10 Tips to Turn your Rental into your Dream Home (and get your landlord’s approval)

Written for The National Design Academy.

If you’re a millennial, then it’s very likely that you are living in a rental right now. There used to be a time when you would have worked for years to buy your own property and design it beautifully into a home to live in and pass on to the next generation.

But that story is officially over. The ‘forever home’ concept has now been replaced with the ‘serial renter’ phenomenon that offers all the flexibility needed by today’s restless globe-trotting generation.

But flexible as it is, no one wants to live in a place that doesn’t feel like it’s theirs. Rentals can often offer very little in the way of inspiration or comfort. Modern spaces tend to lack character and interesting features. On the other side, old places can offer a little too much character that’s not in sync with today’s tastes and can clearly show that they’ve seen better days.

It takes investment and effort to update and personalise these spaces, but the good news is that, with some clever design choices, you can go about transforming any space you move into from blah to beautiful. 

So how do you go about creating the feeling of a home in a property that doesn’t belong to you and that you’ll only be in for a limited time? More importantly, how do you do this under the ever watchful eye of your landlord?

Keeping the peace with your landlord!

Landlords generally get a bad rep for being too strict and inflexible with tenants’ requests for renovations. They may not be very design-savvy and keep up with the latest trends, but most (reasonable) landlords can spot a good idea when they see one. The trick is to think things through and do your research, so that you understand the long-term effects of the changes you’re proposing (it is someone else’s property after all). And you should be open to a bit of compromise, by suggesting changes that are in line with your aesthetics but are also mainstream enough to appeal to future tenants.

Remember that many landlords don’t really know how to give their properties that ‘wow’ factor and won’t mind getting a bit of help. Most will look favourably on requests that will add value to their properties and make them more appealing. And many may be open to splitting the redesign costs with you if the long-term benefits are obvious.  So with a little common sense, design creativity, and some persuasion, they can be enticed to agree to some alterations.

Don’t just pick up a paintbrush!

If you’ve just moved in or are the designer in charge of renovating a rental property, it’s tempting to take the easy route and simply repaint the walls. And while that is definitely something you should consider, you can also think outside the box and look at design possibilities that are a little more exciting.

So to help you, here are ten tried and tested ideas from our interior design tutors that are relatively simple and inexpensive to carry out, but can offer a dramatic lift to the place you’re renting…AND can get your landlord’s seal of approval.

1.     Vinyl Wrap

It’s often said that you can tell the age of a property by its kitchen and bathrooms. You can instantly tell when a home was last designed by the trend you spot in these areas. And if you’re not a fan of cooking in a space that may have been fashionable twenty years ago, you’ll probably want to put this high up on your priority list.

Kitchens play a key role in rental decisions when viewing a property. We all want beautiful kitchens, and renting doesn’t mean you can’t have the kitchen you’ve always dreamed of. There are many simple solutions offered by companies today to upgrade a drab kitchen into the luxurious heart of the home, and vinyl wrapping is one such option.

This is a relatively inexpensive and easy way of giving a kitchen a new look, without having to rip off units and install new ones. You’ll find many DIY videos by wannabe vinyl wrap experts on Youtube, but our advice is to work with reputable companies that use the highest quality of vinyl and will make the kitchen look like a brand-new installation.

You can transform an entire kitchen with vinyl wrapping, from cabinet doors, backsplash, countertop and even the kickboard. You can even wrap fridges… but that may be going a step too far!

At the moment, alternating the colour or finish in kitchens is very on-trend. So you could go with a dark blue or grey for the lower units and off-white for the overheads cabinets. Top this off with a contrasting marble-look countertop and brass handles, and you can instantly give your tired kitchen that designer look.

One of the biggest benefits of wrapping is that vinyl is easily removable. So once the lease has expired, you can return the property as you received it, but it’s very likely that your landlord and the next occupant will love its updated look as much as you do!

2.     LVT Flooring

Still sticking with vinyl…. When most people think of vinyl, they see old-fashioned rolls of flooring that their parents may have had in their homes in the 70s and 80s. But vinyl has well and truly stepped into the 21stcentury. Vinyl 2.0 has a new look and a new edge.

Luxury Vinyl Tile - or LVT - can be a great revamp material for a rental property. It is a 3D printed technology offering varied designs and finishes that mimic natural materials. This flooring can certainly look like the real thing, especially with some of the wood finishes.

