Bland rental making me feel meh

[rollonretirementfgs]

We were renting a lovely barn conversion, couldn't believe our luck when we found it. Unfortunately owners wanted to see and we needed to be out within 8 weeks. We struggled to find somewhere else and have ended up in a really small and bland house for a year until we can but our own house. My dd's are 7 and 10 and I want to make it a bit more homely and especially at Christmas time. But obviously don't want to be spending loads of money and have limited DIY skills! Any cheap fun ideas to brighten the place up a bit?

I would find small and inexpensive ways to add colour – coloured cushions (could be from charity shop), wall hangings, plants. Unusual second-hand furniture is also a good way to add personality to a space. You could buy a big canvas (printed ones are cheaper than plain for some reason) and do a simple DIY/painting on it. I think the key is to make sure things on the wall are as big as possible otherwise they look a bit naff. Check Facebook marketplace and Facebook groups every day to be the first to get the bargains

You can always paint if you are prepared to restore it to its blandness at the end of the year.

Or hang huge paintings or prints. I know someone who has a tiny house and hangs massive art nouveau framed prints. They take up almost the entire wall and look amazing.

Then rugs, cushions and throws to add texture and colour. Don't be scared of spending a bit on good ones (especially good rugs) as you can take them all with you. Lamps, mirrors and vases too. Good mood lighting transforms a room. You can choose amber or blush bulbs to give more colour to bland walls. Mirrors reflect light back. I put two in our very dark hallway to bounce light back and now it never looks dark. And if you get ones with frames in a distinctive design you like - Deco or mosaic or Rococo, then you'll be adding personality. Add vases, out of the reach of small hands, with either seasonal blooms or good dried arrangements (catkins, honesty, Chinese lanterns etc).

If you have green fingers, a couple of strategically placed large plants in beautiful pots can make a home look way livelier than the background decor suggests.

Do the same in DC's bedrooms - fairy light strings or good bedroom lamps (mine liked salt lamps) with bug framed posters of things that interest them or characters they love.

All of these you can take with you when you move.

I love these ideas, thank you! On marketplace now

Are you in instagram? There are some good accounts on there with ideas for renters.

https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/article/katherine-ormerod-decorating-a-rental