21 decorating hacks for rental properties

Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you need to settle for someone else’s design style. We’re sharing 21 clever and cheap tricks to create maximum design impact without breaking the rental rules. Here are our top decorating hacks for rental properties!

Related article: Our favourite places to shop for large rugs
Related article: Turn your house into a home: Tips and tricks to add warmth and personality, without compromising on style!

1. Update your lighting

If you’re stuck with horrible fluorescents or outdated light fixtures, there is a super quick and cheap fix. Buy some floor and table lamps and strategically place them in your living areas and bedrooms. Or if it’s bare bulbs, or removable lightshades, buy some cheap and pretty DIY light fixtures.

Lamps decorating hacks for rental
Image via Beacon Lighting

2. Change up the hardware

To instantly modernise a kitchen or bathroom, simply unscrew the handles on the cabinetry and replace with fancy new ones! Just don’t forget to pop the old handles in a labelled snap-lock bag and store in a safe place so you can replace them when you move on.

Check out our round up of the best places to buy stylish door hardware and handles here.

New handles_ decorating hacks for rental
Image via Room for Tuesday

3. The more plants the better

Indoor plants instantly make any space feel more homely and beautiful. They’re also great if you’re in an apartment without a yard. Check out what plants are trending in interiors here or if you struggle to keep plants alive, our top 20 hard to kill indoor plants guide is a life saver!

Indoor plants decorating hacks for rental
Image via IKEA

4. Create your own storage

Custom cabinetry isn’t really an option in a rental, but it’s quick and easy to add your own storage with a cheap flatpack cube unit. You can style it with beautiful and practical baskets, and balance some art or trinkets on top to make it feel more like home.

Storage
Image via Rental Designs

5. Use rugs to hide and protect floors

Rental carpets tend to be very practical — read drab. You can instantly glam up a room by adding a beautiful large plush rug. If you invest in a good quality one, it will be able to move with you from home to home. The bonus is your rental carpet is also protected from spills and wear and tear, which you’ll be grateful for when it’s time to get your bond back! Check out our favourite places to shop for rugs here.

Rugs_rental hacks
Image via Four Sixty

6. Buy beautiful bedding

Treat yourself to beautiful, luxurious bed linen to personalise your bedroom, add colour and texture, and make the space feel really special to you. Your bed makes up one of the largest surface areas in the bedroom so a new quilt will have a dramatic impact — it’s one of our favourite decorating hacks for rental properties!

bedding_ decorating hacks for rental
Image via Adairs

7. Hang curtains to hide ugly blinds and walls

To soften a room or hide an ugly blind, just hang some beautiful curtains! These might be thick textured blockout curtains, or beautiful sheer drapes. You can even get temporary blinds like these ones from IKEA. If you don’t want to screw hooks into the wall, simply pick up a spring-loaded curtain rod from your local hardware store.

Bedroom

8. Use temporary wallpaper

There’s a huge selection of temporary wallpaper and wall decals available online and it’s relatively easy to install and remove when you’re done. By just adding the wallpaper to one wall in a room you can create a beautiful point of interest and make it feel more like home!

Etsy_Wallpaper_ decorating hacks for rental
Image via ScaloneArt on Etsy

9. Show off your art

With any luck, there will already be some appropriately placed nails or hooks on the wall that you can take advantage of. Invest in a beautiful piece of art that will work with a broad palette of colours so it can move with you. Here is our round up of the best places to buy artwork online.

If there are no hooks, use the removable command hooks, strips and tape to avoid putting holes in the walls. If there is no appropriate wall space, simply lean your artwork against the wall on top of your bookshelves and storage unit, or even on the floor if it’s a large piece.

We’ve mentioned it before but it’s worth saying again — art doesn’t have to sit inside a frame. From abstract wall hangings to touch-activated wall lights, there are many out-of-the-box wall art options on the market now. In the case of those wall light panels, they also have the added benefit of adding ambient lighting to your space and many can be operated wirelessly from your phone!

10. Customise your kitchen splashback

If you hate your kitchen splashback, there are so many beautiful and temporary options, like these funky stickers from Etsy! When it’s time to peel it off, it should come away relatively easily, and you can use a bit of eucalyptus oil to remove any sticky residue.

Etsy_kitchen splash back_ decorating hacks for rental
Image via Etsy

11. Decorate your furniture not your walls

If you’re nervous about putting things on walls, there are still ways around it! Paint or wallpaper the back of a tall bookcase or storage unit, or if you want something you can easily update, cut out cardboard panels to shape and paint them or wrap them in fabric and secure them to the back of shelves. Otherwise, simply giving your tables, stools and chairs a fresh coat of paint can really brighten up a room. Here’s a furniture upcycle Gina recently did for her son’s nursery.