LVT can be laid over existing flooring without any glue for a less permanent change, making it a great option for renters. It can then be lifted when the lease expires and moved on to your next rental. And because it’s thin, you won’t have to alter your door height, as you often would with other floating floors like wood or laminate, to allow for plank top fit.

LVT also has high-performance characteristics, with manufacturers providing up to 20 years warranty on high-grade vinyl. It’s also moisture, heat and dent-resistant. And those living in apartments will be pleased to know that it also has built-in soundproofing, which means you won’t have to tiptoe around to avoid annoying the people living one floor down.

So the bottom line is that this flooring looks the part, will stand the test of time (as well as high heels and kiddie bikes), while also not breaking the bank. It’s a great choice that ticks all the boxes for tenants.

3.     Micro-topping

As a renter, have you ever viewed a really good property that unfortunately came with unsightly floor tiles? Those tiles could have been the one feature that held you or others back from signing the lease. Imagine being able to replace dated or ugly floors with a beautiful concrete-look finish that is very current and won’t cost the earth.

Enter micro-topping! This adds a thin overlay to any level surface, and is a simple way to resurface existing floors while also scoring high with visual appeal. It involves the application of a 2-3mm thick polymer with a modified protective coating and topping off with a polyurethane sealer.

There are many versions of micro-topping, such as micro-Crete, micro-cement and micro-concrete. With advances in the production of these finishes, the possibilities are endless when it comes to the desired finish.

So if it’s just the unappealing floor that’s getting in between you and a great rental property, we suggest you try your luck with your future landlord. Put your negotiating hat on, adopt the most professional tone you can, and ask your landlord if they’ve ever considered micro-topping.

4.     Wallpaper

Ever wonder why wallpaper never seems to go out of fashion? It has this incredible ability to adjust to the times, evolving from its early form of Egyptian papyrus and Chinese rice-paper to today’s plethora of endless choice in pattern, texture or colour. And if you don’t like what’s available in the market, you can create your own!

Wallpaper today is no wallflower (excuse the pun!). It’s not content to keep a low profile and hide away in the shadows, with its simple and subtle repeat patterns of days gone by. The resurgence of wallpaper in the last decade has been all about making a statement within a room and asserting its presence. Hence, the arrival of the wallpaper mural, that has been a big hit and can be customised to specific wall sizes.

But what about having to painstakingly remove all that wallpaper when your lease expires? Wallpaper providers have been improving the ease of use of their products and have come up with the simple solution of self-adhesive wallpaper. This ‘peel and stick’ feature requires no glue and can be easily removed and replaced. It also means that you can easily do this as a DIY project, saving on installation costs.

Another thing that’s great about self-adhesive wallpaper is that most varieties can be wiped down with a damp cloth – handy for parents who have to constantly deal with small grubby hands.

So, next time you’re staring at a blank wall and looking for some inspiration, think about how you can spend a few hours transforming it into an eye-catching feature wall that’s worthy of Instagram.

5.     Furniture and Hardware

A big tip when selecting furniture is to choose pieces that you love and that have timeless character, so that when you move, they will work equally well in your new place. Another consideration is to use adaptable pieces that can suit new layouts or design features.

Modular pieces such as adjustable lounges or storage solutions can be reconfigured to work with your next new home. Also when choosing wardrobes or storage pieces, opt for pieces that are relatively tall, so that they resemble built-in cabinetry and give a more solid look to your space.

Standard handles can be very boring and with a quick trip to Ikea or your local hardware store, you can get contemporary handles in gold metal or black finish that can jazz up boring bathroom vanities or bedroom wardrobes.

6.     Light Fittings

The average rental usually comes with very basic light fixtures that have zero personality so that they can appeal widely to different tastes. Adding the right light fixtures can inject a lot of personality into a space and complete a certain look, but many tenants will shy away from this because they’ll see it as a hassle.

In most cases, you will need to bring in an electrician who can safely do this for you, and you will need to store the existing light fittings so that you can replace them once you leave. But if you’re planning to stay in the property for a while and find yourself flinching every time you look upwards, this effort may be worth your while. 

You’ll find plenty of affordable and attractive options in the market to choose from. Bamboo and cane pendants are enjoying a lot of popularity at the moment because of their wonderful natural aesthetics. Or, for something a bit more luxurious, you can opt for an Art Deco or mid-century modern style fixture.

