Casula Renting doesn’t mean you can’t put your own stamp on your home. While you may not be able to renovate, lay new floors or paint, you can still style your space to make it look and feel like you.
Choose a theme (farm house, coastal, shabby chic, modern etc)
A great way to start is to choose a theme or aesthetic you love to continue throughout the house..
No matter which style you prefer, using the same theme throughout the house will tie it all together and create a “flow” achieving the feel of a seamless space, giving your rental home the look and feel of a forever home.
A strong sense of your preferred theme will take the “temporary” home feel away and create a “forever home” look and feel with your very own sense of style and individuality.
Cover the floors
Whether you have floorboards, tiles or carpet, it can help to invest in rugs to cover it up, help define a space or lift it’s appearance. A rug can help create zones for different areas, depending on how you wish to use them to accommodate and suit the needs of your family or yourself.
A rug will also protect the flooring and add an extra layer of security for your bond.
Create effective lighting
Altering the light fixtures in your rental is not usually an option however, you can find alternative solutions to create an ambience or mood in your rooms. To start with, consider using warm light instead of cool coloured, fluorescent globes in living spaces. If there are no dimmers on the main lights, use lamps to create ambience and low lighting when desired.
Artwork
Most importantly, before hanging any art, check with your property manager or landlord as to what is allowed in your rental. Adhesive hooks provide an option for many but if you want to hang anything heavier, permission is required before any drilling or permanent fixtures are added to the walls.
Art can play a major role in adding your own personality and bringing any space in your home to life. Positioning, type and size is dependent on the space available, the size and scale of the room and your furniture. When styling art, stick to the principal of less is more and remember to stay within your selected style to keep the flow throughout and add some interest to the room.
For example, a larger piece of art above your bed or couch is usually a great start. If you have a hallway, a well planned gallery of photos or smaller art pieces works well and you can use removable stick on hooks to secure them.
Add some greenery
Plants can give a rental a more home like feel. Indoor plants have been proven to elevate your mood, but they will also liven up and add a lovely touch to any space.
If you are new to indoor plants, consult with your local nursery staff before purchasing to ensure you have the right plant for the location, (bedroom, bathroom, low light, bright sun etc) If you have pets, check whether the plants are poisonous to pets. Ask for help with selecting the most hardy species to give yourself a chance at success! Other than that you could always choose faux plants to liven up your space.