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Renovate a rental: Expert decorating tips to give your home a new lease

By Guest Poster โ€ข 1 Comment

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By Kerenaย Berry

Threeย decadesย ago,ย finance punditsย and advisersย were starting to offer a concept that seemed audacious:ย peopleย whoย rent propertiesย mayย be betterย off than homeowners. There were, and still are,ย aย multitudeย ofย factorsย contributing to the notion (farย too manyย to list here) but suffice to say thatย ifย youโ€™reย sickย ofย hearing yourย friendsย brag about theirย propertyย investments, stop rolling your eyesย becauseย youย justย might be the smartest person in the room. Withย risingย prices,ย theย weight of responsibilityย and limitationsย on lifestyle, leasesย are looking betterย thanย mortgages.ย The best part? Renting a propertyย certainlyย doesn’t exclude you from the mostย enjoyableย partย ofย owning a home: renovating! In fact, the keyย phrase to remember when livingย anywhereย longย termย isย the Designbxย slogan: roomย to be you. You mayย not own it, but itโ€™s yourย home,ย andย yourย home should reflect yourย style and personality. So start getting to know your landlord and build a relationship that will make some of these handyย hintsย a reality.

Getย theย bonesย right

Areย thoseย wallsย closingย inย on you are theyย the backdrop to yourย life? It mayย be time to paint, especiallyย ifย youโ€™reย looking at a long lease. In most casesย when you are adding value to property,ย theย landlordย orย agent will be open to change (often theyย mayย payย if you organise trades orย itย mayย beย aย 50/50ย split). But be mindful of yourย colourย proposition. You mayย be facing an uphill battleย ifย youย proposeย olive green polka dotsย on a pinkย background. A neutral tone mayย be easier toย getย approvalย for.ย Warmย greysย offset with white isย a fantasticย base for almost anyย style.

designbx_a
Image courtesy of My Domaine Home
designbx_h
Image courtesy of Coco Lapine Design

Adding Storage

One of the most annoying aspect of rentals is the lack of storage. Owners and agents are selling space, first and foremost, so size matters, often at the cost of practical storage space. Thankfully the aesthetic appeal of dual purpose furniture and clever storage units is on the rise. Often the items are so cleverly designed that they go beyond what youโ€™d consider visually acceptable to become a roomโ€™s key feature (and youโ€™ll have room for whatever youโ€™re addicted to collecting!).

designbx_q
Image courtesy of Bloglovin

Windowย treatments

Thouย shaltย notย doย vertical blinds! If youโ€™re standing in front of your window with your handsย on yourย hips,ย frowningย atย theย window treatments, chancesย are you have to act, otherwise the look willย annoyย youย forย theย entire duration of yourย life in that space. Letโ€™sย remove that uglinessย but not getย ridย ofย itย (youโ€™llย needย toย reinstall it when you move out). Once those windowsย are bare, the skyโ€™sย theย limit.ย Layerย yourย window treatmentsย to help create a more opulent and personalized space.

designbx_l
Image courtesy of My Domaine Home

Changingย hardware

Rentalย hardwareย isย oftenย durable and not aestheticallyย pleasing. Swap out existing hardware withย somethingย thatย screamsย yourย style. While itโ€™sย a more considerable investment, your personalย hardwareย isย just like yourย furniture: it goesย where you go and instantlyย makesย anyย new propertyย feelย likeย home.ย Once again, rememberย to keep old hardware to swap backย when movingย outย (readyย forย the next leaseholdersย who will probablyย remove it and store it in the garage!).

whiting-achitects
Image courtesy of Made Measure

Rugย up!

Thereย mayย beย aย lotย ofย thingsย in life weโ€™d like to sweep underย the rug, but the most obviousย isย an unattractive,ย damagedย or stained floor! Rugsย are also the groundworkย for your design. Thereโ€™s nothingย likeย anย additional layerย to spice up a room, especiallyย if youโ€™re struggling to fill a space, orย wantย someย colour.ย Butย letโ€™sย not go overboard and certainlyย not completelyย fill the whole floorspace.ย Ifย youโ€™veย gotย that manyย stainsย to cover, you need a new property. Also, statistically, peopleย whoย ownย moreย than seven large rugsย are more likelyย to become hermitsย or old cat ladies (okay,ย thatย wasย aย lie).

designbx_d
Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy

Light up your life!

