When it comes to a rental home, you may feel like you are living in someone else’s property (because you are) and therefore it never really feels like your home. As your tenancy agreement will have a reinstatement or restoration clause, this means that you will need to be able to return the property in the condition it was in when you first rented it. This limits your ability to make changes, however, we look at five things you can do to make your house a home.

Surround Yourself with Things You Love

One of the best things that you can do is fill your home with souvenirs that mean something to you. These can be treasured gifts from loved ones and family, or from your favourite trips. Find a surface and fill it with these things. This could be a shelf, a desk, or a windowsill. This will help to personalise your property and make it feel special to you.

Art and Mirrors

One of the things that may be very apparent when you get to a rental property is that it is very bland, and you are surrounded by white (or magnolia) walls everywhere. You might not be able to paint the walls with the colours from your favourite mood board, but what you can do is fill the place with a large canvas or oversized mirror. Even if you are not able to hang these on the wall directly, you might well be able to prop them up against a wall and simulate having them hanging. If you are not allowed to hammer holes in the wall (check with your landlord) then you can get removable picture hanging strips that will allow to put things on the wall without doing any permanent damage. Make sure to hang pictures at eye level so that they make it truly feel like your home.

Have Fun with Colours and Textures

Having a rental home in some way is a good thing as it is a blank canvas for you to decorate. You can  do this by applying cushions, throws and rugs to add colour and textures. This will enable you to make sure that you can bring some of your favourite designs into a room.

Freestanding Furniture is Your Friend

Clutter is the thing that is guaranteed to make your place feel not like your own, and storage is normally very limited in a rented property. This is where investment in some freestanding storage units will help you greatly. This means you don’t have to put up shelving and can make sure that your stuff has a home within your home.

One of the best ways to make a house feel homely is using some houseplants. Even if you aren’t very green-fingered you can fake it with some high-quality replica plants. Either that or go for succulents which are on-trend and virtually indestructible.