, go for bright accessories. Add few soothing pieces like a small fountain on the table, or flowers and even a few potted plants in the balcony or window sill.
Furniture options for a rental accommodation
When it comes to furniture, choose pieces that are sleek and not bulky and easy to move around. You can use an assortment of interesting storage boxes, to keep things organised. For example, you can buy cane baskets and hang them on the wall, for storage or as a book shelf. Opt for beds with built-in storage and a spacious wardrobe, to keep the home clutter free. A stylish chair that stands out or a console in the foyer with artefacts, memorabilia or candles on it, can enhance the look of the home. “A simple option, is to refurbish old furniture bought from the flea market. You can play around with the furniture and some decorative items, to add a personal touch,” adds Rohra.
Keep most of the room in shades of a single colour and brighten it with objects that can be in accent colours. It could be a quirky bookshelf, a vintage accessory, a chandelier, a framed mirror, etc. There is always one space in a house, which gives comfort and cosiness. “This can be a spot with books, or a bean bag or an old sofa. You can create that cosy spot in every house you stay in, to make it truly yours,” concludes Gupta.
Purnima Goswami Sharma is a freelance writer based in Mumbai, who has been contributing to various newspapers, magazines and portals for the last two decades. Besides being a research writer for various TV shows, she has been a visiting faculty at SNDT for Communication Skills. She hold a master’s degree in English Literature from Mumbai University and a diploma in Communications and Journalism. She writes on diverse subjects like real estate, interiors, education, lifestyle, health, entertainment and environment.
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