Lighting is a fundamental element to any design phase. Functional and aesthetic, this is one design element that can often be a cinch to add. Play with scale to create wow focal points throughout your home. Use colour to brighten neutral spaces or go wild and string lights like itโ€™s the P&O Fairstar. Let your style sing! Using lighting behind furniture items like bookcases or open shelving allows you to use bare bulbs (cheap and affordable) but creates a custom lighting solution for your home.

designbx_m
Image courtesy of Residence Style
designbx_b
Image courtesy of Style Caster

Somethingย toย leanย on

Notย allย landlordsย areย open to adding hooksย to the wallsย forย artwork. In fact, most property managersย probablyย haveย nightmaresย about hooksย and nails. Donโ€™t worryอพ there isย alwaysย a way! Getย yourย leanย on.ย Useย furniture surface, furniture tops, floors, window sills, open shelves…anythingย toย getย yourย art out there. We recommend odd numbersย where possibleยญยญpart ofย designย 1:01. Atย theย endย ofย theย day,ย whoโ€™sย house do you want to live in? You can live a space that feelsย like a demonstrationย modelย orย one that reflectsย the style (orย design sins) of the owner. Contractually, itโ€™sย yourย homeย forย theย duration of the lease, so make it feel that way. Build strong relationships withย theย landlordย andย estate agent, preferablyย early, and make sure your rental home hasย โ€˜room toย beย youโ€™.

designbx_o
Image courtesy of Design Love Fest
designbx_n
Image courtesy of My Domaine Home

Kerenaย Berryย isย anย interiorย designerย and Cofounderย of Designbx, Australiaโ€™sย online interior designย solution.

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September 23, 2016

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Appliance colour trends: They've certainly change Appliance colour trends:

They've certainly changed over the years. Remember when ALL fridges were white?! I remember the original BROWN wall oven in our 60s kitchen here pre-reno! I think the dishwasher was brown and beige (and it tripped the electrics every time we used it!) ๐Ÿ˜œ

What do you think of this new dark stainless steel option (pictured) from Westinghouse as seen in @dnaofdesign_'s latest reno? Yay or nay? 

What colour do you like your appliances?

See the rest of this home and kitchen and laundry design tips from the ex Blockheads on the blog now via link in bio.

#kitchenappliances #walloven #wallovens #combioven #combioven #microwaves #builtinappliances #builtinoven #builtinovens #homeappliance #westinghouse #kitchentrends #ovens #laundryappliances #darkstainlesssteel #stainlesssteelappliances
SALE ALERT! Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my fav SALE ALERT!

Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my favourite home stores @shack.furniture.homewares are having their annual warehouse sale this week, from Thursday until Saturday.

HUGE savings on furniture, homewares and decor with 30 to 80% off. Wowsers!

I'm a big fan of SHACK and can never leave one of their stores without a few styling goodies for my place! It's just too tempting!

While you're at the sale, mention Interiors Addict for an extra 10% off!

Unit 16a, 1801 Botany Rd, Banksmeadow NSW 2019

Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd June 2023, 9am to 4pm. Not online.

#sydneyshopping #sydneysale #sydneysales #sydneyfurniture #shackfurniture #shackfurniturehomewares #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #comeshoppingwithme
A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in th A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in this bathroom is one of the cleverest designs we've seen in a while!

This mega ledge, made of Corian, even incorporates a sink, seamlessly.

Combined with venetian plaster on the walls, it's no wonder this Illawarra bathroom by @birdblackdesign feels like a day spa!

Come check it out via link bio.

Lead designer Stuart Gibson says: "One smooth curve, right around the room, from either side of the door opening. As it moves around, it creates a ledge for the bath: for bath oils, lotions, a book and a champagne glass. The ledge continues around and becomes the vanity, widening out to create a custom seamless basin."

#bathroomhappiness #bathroomdetails #bathroomshelves #bathroomshelf #venetianplastering #coriandesign #coriansolidsurface #spalikebathroom #spabathroom #sustainablebathroom
Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the before and afters for you on the blog now, via link in bio (and swipe for a taster).

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #foxtel #lifestylechannel #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterlivingroom #beforeandafterrenovation #realitytv #housetours #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
๐Ÿ˜ Not sure what's better: the custom mirror abo ๐Ÿ˜ Not sure what's better: the custom mirror above the fireplace in this Art Deco one-bedder or the wallpaper in the kitchen (swipe)?!

