How to spruce up your rental for 2025 on a budget

21st November 2024

If you’re currently living in a rental property, hopefully your landlord has done a good job of giving you a nice home that’s being let legally and safely.

But no matter how well the property has been decorated and furnished - and especially if you’ve lived there for a while and aren’t planning to leave any time soon - you might want to make some changes and put your stamp on it so that it really feels like your home.

Of course, you don’t want to spend too much on making big changes when it’s not your property! So we’ve put together five ideas for how you can spruce up your rental on a budget:

What will your landlord allow?

This is the first thing to check. Your tenancy agreement is likely to outline minor changes you can make but speak to your landlord about what else you’d like to do, such as repainting or changing the curtains. Most landlords are reasonable, and with the average tenancy now lasting more than four years, your landlord might even be prepared to pay for the changes you want to make.

If you are updating, replacing or fitting anything yourself, make sure you have the landlord’s agreement in writing. And remember that if you damage the property, you will be responsible for covering the cost of repairs, so it’s well worth having contents insurance that can protect you financially if you do have an accident.

What can you take with you when you move?

Cushions, rugs, lamps and bedding can make a huge difference to the look and feel of a room and can all be found at very reasonable prices. That said, because you can take them all with you when you eventually move on, you may be happy to invest a little more. You could even ask your landlord about replacing a bed or sofa, however, do check that they’d be prepared to remove their own furniture at no cost to you.

Although it’s not a legal requirement for items you own to be fire safe, it is sensible. Most soft furnishings and upholstered items should be compliant, but check to make sure there’s a ‘match resistant’ or other label attached, confirming that the item meets the 1988 safety regulations.

If you are looking to buy second hand, The British Heart Foundation typically has good quality furniture and they also deliver at reasonable prices.

Lighten and brighten your home with mirrors

Mirrors bounce light and can really give the illusion of extra space, so they’re an easy way to change the look of your home – and they needn’t be expensive. A large mirror can transform the feel of a narrow hallway and act as an extra window in a darker room.

Wait for the sales

While you can pick up general décor items such as pictures and cushions fairly cheaply, for more expensive things like curtains and kitchen equipment it’s worth planning ahead and waiting for a sale or ‘Black Friday’ deals.

Also keep an eye out for any local businesses closing down that want to get rid of all their stock, and check out local markets where you can often get very good deals from independent sellers.

Go green!

Plants are a great way to bring life and colour into your home, and they needn’t be expensive. Peace lilies are very affordable, low-maintenance plants that will thrive in darker spots and perk up any room. You can even invest in some artificial plants or flowers – there are some really excellent ones out there – and, again, they can move with you.

If you have any questions about making changes to the interior of your rented home, just get in touch with the lettings team in your local branch and they’ll be happy to help.