37 budget-friendly decorating ideas for renters

Style ideas that won't risk your deposit

Lacklustre décor can be a real downer in a rental property. But fear not, we've got some budget-friendly, portable ideas that won't damage the walls and shouldn't upset your landlord (although it's always best to check with them first).

Whether you're a university student heading off to a new dorm room or a homeworker looking to revitalise your rental home, these easy projects and updates will make your house a home in no time.

Read on to make the most of every inch and stamp your personality on your environment with these easy projects...

Create washi tape walls

Give life to plain white walls with a graphic pattern based on dashes made from washi tape. Perfect for pepping up an entrance wall or adding a fun feature wall to a bedroom (especially for younger children), all you need is a spirit level, a measuring tape and a pair of scissors.

Go for black tape on white for a clean monochrome scheme or keep things light with a peachy-pink: both look fabulous on white walls. Alternatively, look for ready-made laser-cut stickers that are ready to go.

Pick peel-and-stick wallpaper

If you’re craving something big and bold that will create immediate impact then look no further than a vinyl mural. These are removable stick on styles in lots of designs from gorgeous big-scale patterns to 3D murals and traditional wallpaper-effect styles.

Opt for a soothing and soft print behind your bed to create a relaxing feature wall that will totally transform the look and feel of your space.

Style up your splashback

Bored with your plain kitchen or bathroom? Give these important spaces a little love with a colourful tile makeover. These vinyl stickers are so easy to apply and look like the real thing.

If looked after properly they can last for years but you can also remove them with a scraper without damaging the original tiles underneath.

Add no-drill hooks

Sort out your bathroom storage without the stress and expense of drilling into walls. These hooks and shelving work with suction to stick to a tiled surface.

Use different colours for different members of the household or keep it all coordinated for a more polished look.

Create a canopy

Give your bedroom a dreamy makeover by adding a canopy to your bed. If you don't have a four-poster it's easy to recreate the look with a hula hoop or curtain rods and fabric.

This is also a clever trick if you need a little DIY dorm room privacy.

Add a detachable headboard

Give your boring bed a new lease of life with a beautiful headboard. You can find lots of different styles that come separately from the bed base that can be simply fixed to the wall. For a natural Scandi look go for rattan or choose a padded style for extra comfort. When it's time to move out you can take it with you, and just fill, sand and paint any screw holes in the wall.

Adeline headboard from Wayfair.

Upcycle luggage for blanket boxes

Give your bedroom a 'worldly traveller' look by adding vintage luggage at the base of your bed.

They create a handy hideaway for extra duvet covers and there is no need to pack and unpack them if you have to move.

Wheel in an extra clothes rail

If wardrobe storage in your rental property is minimal, put a clothes rail on wheels to good use.

Leave the basic extendable version and instead opt for a colourful powder-sprayed version with cool curves to make a stylish statement.

Try a colourful bookshelf

A simple way to add life to a room is to create a colourful bookcase. Just grab your existing library and arrange it in a trendy rainbow to create a playful focal point in any room.

The best part, the addition doesn’t have to break the bank, since you’re mostly using things you already have! Just pick up a pre-loved bookshelf for as little as £35 ($45) and you’re on your way.

Curate a breakout corner

Bean bags are an ideal budget-friendly extra seating option for younger generations and these days they don't have to look childish, having completely evolved.

Arrange them in a corner between low-level lighting to create a relaxing lounge look, or by a window to create the ultimate reading nook.

Add colour with table linens

Not only will a tablecloth protect rental furnishings from wear and tear, but a layered look will also instantly brighten a neutral décor with minimal effort.

Wipeable vinyl versions are practical for everyday use, whereas colourful cotton looks stylish for social occasions.

Wallpaper the furniture

If you can't wallpaper the walls, brighten up furniture with it instead.

Give plain drawers and cupboards an easy update with peel-and-stick wallpaper that can simply be cut to size. This idea is ideal for lining the back of open shelving too.

Stock up on stylish stationery

Give your home office or study space an organised and attractive look with plenty of coordinated stationery. A new supply of folders and pen holders in harmonising tones can form part of your overall décor.

Prop up a pinboard

Pinboards are another great way to get art and photos up on the walls without risking damaging the paintwork.

Prop up a cheap and cheerful board on a desk or vanity, attach your favourite clippings and voila! You can achieve the same effect with one made from cork too.

Go for modular seating

A modular sofa is a practical choice for rental seating as it can adapt to new spaces.

Breaking it up into sections makes moving it around easier too.

Use clever kitchen storage

Keep your rental kitchen organised with a handy and rather cool oversized pegboard. It's the perfect way to hang dozens of items with minimal wall damage and keeps utensils visible and within reach.

You can even spray paint it to match the colour scheme of the room if you like.

Lean framed pictures

Another trick to minimising wall damage is to choose art and picture frames that stand up on their own or lean safely against walls.

Picture ledges are practical as they have a small lip that keeps items secure and use fewer screws than hanging each piece individually. Just make sure not to overload them.

Use storage room dividers

Give your open-plan workstation some privacy with open shelving.

