What can I do in this rented living room

[Maureenthecat]

This is the living room of a flat I will soon be renting. Assuming I am stuck with the furniture, how can I make it look nice?

Thanks in advance

Oops- here are pictures (I hope?)

Do you have to keep the furniture? It's functional but looks pretty uninspiring!

For a start, I'd put the long edge of the soft against the wall where the leather (?) armchair is. I suppose utilise the big coffee table and use it in front of the sofa.

I can't quite see properly but I'd be tempted to keep the two chairs in the window but replace the table with the white one that's currently behind it.

The leather chair, small side table, extra dining table - well, I'd try to hide them or pretend they don't exist... Maybe put the cabinet in the alcove that currently has the white table in it, and use for books etc?

A nice big textured rug would fill the space and give it some interest, get some co-ordinating cushions or blankets for the sofa.

Definitely get some big plants (like palm type things or whatever you can find that's tall and a good price) to break up the fireplace surround a little.

It's nice to have a blank canvas but it can end up being expensive to 'fill' !!

Can you paint any of the furniture? I'm assuming not.

I agree with pp, spin the sofa 90 degrees and put its longest edge against the wall with the door on. Leave coffee table facing same direction but centralise its. Get a good rug with colour/pattern and get cushions and throws to match it. Pinks creams and greys are very in at the moment, with textures like big cable knit blankets or those fake sheep skin rugs. Drape then across the sofa. Get a white tray (wooden - home bargains sell them for like £2) and put that in the coffee table with a vase with flowers and a nice candle.

Move the ugly ass leather old person chair to (the bin preferably, but if not possible) to where the end of the sofa was previously. See if you can get a cover for it or at least a throw or something and a cushion. See if you can pick up a cheap foot stool to place in front of it. Move the random small side table that's currently in the corner where the sofa is going next to it and put some decor on it like a nice cup coaster/candle/photo frame.

Leave the dining table where it is I guess but maybe get a runner or at least a case/fruit bowl for the centre of it to make a feature.

Get rid of the picture above the fire place and put some frames/candles on there. But the fire place isn't awful! Maybe a mirror if your budget allows?

Tv I presume will go on the second random table in the corner. Maybe get wicker baskets for underneath with more blankets in to cosy the room up?

Tall plants by the fire place or in corners will look nice. It's very in for them to be in those woven baskets from Ikea etc at the moment. And if you can, change the curtains to go with your colour scheme.

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Paint the walls pale grey, it would go lovely with that sofa. A mirror or nice picture above the fireplace.

Are you renting a doctor's waiting room? Get rid of that chair! The tables are ok, they have a bit of a MCM vibe. Oversized cushions and prints are your friend. We move a lot (mostly internationally, so we don't ship that much) and big colourful extras instantly make a place look homely.

Thanks! I’m going to ask the agency if they’re able to swap/store some of the furniture, but I don’t know yet if they will.
Shopping for a rug and plants will be fun though. Can anyone recommend some tall houseplants? (Cheap ish, I won’t be in this flat long term, saving to buy)
Thanks again!

Spider plants...rugs..throws...cushions...all things you can take with you when you leave. It's a good big room and good light ..fireplace etc..you will make it lovely..

Tk maxx has some nice rugs. ..

Can anyone recommend some tall houseplants?

Palms! I got a large (1m) chamaedorea parlour palm from Morrisons a few weeks ago for £20. They also had yuccas when I was last in which were a decent size and not very expensive. A dracaena (dragon tree) or calathea (prayer plant) would also be good choices.

I got a lovely yucca in wilko for a fiver or something. ..repotted into a big pot it's quite tall...

I like the tall palms with multi kind of stems... I think they are Kentia palms.

Thanks! I’ve spent today looking at curtains and rugs! I’m looking forward to the challenge of making this place look nice on a budget!

How big do you think the rug should be? And what sort of pattern do you think? Big, cheap, nice rugs are hard to find so I thought I’d start with that and then get other stuff to go with it.

Thanks everyone! I am terrible at decor, but being stuck in my current flat so much during lockdown has definitely made me care more about it!

Change the curtains for something less insipid (and that properly reach the floor). You can reinstate the old ones when you move out. If on a budget, consider second hand curtains - eBay have loads.

One rug should be as big as you can find......with smaller ones dotted about...

Colourful cushions and a throw would brighten up the sofa too.
Try a charity shop.

I'd look at IKEA if I was you - rugs, plants, cushions and extra long curtains would all be fairly cheap there. Your not wasting money on these things either as you would have them for the property you end up buying.

When you do buy, you'll probably find the initial costs of solicitors, mortgage brokers, etc., seem crazy so it's quite nice to have a few nice bits for your new home that are already bought and paid for.

Somebody marvellous linked to this amazing design site recently (I've lost HOURS to it ), and there's a post on there dedicated to rentals. Don't be in a hurry to get rid of the furniture, because there are so many ways to style around it. Good luck!

If you use Instagram, @grillodesigns is one of the few interiors accounts focused on renting. Her hashtag #howirent is also worth a follow.

I am obsessed with plants. If you want something dark green and dramatic then go with a philedendron or a monstera but can be pricey to buy large. Mine has grown dramatically in two years though. Some people also don't realise how large they can get so you can get them on gumtree fairly cheap.

Ooh thanks! Love monstera