Renters, it can sometimes be hard to make your house feel like home – especially if you’re nervous about losing your deposit.
But there are actually more renter-friendly ways to spruce up your home than you might think! Here are some DIY tips and tricks that you can follow and protect your deposit too.
What home improvements can renters do?
When it comes to living in rented properties, there’s some rules around what you can and can’t do.
You can’t make many (if any) changes to fixtures and fittings, walls and floors. On the other hand, you’re free to fill up the house with all the furniture, plants, decorations and trinkets you want!
If you do want to make any permanent changes, you’ll have to speak to your landlord first. Read our guide on landlord vs tenant responsibilities.
Check out the GOV.UK’s guide to your private renting rights for more information on what you can and can’t do.
Leave it how you found it
When it’s time to move out of a home that you’ve rented, it’s important you leave it how you found it.
Otherwise, you could risk losing your tenancy deposit.
If you’ve done any DIY in your house, make sure that it’s easy to remove or uninstall without leaving any marks.
If there are any scuffs or damage left, it’s worth trying to fix it yourself if you can. For example, you may have nail holes where you’ve hung up art – try to fill these in if you can.
Read our guide to getting your tenancy deposit back.
Renter friendly DIY hacks for the kitchen
The kitchen can be one of the toughest rooms to make your own.
With lots of built-in fixtures and fittings, you might feel like there’s not much you can do to switch up the decor.
But there are still lots of renter-friendly DIY hacks you can do to make it feel more your own.
Get a peel and stick backsplash
An easy way to spruce up the kitchen space is to get a peel and stick backsplash.
There are lots of different colours and patterns out there to choose from, including imitation tiles that can look very convincing.
As long as you install it carefully, it shouldn’t leave too much damage when it’s time to take it off.
Switch out the cupboard handles
You can find lots of different knobs and handles in high-street DIY stores, online or even in vintage markets if you want an eclectic mix!
Plus, it’s easy enough to install them yourself, if you have a screwdriver on hand.
Just remember to keep the old handles somewhere safe so you can reinstall them when it’s time to move out.
Renter friendly DIY hacks for the living room
It’s likely that the living room is a bit more of a blank canvas – so you might have more space to play with when it comes to decor and DIY!
Switch out the light fixtures
If your rented property came with very basic or plain light fittings, a quick fix can be to replace with your own lamp shades.
There are different styles and colours, so you can make a bold statement or keep it more chic.
This isn’t too difficult to do. Again, you just need to remember to keep the old fittings so you can reinstall them when you need to move out.
Invest in rugs
One of the frustrating parts of renting is you’re pretty much stuck with the flooring that’s already in there.
There’s no renter-friendly way to replace floors! But what you can do instead is invest in different rugs to either cover up the flooring or to accent it.
Rugs do tend to be a bit pricier, but you can find some great deals on second-hand apps or at flea markets.
Use command strips or hooks to hang art
You might be nervous about drilling holes in walls, but you can get around it by using command strips or hooks to hang art instead.
You can get these in lots of different DIY stores like B&Q, or you can order them online.
They’re very easy to use, are nice and sturdy, and don’t leave a mark when it’s time to take them down.
Renter friendly DIY hacks for the bedroom
The bedroom is another blank space where you might have a bit more freedom to decorate.
Peel and stick wallpaper
This option takes a bit more effort, but you can buy peel and stick wallpaper to add a dash of colour and life to your bedroom – whether that’s an accent wall or the whole room.
If you invest in a good quality one, they shouldn’t leave any marks when it’s time to take them down.
Command strips or hooks
Again, command strips or hooks can come in handy here!
You can use them to hang wall art, or even just hooks to hang scarves or bags from.
Invest in a new headboard
This is especially a good hack if you’re living in a furnished apartment, as you’ll already have a bed.
You can get lots of standalone headboards in different styles, which can add more character to a room.
Renter friendly DIY hacks for the bathroom
The bathroom is another space that’s filled with built-in fixtures and fittings you can’t really change.
But again, there’s lots of little ways to get around this.
Stick-on tiles
Hate the tiles that are in your bathroom? No worries – again, you could try stick-on tiles!
There’s a ton of colours and styles to choose from online or in some DIY stores, so you can choose ones to suit your taste.
Switch out knobs
If you have some basic-looking bathroom cabinets but can’t do much with them, a quick fix can be switching out the handles for some more stylish ones.
It’s easy to do and doesn’t take too long!
Tenant’s insurance
As a renter, you may not have considered insurance or think it’s only for homeowners.
This isn’t true – you still likely have lots of valuable belongings that are worth protecting!
Having some kind of renters insurance in place means you won’t be left out of pocket if your stuff is damaged or stolen.
Read our guide to tenants insurance or head to our renters insurance page to find out more.
And remember, try to keep an open dialogue with your landlord or whoever’s managing the property on their behalf.
Being communicative and honest is the best way to manage the property and stay on top of home maintenance.