Bookshelf decor_21 decorating hacks for rental properties
Image via Pinterest

12. Create a temporary gallery wall

Use different coloured washi tape as alternative to wall frames — not only does it look great, but it can be easily peeled off without damaging the walls.

Image via Pinterest

13. Invest in the perfect furniture

If you can’t change the rooms, buy furniture that you really love to come home to. Try and pick pieces that are versatile and durable and will work in a variety of room shapes and sizes.

FreedomFurniture_decoratinghacksreplacement
Image via Freedom

14. Use decorative ladders to create hanging space

A wall ladder not only looks great, it’s a perfect way to add some colour to your walls without hooks or nails. See how Gina used a ladder in her living room to display magazines and a hanging pot plant here. And in the bathroom, it’s perfect for extra towel hanging!

Ladder Decor_ 21 decorating hacks
Image via Pinterest

15. Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise

Use throws, cushions, trinkets and rugs to make the space reflect your style. They do no damage and can move with you from home to home. And with the affordable homewares range from places like Kmart, Big W and Target, there is something to suit any budget.

Styling decorating hacks for rental
Image via Kmart

16. Remove cabinet doors

If your kitchen cabinets are beyond ugly, simply take them off the hinges and store them somewhere safe. Open cabinetry is very on trend and it will allow you to display some of your beautiful crockery!

Open shelves
Image via Simplified Bee

17. Create a custom shower floor

If your shower floor makes you shudder, create a beautiful DIY timber floor like this one to hide ugly tiles and give the space a beautiful modern feel.

LargeShower_ decorating hacks for rental
Image via Home Edit

18. Replace your shower head

While you are in your bathroom, replacing an old and ugly shower head with a nice new one can instantly create a luxe feel in your bathroom. Just make sure you keep the old shower head in the bathroom cabinet to swap back when you leave.

19. Use temporary decking to brighten up an outdoor space

These cute outdoor decking tiles from IKEA are easy to assemble and will give your balcony an instant facelift.

Outdoor tiles decorating hacks for rental
Image via IKEA

20. Update your switch covers

Head to your local hardware store and check out the range of modern powerpoint and light switch covers available. Matte covers or those with flush buttons will instantly make a room feel more sleek and modern. Again, make sure you keep the old covers to pop back on when it’s time to leave!

21. Buy a rolling kitchen bench for extra space

If your kitchen lacks bench space, you can add instant space and style with a movable bench. When not in use, you can roll to the side, and store your beautiful pots and pans underneath.

Ikea_RollingKitchenBench
Image via IKEA

Once you’ve taken the time to uplift your rental property with our styling tips and tricks, it’s a good idea to insure your home and safeguard your cosy space. There are plenty of options on the market and this comprehensive review about Lemonade Renters Insurance may be useful.

Have you picked up any decorating hacks for rental properties from this list or do you have another hack to add? Let us know in the comments.

Check out more styling ideas

Disclaimer: This blog post was originally published in August 2018 but updated with new information. This article contains some affiliate links. This means, if you purchase an item we may receive a commission on that sale of the product at no extra cost to you. We promise we only work with brands we know, love and trust.

Gina Beschorner Style Curator

Welcome to Style Curator, your destination for daily interiors inspiration, styling tips, reno advice, home tours and DIY projects!

We're on a mission to help you create a home you love. And with plenty of tips and tricks, tutorials and other home inspo, we give you all the tools to achieve it!

I’m Gina, Founder and Interior Designer, and you can read more about Style Curator here.

Subscribe

Get the best of the blog to your inbox each week PLUS instant access to our free downloads!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
    Interior style quiz

    Shop our fave online stores

    As seen in

    Style Curator in the media

    10 COMMENTS

    1. Hi Gina,

      Do you have any suggestion for main door facing the bathroom door problem? I can’t put up permanent divider as I am renting, do you have any other contemporary idea? Thx

      • Hi lovely

        Is this in a bedroom or main living area of your home? What space/room is in front of the bathroom? It would be helpful to get a better sense of the overall space to offer some useful suggestions. But generally speaking, using a bookshelf, cluster of indoor plants, room divider or even a temporary curtain can look great… it just depends on your space 🙂

    2. Great ideas. All this time at home is making me realize how important it is to get your space just right when you move in! Thanks for the insight.

    3. Hi there,

      What a fantastic and VERY useful article. Thank you!

      I am about to move into a rental that has an air conditioning unit which sits inside the main window. Do you have any useful hacks as it’s such an eyesore and the very first thing my eyes are drawn to as I walk into my daughters bedroom.

      Thank you again.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here