How to Decorate an Atrocious Rental

How to Decorate an Atrocious Rental
By Claudia Vilato

With the housing market ever more uncertain, more of us are holding off on the mortgage and opting for the rental. But what’s out there isn’t always new, modern, or sleek. Let’s face it, for some of us, home is a 70s shag carpet with green walls, pink sponged doors, and blinking fluorescent lights. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your dump- I mean digs.

1. Work out the layout: Nurture your inner designer and make a bird’s eye view plan of each room to create your furniture layout. Take measurements and get large furniture items in the room first. Then work out the accessories.
2. Say No to Hodge-podge: If you’ve already got a gnarly home or apartment, don’t make it worse by loading up the room with mismatched furniture. Your grandmother’s 19th Century vanity does not match your white Ikea bed. Keep it consistent to create a mood to the room.
3. Simplicity is key: Start collecting knick-knacks and your home will start to look like a lion’s den. De-cluttering is the name of the game.
4. Develop your green thumb: Kiss your plant-phobia good-bye! Nothing enlivens a room more than a little Mother Nature in the home. Ferns, flowers, and potted shrubs not only improve indoor air quality, but fill up awkward or dull spaces. Vases with fresh-cut flowers or long-lasting cuttings like bamboo or eucalyptus also refresh a dingy room. Take a look at the lighting of each room, and choose your plants accordingly. Oh, and don’t forget to water.
5. Lights!: Nothing ruins a space more than dreary lighting. And in a rental, you can get stuck with some pretty horrendous illumination. So try to get floor lamps or table lamps whenever possible. Paper lanterns are a cheap and lovely, and if you can change the ceiling lights, go for track lights, down lights, or dimmers. Sexy and stylish should be your motto.
6. Clever cover-ups: We’ve all had to deal with it: the furnished rental. Why they so often choose couches and tables circa 1950 is beyond comprehension, but they do, and we’re stuck with ‘em. Do not just get an old sheet to cover up the furniture. Get proper couch and chair coverings. It will make all the difference. And if your dining room table displays a collage of fossilised macaroni, a funky mod tablecloth should do the trick.
7. Wall art: Ok, I know what you’re thinking, “If I had 500 pounds to spend, I wouldn’t be in this hole.” But art doesn’t have to be expensive. Clearance stores like the Gift Shop often have fresh canvassed photography for just 5-10 pounds. Second-hand art books can also provide some fantastic designs. And if the muses pay you a visit, a few deliberate paint splatters on a blank canvas sheet would make a great cover-up for that mould-infested hole in the wall.
8. Area rugs: They define space, add colour, and double up as great yoga mats. Place squarely in front of a couch, or at an angle to add interest to a bland room. Make sure it’s stain-free and vacuumed often.
9. Good smells: Ok, so you’re done with your décor, and you’ve transformed your ugly duckling of a home into an elegant swan. But the previous tenants smoked, had 3 cats, 4 dogs, and a cage of exotic birds. So what to do about foul odours? If you’ve got a carpet, get it steam-cleaned immediately. Wash the walls, vacuum with neutralizing powder, and light up your incense. No matter how beautiful your home, if it smells like a farm, you won’t have many visitors.
10. Don’t forget to tidy: I know, this is more a matter of discipline than design. But you shouldn’t neglect to give every room a good scrubbing at least once a week, kitchen and bath twice a week. To save money, buy an all-purpose cleaner which can be used on floors, surfaces, in tubs and toilets. If you’ve got a lot of stuff thrown about, buy organisers and wardrobe drawers. Oh, and just because your mom doesn’t nag you about it anymore doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pick up your clothes off the floor.