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Dont let renting limit your ideas

If you are renting, as many non home owners are today especially, in London, it's difficult to create your dream home. Not being able to knock down walls, replace flooring and paint walls willy nilly, its a challenge to make it feel yours and personal.

Your options are of course limited but you can still make your temporary place a cosy home. One has to be careful not to forfeit ones deposit as landlords will want to protect their investment. 

Wish Assured shorthold tennancy, you will be tied down to set stipulations of what you can and cannot do to the decor. But if you have a private landlord, they may well tailor the rules and be open to suggestions to improve the property to your taste.  If you are working with set stipulations, it is imperative to always notify your landlord or letting agent prior to making any changes. Always state that you will remove and make good the changes at the time you vacate the premises. Its surprising what some landlords allow if you ask nicely and professionally.

                                                  GET FUNKY FURNISHINGS

​Most rentals are cold and lifeless often painted in white. By including a few pieces of statement furniture and colourful soft furnishings, you will be able to transform it into a warm and cosy sanctuary. Invest in some gorgeous colourful bedding, throws and cushions as you can always take them wit yo when you move.

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ADORN YOUR WALLS WITH ART

With a blank canvas as walls often are, here is a great opportunity to banish boring white walls.  A way to protect your deposit is not to splatter the walls with picture hooks and damaging the walls. If you do so, you will normally be required to repair the damage when you leave the property. Instead, use the 3m velcro strips that stick to the wall and are easily removed leaving no residue. They are excellent for holding all types of art and support quite heavy items too. They can be used on the floor to if you would like to stand large pictures against a wall. I come across these strips regularly in my work and they are just great.

CREATIVE STORAGE

Colourful stacking boxes are a great solution to solving the lack of storage space especially associated with London rentals. They can be stacked side by side and on top of each other to form an attractive display. They can be reconfigured at any time to create a new look.

FAB FLOORING

Flooring is always a let down in rental properties. Often we are faced with cheap wood laminate flooring or a thin boring coloured carpet. So to transform that feel underfoot by laying a large rug, the bigger the better. ​Remember, you will always be taking it with you.

If your budget doesn't stretch to a rug as some large rugs can be quite costly, you can always purchase an end of a carpet roll or an off cut and have the edges bound.