A lot of people rent property in London – in fact, the balance recently tipped for the first time in about eighty years, and now more people rent their homes than own them. This means that there are a lot of people living in flats with magnolia walls and slightly utilitarian furniture, and I’d be the first to admit that it might not feel like home. In this blog, I look at what you can do to make your rented flat more personal to you, without breaching your tenancy agreement.

1. Display your photos

Don’t keep all your photos buried in your phone: print them off, pop them in some lovely frames and stand them up wherever you’ve got room. You can’t put nails in the walls but you can make use of windowsills, bookcases and even your kitchen units. Magnetic frames are great if you’re pushed for space – you can put up your pictures on the fridge.

2. Bring colour into your rented flat

Bringing your own favourite colour into your living space is a great way to make it your own. If your rented property is small, it’s a good idea to use the same colour palette in every room to create a sense of continuity. You can use almost any home accessory to personalise your space, from cushions and rugs to kitchen utensils and home office stationery.

3. Use a variety of shapes

One of the challenges posed by the “no nails in the wall” rule is that all the interest of the room can get stuck in the lower half of the space, between the height of the kitchen table and the floor. A brilliant way of overcoming this is use furniture of different shapes and heights to draw the eye up as well as down. Bookshelves that are higher than they are wide can make a great focal point; a standard lamp also works well.

4. Nurture some house plants

House plants bring the outside inside, soften corners and act as natural air fresheners into the bargain. Chose cacti, succulents or aspidistras if you’re forgetful about watering (!), or grow herbs if you’re a keen cook. If your flat is open plan, choose something moisture-loving that won’t mind the steam from your pasta pan. Remember to get a planter to protect your landlord’s furniture from any soil or water – another personal touch for your current home.

Looking after landlords and tenants

When it comes to interiors, I sympathise with landlords and tenants alike. Landlords should choose neutral colours to make the flat look spacious and ensure it won’t clash with tenants’ tastes. Once tenants have collected the keys, they can personalise the space with family photos and colourful kitchen scales. Both are great solutions and neither will break the tenancy agreement.

Rent property in East London

If you’re a tenant looking for property to rent in Bow, Shoreditch, Hackney or anywhere else in East London, have a look on our rental pages here. If you see a property you like, please get in touch with me, Adam Dockley, on 020 3633 4440 – I’d love to hear from you.