I receive a lot of mails from people who love the inspiration on My Scandinavian Home (thank you!) – but feel it’s not always possible to incorporate the ideas into a rental space. I hear you! Having lived in rental apartments myself in the past (including some lovely ones, but also one very run down rental flat in London – where I spent some VERY happy years!) – I understand the limitations first hand. Depending on the landlord – you’re pretty stuck with the architectural layout, floor, wall colour etc. But don’t feel deterred – there are so many simple, budget friendly, reversible ways to transform even the darkest, dingiest of living spaces into a beautiful haven – no drills in sight! Here are 6 simple updates to get your started:
1. Let there be light! Strategically placed mirrors are ideal for reflecting natural light into dark corners and will make your rental space feel bigger. Avoid drilling into the wall by propping larger mirrors against the wall (a simple DIY stand as seen below might come in handy).
2. Get a handle on it: You might not be able to do anything about the overall colour, but you can add a personal touch to your kitchen, bathroom and other storage by swapping out the handles (try IKEA). Remember to save the original handles so you can swap them back when you move out.
3. Drape love: Not keen on the colour of your walls – or dealing with some very unsightly storage units?! Curtains (like the ones below by ) are a beautiful, budget friendly way to add warmth, texture and personality to your rental while hiding a multitude of sins (including woodchip)! Plus if you have noisy neighbours (or you like to bliss out to your own tunes late at night) they act as a great sound absorber too!
I receive a lot of mails from people who love the inspiration on My Scandinavian Home (thank you!) – but feel it’s not always possible to incorporate the ideas into a rental space. I hear you! Having lived in rental apartments myself in the past (including some lovely ones, but also one very run down rental flat in London – where I spent some VERY happy years!) – I understand the limitations first hand. Depending on the landlord – you’re pretty stuck with the architectural layout, floor, wall colour etc. But don’t feel deterred – there are so many simple, budget friendly, reversible ways to transform even the darkest, dingiest of living spaces into a beautiful haven – no drills in sight! Here are 6 simple updates to get your started:
1. Let there be light! Strategically placed mirrors are ideal for reflecting natural light into dark corners and will make your rental space feel bigger. Avoid drilling into the wall by propping larger mirrors against the wall (a simple DIY stand as seen below might come in handy).
2. Get a handle on it: You might not be able to do anything about the overall colour, but you can add a personal touch to your kitchen, bathroom and other storage by swapping out the handles (try IKEA). Remember to save the original handles so you can swap them back when you move out.
3. Drape love: Not keen on the colour of your walls – or dealing with some very unsightly storage units?! Curtains (like the ones below by ) are a beautiful, budget friendly way to add warmth, texture and personality to your rental while hiding a multitude of sins (including woodchip)! Plus if you have noisy neighbours (or you like to bliss out to your own tunes late at night) they act as a great sound absorber too!
