How to make a rental home seem like mine?

[Ijustneed]

I'm renting a lovely little bungalow, but it still doesn't feel quite like me. I've had laminate flooring before, but this is carpeted, which I can't afford to change even if I had permission. I've put rugs I like down. The walls are wallpapers, in brown tones and I've got a few pictures up I like. But it still feels there's something missing.

My budget is very low, but I'd just like to make it feel more like home. I'll try and attach photos.

I'm not sure what my style is, a bit casual shabby I guess I love candles and fairy lights, plants, but my cats eat any plants I have so I need to be careful.

Any suggestions? Particularly where to put fairly lights and how to arrange them. Currently I have some on the fireplace.

The last photo is the lounge before I moved in.

Thanks!!

I should have said, two sofas in the room, one dark blue, one cream, both no pattern except the cream is jacquard material. The large rug is pale blue. Curtains are pale blue and beige patterned. Various throws and blankets in shades of cream and pale blue. Cushions are cream and pale blue also.

I don't think I want more on the walls .. I've got a large seascape picture over the fireplace, on the opposite wall a freaked photo and a canvas on another wall of a photo of my kids in black and white.

Maybe a table lamp would soften things, but I like fancy ones, I had a lovely glass shaded one, but it was multi coloured and also broke during my move. Struggling to find something I like now. I have a standing lamp I like and also a salt lamp.

Hi there
If you can’t paint over the wall paper, I’d say paint the book case. It’ll look fabulous with a chalk paint and very shabby chic. Shame we can’t see the sofas on the pics so we can recommend things to go with them.

I would say a corner table lamp or a standing lamp on one side, nesting tables on the other side. A nice coffee table, a pendant or a lamp shade.

The area where you have the TV, I would consider a cabinet with a bit more storage

In terms of hanging pics, I’ve seen some stickers that allow you to hang artwork without making any holes.

Finally for some inspiration, I follow grillodesigns on Instagram. She is a blogger who’s renting and she shows her audience how to make a rented home cosy without breaking the bank x

You can use the command strips to hang prints/photo frames on walls instead of using pins in the wall too xx

Thanks for the replies. Photos of sofas attached - excuse the mess, teenage daughter!

I can't use Command strips because the surface of the wallpaper is raised, so they don't stick. It's ok to use nails though and I've hung a few pictures.

I quite like the pine cabinet .. I know it's not in and I think off white/ pale grey would be nice too. I'll have a think.

I'm not sure my budget is going to run to a bigger tv cabinet right now.

I'm looking for a table lamp, but want something in glass, but not modern, neutral, white possibly. I'll keep looking ..

I have a nest of tables, I'm looking for a coffee table, but can't be too big and again low budget.

I'll look at the blogger

...

I would store/put the plain rug somewhere else and get a more attractive patterned one. Then tone it in with some jazzy cushions

Also I can't move the pine cabinet, it's solid and extremely heavy. So it would have to be painted in situ.

Yes, I thought about replacing the rug, but it's wool and so so soft, I can't bear to move it

It might look nice if you moved the cream sofa a little out from the wall.
The footstool could be used as a coffee table if you move it into the middle and add a large sturdy tray on top.
Add a small side table next to both sofas for drinks and put table lamps on each.
I think a seagrass rug would look good here, to go under both sofa front legs.
Will find pics

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/627478160553567026/

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/627478160553567026/

You need something on top of the rug. I’d probably get another rug (patterned and in a coordinating colour), then either get a coffee table or put the ottoman on top to act as a table.

The sofa needs to come out a bit from the wall, even a few inches would look better.

Some cushions that tie with both sofas.

Pain the wooden cabinet in a third coordinating colour.

Yes, lamps. You need low lighting for cosiness.

I think maybe the overhead light needs changing too - doesn’t really go with everything else.

Also add a much larger light pendent (IKEA SInnerlig?) and some nice cushions (throws look good folded over the back or arms of sofas).
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/sanela-cushion-cover-dark-blue-60343646/
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/fransine-cushion-cover-multicolour-50395773/

Thanks!

Yes, I'm looking at lampshades for the ceiling lights, these ones were in the hallway at my old house.

Good idea re pulling the sofa out a bit, I'll do that. Not sure about using the footstool as a table.

I have cushions, but they're a bit boring, I'll look for new covers.

The sea grass rugs look nice, but won't be as soft as the wool rug .. I'll have a think.

Great suggestions .. keep them coming!

Any suggestions for cheap ceiling lampshades?

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/fransine-cushion-cover-multicolour-50395773/

Try that again
www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/sinnerlig-pendant-lamp-bamboo-70311697/

Thanks, that's really nice

I agree with the suggestions made by other mumsnetters. Spot on. Don’t be afraid for going for a big rug so that the front legs of both sofas sit on it. It’ll make a huge difference.

If you’re tight on budget, Ikea is great. I also got a few nice pieces from Cultfurniture.com

I check their clearance section mostly and you can get some bargains there for table lamps, tables accessories etc

Based on my colour scheme what colour coffee table would be suitable? It's a bit of a mix and I can't afford to change much. The cabinet is pine, the mantelpiece off white, sofas dark blue and cream, picture and rug pale blue, carpet brown, other wood furniture is pale (rubberwood).

I can't find a large reasonably priced mirror anywhere, I've tried the range and Dunhelm, the cheap ones are collect only and there's no stores nearby. Amazon prices have gone up. I just want something reasonably plain, in pale wood or off white, but not plastic, about 3 feet by 2 to hang over the mantelpiece.

I've tried moving things around, pulling the sofa out from the wall, small tables to the sides etc, but that doesn't leave enough room to walk through and there needs to be took get to anything really.

What about matching throws over both sofas? I've got some big grey throws from The Range that were quite cheap. Then you could get some toning cushions and it would 'tie' all the furniture together. Then maybe a rug that matches or tones with the cushions...

hey! yeah I had to do this too! it's so hard making it feel like yours. I just wanted it to feel cosy!

If you like fairy lights.. these arent messy and give it that glow. I liked it as i didn't need to worry about wires! and they're classy.

www.truly.co.uk/truly-medium-glass-dome-w-fairy-lights-5606/?colour=clear

Those are lovely. I do like fairy lights, just always unsure where to put them. Do you know if you can change the battery in that one and is it a tiny cell one or AA or AAA?

yeah they are so lovely. They take 3x AAA batteries, so super easy. Last ages too x

If it;s your first purchase you can use the code I got too,

FIRST10OFF

hope that helps x