According to the Office of National Statistics, around a fifth of the households in the UK are private rentals. That's 13 million people living in semi-permanent accommodation, unable to put their mark on their home. There are, of course, bigger issues at play here than just our inability to decorate, but making your house your own isn't just a frivolous way to pass time. Your home is part of your identity, a physical place to belong to, and being unable to fully realise this can be detrimental to the spirit.
What can be done? As it turns out, quite a lot. We've combed through the House & Garden archive to find both rentals and permanent homes that can serve as inspiration. Nominally, these are schemes that have white walls, but we've also included the rented Bloomsbury flat of former House & Garden editor Gabby Deeming, which is a great example of putting your stamp on a rental. Whether you're planning on renting for a short time or long term, scroll on for contract friendly shoppable ideas.
Sally Wilkinson's Chelsea flat
Despite being a rental, Sally Wilkinson's flat in Chelsea is filled with personality, and the interior designer has managed to put her mark on it very successfully. To introduce colour, Sally has used patterned textiles and a playful yellow sofa to keep the room feeling fresh and exciting, without having to paint the walls. In the nook to the side of the fireplace, Sally has employed a freestanding display cabinet, painted in a warm lichen hue, which pulls the colour upwards.
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Though the walls have remained white, Sally has filled them with a variety of charming frames and artworks. If you're worried about holes in the wall, try command strips, which can be easily peeled off when it's time to move on. Please note that these don't work with heavier items or bigger pieces of art. The latter can simply be propped up on top of a mantlepiece or against a wall for a casual, characterful feel.
Many of us, particularly those in carved-up Victorian terraces, are cursed with the sitting-room-cum-dining-room hybrid. It can be tricky to know how to handle this, but Sally has expertly combined the two. By placing patterned slipcovers on her chairs, there is a seamless blend between the ‘hard’ seating areas and ‘soft’.
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A Bloomsbury rental
Gabby Deeming, the former decoration director of House & Garden, has created a layered and personality-filled scheme in her Bloomsbury flat. The flat is a rental, but Gabby signed a long-lease and agreed some terms with her landlord - the Rugby Estate - which allowed her to decorate the space.
Whether or not you're allowed to decorate in this more permanent fashion, Gabby's flat is a rich seam to tap for renting inspiration. Much of the character comes from upholstered chairs, sofas and the ottoman, which introduces colour and pattern into the space without the need for paint or wallpaper.
Whilst Gaby's magazine shelving is custom from Jali, Ikea's Kallax unit is a brilliant alternative. The shelving unit can be used vertically or horizontally, depending on the dimensions of your space and provides much-needed storage without commitment. Beside a comfortable armchair, a trolley serves as a side table. Thanks to its castors, it can be moved around easily, making it particularly practical in small spaces.
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Georgie Stogden's North London house
Georgie Stogden might be the owner of her North London flat, but it offers plenty of stylish ideas for rented accommodation. Thanks to the white walls, it's easy to see where she has added colour and personality into the space, as well as to visualise how you might do the same.
A large jute rug adds texture to the floor without drawing too much attention and a charming tapestry is displayed on the back wall, keeping things from feeling too spare. Switching out your light can also be an effective way to align a room to your style. Paper shades are often a particularly affordable choice and can have a huge impact, as demonstrated by Georgie.
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In the nook by the fireplace, Georgie has created a lovely vignette that could be replicated using some smart Ikea furniture. She's filled hers with magazines, and hung Chinese silk paintings above them. The latter are Georgie's favourite thing in the house and cost just £4 from a charity shop.
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