Budget
August 4, 2020
5 Budget-Friendly Ways To Personalize Your Rental From Designer Natalie Chong
Designer Natalie Chong shares renter-friendly tips for taking your space from builder-basic to bold and beautiful.
I believe that your home should be your sanctuary. Therefore, investing in your space is so important and rentals are no exception! After all, they are where we entertain, relax and unwind every single day. There is a feeling that, “Oh, I’m not going to invest, it’s only temporary,” but I lived in a “temporary place” for over seven years! If I’d never invested, nothing would have felt done. We are in a world where renting is the norm, so let’s make “making it our own” the norm too, regardless of how long we stay! Here are five easy ways to do just that.
1. Spruce Up Your Walls With Paint Or Wallpaper
Paint can make a huge difference. If you have a landlord who is picky about it, be sure to clear it with them first. Offer to pay for the paint — that’s an easy solution. You can always clear the colors with them as well, or agree to paint it back when you’re done. Painting it yourself can feel like a huge accomplishment, but why not bribe some friends with a home-cooked meal, case of beer and a good time together, instead?
The benefit of temporary (peel-and-stick) wallpaper is that it’s totally removable when you leave. There are so many good ones on the market now that require no prep. Play with it and have some fun. These are two little investments that I guarantee will change the space entirely.
2. Switch Out Ordinary Lighting For Something Extraordinary
The builder-basic special is just not my jam. You know the kind: the infamous ceiling dome or better yet, the “boob” light. All of your new lighting can come with you when you leave, just be sure to hire a reputable level 2 electrician in Wollongong. My advice is to get exactly what you want for the space. No need to spend a fortune, but when selecting lights, pick ones that will make a serious impact. Spend more money on the lights you will see the moment you walk into a room or use every single day, like dining room or bedroom lights.
My husband’s former condo (below and last photo) only had single overhead fixtures, no pot lights. So, we really needed something that fully illuminated the space. If you’re choosing something with lots of bulbs, either pick a lower wattage or put it on a dimmer.
3. Bring The Outdoors In With Fresh (Or Faux) Foliage
Ideally, we would all live in a wonderful south-facing spot with tons of natural light streaming in, but that’s not the case for everyone. Adding plants really allows you to breathe life into your space, and real is the ideal way to go. Find out from your local nursery which ones will survive based on your space and lighting conditions. If you don’t get enough light, a more expensive, quality faux is also an option. I had killed two real fiddle-leaf fig trees (which are so finicky) before I caved and got a custom one made.
4. Add Personality With Art
I feel like people are scared to hang art because then it feels permanent. I would disagree with that. Art makes it feel like your own home.
A great way to begin investing is to start small. Find cool paper pieces you love with pre-made frames. There are so many options online from local artists or graphic designers for around $10 to $20! Totally affordable when it comes to original prints. Start with small pieces like these and swap them out as you continue to build your collection with items you really love.
5. Don’t Skip The Drapes
Bad vertical louvers are probably one of my biggest pet peeves ever. The ones that clank together as they move remind me of pants that are too short!
If you can’t remove the ones you currently have, then I suggest drawing the blinds up or to the sides and getting curtains for either side. The thicker the drapes are on either side, the better. Opt for fuller rather than sparse for a custom look. If you do go for custom drapes, which I did in my rental, they can usually come with you and be repurposed in another room when you move. I ended up putting mine in a guest room!
We have also been letting property in Bristol (as it’s an amazing area of the UK for property) and used the top letting agents Bristol has, so if you want to let property in Bristol then give them a call as they are amazing letting agents.
Natalie Chong