- Renters are looking for temporary fixes with strict landlord policies.
- Searches for ‘no drill blackout blinds’ are up 177% this month, as people are interested in changing their blinds easily and temporarily.
- Swift Blinds shares tips for how renters can update home décor while still abiding by restrictions.
September marked one of the busiest times for home moves, whether it’s students moving into new university houses, graduates starting new jobs, or renters simply coming to the end of their contract. Most tenancy agreements restrict drilling, painting and making permanent changes to the property, making it difficult to truly turn a rental into your own personalised home.
To help renters style their homes in confidence, without fear of losing their deposit, interior experts at Swift Direct Blinds have shared the most practical and damage-free décor ideas.
Bring in bold or large rugs
It’s often against landlord policies to put down new flooring, but rugs are an easy and temporary way to refresh an interior.
Kate O’Brien, Brand Manager at Swift Blinds, says, “We’re seeing a revival of maximalism in interior design at the moment. Pinterest boards and social media feeds are flooded with bold colours and eccentric patterns, with rugs often acting as the centrepiece. Rugs can draw visual attention when placed in the centre of a room, especially if they are bold, providing a way for renters to bring a pop of personality into their space.
“Sisal rugs and brown rugs are very on trend, too, with searches at up by over 120% and 67%, respectively, highlighting the rise of interest in earthy and sustainable designs as people are keen to create a calm and grounded space to return to. Sisal rugs are often very large, making a great choice for renters wanting to hide unattractive floors without drawing too much attention.”
No drill is a no brainer
“Many rental properties restrict the installation of new blinds, shutters, or curtains due to potential wall damage, making no-drill blinds an excellent alternative,” says Kate. In fact, searches for ‘no drill blackout blinds’ on Google have increased by 177% this month, with September being a popular time for people to move homes due to starting new jobs and university years.
“No-drill blinds are a practical choice, but no-drill shutters offer an even more stylish way to update your windows. They’re easy to install and remove without leaving any marks, helping renters protect their deposits.
“For renters lucky enough to have existing curtain poles, opting for eyelet curtains is a simple way to refresh your window space, as they slide on effortlessly and can be removed with no fuss once you’re ready to leave.”
Switching bulbs and lampshades can alter the mood
Kate says, “Lighting can make a big difference to the feel of a room. Depending on the style of your light shade and the colour of your bulb, you can drastically enhance and change the mood in your space.
“Warm bulbs will create a more intimate feel in comparison to white light, which is associated with more clinical settings. Lamp shades close to the ground also have the effect of making the room look bigger, as the darker edges of the room can’t be seen so well.
“We’re seeing statement lampshades grow in popularity at the moment, with feather lampshades seeing an 85% increase in searches4, as well as embroidered lampshades seeing a recent rise, too, but there are so many options to choose from to bring your own personal style into the space.”
Introduce complementary and analogous colours
“Small touches through adding throws or pillows to existing sofas is a simple way to refresh furniture and introduce new textures or colours, but make sure to use colours that are complementary or analogous with the colour of existing furniture in the space. Complementary colours are opposite on the colour wheel, while analogous colours sit next to each other on the colour wheel,” explains Kate.
“Bringing in plants is another easy way to add an earthy, natural feel that instantly livens up a room without making permanent changes. And when it comes to personalising walls, removable photo strips let you display photographs and artwork without damaging paintwork.”
Don’t overlook doorknob swaps
“An often overlooked but incredibly simple way to add personality and style to a room is by changing doorknobs,” says Kate. “Most doorknobs unscrew easily with a screwdriver, while you can choose from so many styles to replace them, such as sleek metallic finishes, mattes, or unique and quirky designs.
“Not only can you change your doorknobs, but also handles on cabinets and drawers, making kitchen and bedroom furniture feel bespoke with just a simple and affordable trick. When you move out, you can simply screw the old doorknobs back in.”
