Five ways to make your rental property feel like home

An estimated 3,7 million households live in rented properties in South Africa - that makes up a sizable part of the population. Many people are under the impression that a rented property means you aren't able to change anything at all, which (for the most part) is not the case. With permission from your landlord, there are many ways for you to jazz up your rental without any permanent structural changes.

Looking for inspiration? Read on for five ways to make your rental property feel like a home.

Don't be a wallflower

Many rentals have stark, plain walls that make it hard for your space to feel like your own. Painting is quite a permanent change, but peel and stick wallpaper is a great solution to brighten your surroundings. It's affordable, easy to use and comes in lots of different hues and patterns.

Harry van der Linde, Franchisee at Leapfrog Moreleta Park says that most landlords are happy for their tenants to customise their space, as long as it doesn't result in any damage or permanent changes.

"Among millennials, more and more people are seeking rentals before committing to a mortgage, and end up living in these spaces for years," comments van der Linde. "When you spend an extended period of time in one home, it's important to make it feel like your own space, and thankfully there are many ways to do this.

Bring the outside inside

Never underestimate the power of plants. A bit of green is a wonderful way to breathe life into your space, without much time or effort on your part. Look out for low-maintenance plants that will make an impression in your home without complicated steps to keep them alive.

For your living room or shared space, consider getting a monstera. These are low maintenance and their tropical look make them a good addition to hosting or entertainment areas. For smaller spaces like your bathroom, kitchen or bedroom, spider plants will fit in well. They are also low maintenance and don't need too much watering. If you weren't born with a green thumb, artificial plants do the trick, too.

Make your walls pop

One of the things that renters are most careful about, is drilling or making additions to indoor walls. Luckily, with command hooks, you can personalise your place without worrying about drill holes, chipped paint, or property damage. Art pieces don't have to be a great expense, and many stores stock different shapes, sizes and colours of wall art. From abstract pieces to celebrity portraits, you can stick to a theme or mix and match to your taste.

Shelf life

A wonderful way to bring dimension into your home is through the use of shelves. They can add great depth to any room of your house, and are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. They can serve as storage in your bathroom or bedroom, and can hold decor in your shared or living areas. Always make sure that any shelves you install are okayed by the landlord to prevent any costs when you move out.

Let there be light

Arguably the best way to enhance your space has to be the use of light. Through standing lamps, lampshades, mirrors and other light fixtures, you can totally transform your space. Mirrors are great for creating the illusion of more space, so consider a full-length mirror on your wall in the living room, or a standing mirror in your doorway.

Light fixtures are also great mood setters for bathrooms and bedrooms, and sometimes create a better ambience than traditional light fixtures. Standing lamps are great additions to lounges, and bedside or desk lamps are great ways to add more warmth to a room.

"Before going ahead with any of these changes, it's essential to make the landlord aware of your plans. Always get permission in writing, to prevent unnecessary spending and possible loss of your deposit. You might even find that your landlord is happy to pay for some of the changes that you make as it will add value to the property." concludes van der Linde.