It's been a while since we featured an apartment makeover on IA. Would you like to see more apartment interiors? Head to the blog now to see more of this one. Via link in bio.

#artdecoapartment #artdecointerior
#artdecomirror #artdecofireplace #artdecomelbourne #artdecofurniture #artdecobuilding #artdecointeriors #apartmentrenovation #apartmentinterior #smallspaceliving #melbourneapartments #melbourneairbnb #kitchenwallpaper #wallpaperaustralia
Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sh Low tox and planet friendly laundry liquid (and sheets and soap and powder!). We have a great roundup of the best options on the blog today. 

A whole host of brands are offering eco-friendly, low tox alternatives to the more chemical-laden ones. Not only that, they often smell amazing, look good on your shelf and come in recycled or recyclable (or even better, both) packaging. 

Good for your skin, your clothes and the planet: whatโ€™s not to like?

Do you use any of these?

COMPARE THEM ALL VIA LINK IN BIO NOW.

#lowtoxliving #lowtoxlife #lowtoxlifestyle #lowtoxhome #lowtoxlaundry #lowtoxswaps #naturallaundry #naturallaundrydetergent #naturallaundrysoap #ecolaundry #lowtoxcleaning #ecofriendlyhome #ecofriendlyhouse #laundryliquid #laundrypowder #laundrysoap #naturalcleaning #chemicalfreecleaning #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Play room goals!๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป This is just one room fr Play room goals!๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

This is just one room from today's real house tour which I really love because in employing interior designer @issyandhcreative the owners weren't looking for a complete rip out and re-do but rather to work with what they had in their new suburban home (including a dated kitchen) and give it a largely cosmetic glow up with styling and new furniture (some of which was upcycled). 

The brief was to create a family friendly home. "They weren't looking for perfection but rather a warm and relaxing retreat for their busy young family." This playroom though? Pretty close to perfect! And the mum did the colour coded books herself. Love that๐Ÿ˜

Head over to the blog now via link in bio to see the rest of this home.

#playroomideas #playroomgoals #playroomdecor #familyhomes #kidfriendlyhome #kidfriendlyinteriors #familyhomedecor #sustainabledecor #affordablerenovations #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #beanbagchair #beanbags #colourcodedbooks #colourcoded #toyroom #kidsroomdesign 

Pix by @tealily
All the heart eyes for this little setup ๐Ÿ˜ Hea All the heart eyes for this little setup ๐Ÿ˜

Head to the blog to shop this and two other gorgeous styled images from @greenhouseinteriors 

The stunning @mrsniceart artwork has already sold but the good news is, you can still get prints of it!

Styling by Aisha Chaudhry for Greenhouse Interiors, assisted by Nikki McGar, Kylie Harris, Rachael Blake and Max Green. Photography by Stephanie Rooney. 

#poolart #sideboardstyling #buffetstyling #consolestyling #vignettes #greenhouseinteriors #barcartstyling #shopthelook #bluehomedecor #poolumbrella #beachumbrella
Bookworms need a cosy book nook! ๐Ÿ“– ๐Ÿ› Seb an Bookworms need a cosy book nook! ๐Ÿ“– ๐Ÿ›

Seb and Charlie had one of those kid size couches in their playroom but frankly, they'd outgrown it! I picked this Aussie made compact 2-seater Ruby sofa from @fantasticfurniture 

I'd usually go for grey to keep it neutral but as it's in a kid's room I went for this heather blue fabric to make it a little more fun while still classic. There's more than 50 fabric choices for Fantastic's Aussie made range so good luck choosing ๐Ÿ˜‚ 

I left the legs off to keep it below the windowsill. I'm super happy with the quality. It looks a lot more expensive than its $699 pricetag ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿป

Books, natural light and a cosy couch = happy boys! And let's not pretend they won't be watching the odd movie on there too ๐Ÿฟ because #keepingitreal

#FantasticFurniture #FantasticFamily #booknook #booknookstagram #booknook #bookwormsofinstagram #littlereader #littlebookworm #cosycorner #cosycorner #playroomideas #toyroom #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #aussiemade #aussiemadefurniture #twoseater #kidssofa #kidscouch #bluesofa #loveofreading
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  1. Avatarkerena berry says

    September 24, 2016 at 8:12 am

    A huge thanks for featuring our article!

    Reply

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