Experts' five tips to make a rented property feel like home

It can be a balancing act making a rented property feel like your own.

You want somewhere that feels warm and personal but without spending a fortune changing a flat or house owned by someone else and making alterations that put a deposit at risk.

Higher average mortgage rates and hefty deposits mean buying a home is out of reach for many, who are renting for longer.

The good news is that transforming a rental doesn't have to mean a major renovation.

With a free weekend, a relatively small budget and a few clever changes, even a bland or tired-looking place can be spruced-up.

We asked B&Q chief executive Graham Bell and interior designers Lara Clarke and Lydia Lloyd for their top tips that won't break the bank or annoy a landlord.

Check your tenancy agreement

Before making anything permanent, check what your tenancy agreement allows.

Bell, of DIY chain B&Q, says many landlords may be open to sensible improvements, particularly where something is being upgraded rather than fundamentally changed.

But getting permission first avoids an expensive argument when you move out.

Bell also says it is important to take time to prepare properly.

"The biggest mistake is that people don't plan enough," he says. "It's all the planning that goes into it that's important, making sure you have everything.

"My dad would tell me to always measure twice and cut once."

He recommends deciding exactly what you want to achieve, measuring the space and buying everything you need before you start.

Online tutorials can also help with relatively simple DIY projects.

Choose changes you can take with you

If you don't want to spend money improving someone else's property, focus on temporary changes that can come with you when you move.

Bell recommends renter-friendly products such as stick-on tiles for the kitchen, suction storage products in the bathroom and expandable blinds that can be fitted without drilling.

Interior designer Clarke says artwork is probably the easiest way to make a rental feel more homely because it "instantly makes a space feel more occupied and finished".

She suggests looking for affordable vintage oil paintings, exhibition posters or framed sketches at antique markets, then securing them with command strips so they can be removed without leaving holes in the plaster.

Lighting is one of the quickest ways to transform a space.

Bell says rentals often come with "bright, bright lights", but swapping them out for something warmer can dramatically change the atmosphere of a room.

He suggests experimenting using lightbulbs or strip lighting with different tones. Strip lighting is often found in kitchens but a softer glow can change the whole feel of the space without requiring a major renovation.

Rather than depending on a single overhead light, Clarke recommends building up different sources from around the room.

"Mood lighting really helps make a space feel more cosy and homely," she says.

"Add table and floor lamps too and there are plenty of battery-powered options around now so you don't have to worry about finding a plug socket."

Clarke says the effect can be made even cosier by pairing lighting with soft furnishings, such as floor-to-ceiling curtains and scatter cushions in different colours and patterns.

More vintage, less flatpack

A simple way to make a rented house stop feeling temporary is to create a corner that reflects who you are.

Lloyd, a home designer at M&S, says it doesn't need to cost a lot since a "few carefully chosen accessories [can] make a big difference".

She says: "Books, framed photographs, decorative objects and houseplants help tell your story and can make even a temporary space feel more personal and lived in."

To add a little something extra, Clarke suggests "sourcing characterful pieces".

"Avoid flatpack furniture," she says. "And source things from online marketplaces or antique markets for unique pieces that tell a story and make a space feel more lived-in and curated over time."

Lloyd believes scent is a "simple but powerful way to make a home feel inviting".

Buying candles, diffusers and room sprays "can help create a warm, cosy atmosphere, especially as we move into the colder months".

She recommends fragrances such as sandalwood, cedarwood, cinnamon and cardamom as they "are perfect for bringing a sense of comfort into the home".

She also suggests "adding layers of texture through cushions, throws and blankets" thinking about mixing materials like velvet, boucle or chunky knits.

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