But what do you do if your layout requires that you have ceiling lights in spots where there are no outlets? For example, you’d like a low-hanging light just above your dining table, but there isn’t one at the moment. A simple solution would be to extend the wiring from the nearest outlet… and don’t be afraid to keep it visible – it’s very on trend at the moment. 

7.     Removable Wall Panels and Wall Trim

Painting walls may work wonders for any interior, but having blank walls devoid of texture and personality can get a little boring sometimes. Adding some tasteful architectural features to a rental property can add a sense of luxury and some points of interest, especially if the space you’re working with is a basic ‘white box’ with very little to show off.

Stick-on trims are a great way to create a dado rail effect for a classic styled room. Or if you’re looking for something a bit more contemporary, you can lay stick-on trims on a diagonal. You can opt for a half-wall or even go floor to ceiling.

Be as discrete or as creative as you like - these trims and panels are easily removable, without doing any damage to your property walls. Another bonus? They’re very inexpensive and can be easily purchased online.

8.     Wall Art

It’s common knowledge that most rental policies prohibit tenants from boring holes or hammering nails into walls. This is understandable, since a pockmarked wall can be a nightmare to fix when a tenant exits a property. But this doesn’t mean that you need to store away your favourite abstract painting and live with bare walls for the period of your lease.

There are many options in the market that will enable you to hang your art without any hassle. Peel-off hanging strips or hooks that can hold as many kilos as a young child are easily accessible and affordable. They are also super easy to remove without any residue.

You could also suggest to your landlord adding a picture rail that will help you adjust and change your wall art without any hassle…and can be useful to the next tenant. Remember, art can add great personality to a rental home. So, be sure to surround yourself with it!

9.     Stick-on Tiles and Grout

Without painting every rental home with the same brush, most of them are pretty basic in style. Some even lack the most common features such as a backsplash above the vanity in a powder room or bathroom.

Peel-off tile decals can be a great solution to add a little more pizazz to your space. How about a hexagon tile in a mosaic pattern that’s been a big trend? There are lots of varieties to get the look and feel you want.

Stick-on tiles can also come with a bit more thickness. These are adhesive plastic or vinyl squares that mimic the look of tile and are extremely simple to install. The added advantage of using stick-on tiles is that you don't have to worry about dealing with mortar, grout, or any of the mess required for traditional tiles. It literally is just a matter of peel and stick!

But sometimes it’s not the tile (or lack of) that is the problem. Many of us love ceramic tiles because they’re so easy to clean. But the grout between the tiles often ages badly, and if the property is not well maintained, it’s common to see tile grout that looks very tired and even ghastly!

With a very easy solution you can transform your floor tiles to look like a sleek design feature. With great products in the market such as brass-look vinyl stickers, you can revamp the entire look of the flooring, and do this easily yourself. 

10.  Painting tiles

Most landlords would jump at the chance if you asked permission to revamp your ugly bathroom or messy tiled backsplashes. Painting tiles can seem a little off-putting if you haven’t done it before. But rest assured… once you take the plunge and paint your old beige tiles into trendy greys or aqua blues, the result will look like a brand new bathroom!

There are two painting options for tiles:

-       Latex Paint: Apply one to two coats of a bonding primer that's made to adhere to surfaces such as tile.

-       Epoxy Paint: Apply two coats of a two-part epoxy paint that's made for tile and other hard to paint surfaces, such as Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile.

This is the easiest way to update the look of dated bathroom tiles that are still in good condition. A few coats of bright white can instantly modernise a bathroom style that was all the rage a few decades ago.

Go ahead and get creative-

So if you’re a design enthusiast who’s currently renting, all of the above will make a great checklist for you to feel at home and express your style in your new place. It will take effort and investment on your part, and a bit of persuasion with your landlord. But it’s important to create spaces that are comfortable and cheerful wherever you choose to live.

This may not be your ‘forever home’, but by following these tips, you will be able to turn someone else’s house into your dream home - even if it is just for a while.

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If you really enjoy doing up and renovating your home, you could consider taking your skills a level up and studying interior design. Read about our Diploma course in Interior Design and learn how to use your creative skills to design beautiful homes. There may be a budding designer in you that’s waiting to be discovered!