Backless shelving creates an ideal temporary room divider as it won't compromise light. Use plants, stationery and decorative items to complement the living area.

Go wild with greenery

Plants are good for us: fact! Not only do they purify the air we breathe, but many scientific studies over the years report they increase our wellbeing in all sorts of ways.

Arranged in your home against a pale backdrop, plants can make your space look super fresh, clean and botanical. If you struggle to keep plants alive, invest in a really good fake one. No one will notice.

Update the shower curtain

Pull down the plain old shower curtain and replace it with something more inspiring for your morning cleanse. This floral pastel pink and blue print is calming and elegant, jazzing up a simple white bathroom that's so common in rental properties.

Use fresh flowers

Flowers are another fantastic way to bring the outdoors into your home, and can provide a bit of seasonal flair as well. However, buying fresh flowers week after week can get pricey fast, so opt for some high-quality artificial blooms instead.

You won’t need to spend more than £30 ($39) to get your home looking floral and fresh and they'll last (almost) forever.

Get creative with candles

While most rental homes won’t have functioning fireplaces these days, many still have mantels and hearths, which sit cold and empty in living rooms.

These spaces can be turned from eye sores into elegant focal points with a few very simple changes, like the addition of faux ornamental candles which are safer and last-longer, too.

Go large with lighting

The right lighting can add an instant focal point and atmosphere to any room. Give a gloomy corner ambience with a large floor lamp, create wow-factor with a cluster of pendants or dress a ceiling light with an oversized shade to create a look that's striking and sets a restful mood.

Play with texture too like these natural fibre shades. You could even make your own by customising affordable paper lampshades with paint. Keep it simple to achieve striking results.

Cover your sofa in a flash

Inherited some IKEA furniture? If so, you're in luck as there are some fantastic companies out there making beautiful covers to fit the most popular designs.

Ideal for renters, it will protect the landlord's furniture and you can take it with you when you leave. There are dozens of colours and fabrics to choose from. There are also super-stretchy covers that can be pulled tight and tucked to fit any couch shape.

Pimp your furniture

Have you heard of IKEA hacks? There's a whole community of crafters transforming our favourite products into one-off pieces that fit perfectly into their homes.

Take a plain inexpensive cabinet, four wooden spindles, acrylic spray paint and ta da: you've just created a funky neon pink IKEA hack sideboard.

Why not do two side by side for maximum impact and storage?

Get cosy with throw rugs

Rental homes are infamous for battered floorboards and dingy carpets, which can be expensive to have cleaned or repaired, landlord allowing. To cover up any eyesores and bring a sense of cosiness into your space, try adding some throw rugs.

You can experiment with fun patterns and colours, or even have multiple overlapping rugs for a particularly bohemian feel (not to mention bohemian prices).

Invest in a stylish cabinet

After a bed and sofa, freestanding storage is a must for renters. It can also become a beautiful part of the décor. Choose a combination of styles that mix up open shelves and cupboards so that you can hide clutter too. Our design tip? Paint your cabinet to match the woodwork to make it look bespoke.

Chalk paint for furniture available from Annie Sloan; storage unit from Atkin & Thyme.

Increase your counter space

A kitchen island is often high on anyone's wish list but if you've got a small kitchen then a rolling island is the next best thing. It instantly creates extra space for food preparation as well as providing much-needed storage space on open shelves underneath.

Go for a light but flat-pack design that you can take with you when you leave or get creative and repurpose a bureau or desk from another part of your house.

Give windows the wow factor

Nothing creates the feeling of luxury more than reams of rich textiles, and dressing your windows up to the nines will give any room the wow factor.

Hang them as high as possible and allow the fabric to pool slightly on the floor and don't be afraid to go for a bold colour, even in a neutral room.

Customise your kitchen

Update well-used small appliances like kettles, toasters and blenders with newer sleeker versions. Choose a colour theme and run with it by coordinating all your kitchenware. Then display special pieces on open shelving for a streamlined and contemporary look.

Update soft furnishings

A bit of minor re-upholstery can work wonders to give an old piece of furniture new life. And it can easily be whipped up at home on a sewing machine or by hand.

Stitch some cushions in your favourite shades or textures, or try a quilt you can drape over the sofa or yourself on those chilly evenings. Being small-scale and portable means any of your one-of-a-kind creations can easily move with you and no one will have anything like it.

Try a stylish screen

Ornamental screens are a great way to break up a space, particularly in open-plan or studio apartments. They provide an air of elegance, while also offering increased privacy in spaces like bedrooms.

An elegant rattan room divider like this one only costs around £100 ($130) new or you may even find one at a vintage market or charity shop.

Fix up an ugly floor

While rugs can do a lot of the work in covering up a floor that you find less than desirable, you can go for something a bit move ambitious and give the whole surface a new look with stickers.

This cool black and white design looks clean and modern and will lift the whole room in one fell swoop. The stickers are washable, heat and scratch-resistant until removed.

Use baskets for storage

Statement storage is a great way to add personality to your space while keeping things tidy. Baskets are perfect for hiding away everything from scarves in your hallway to toys in a living room, or even bits and bobs in the kitchen.

Why not give yours a custom look? You can make and glue on pom-poms, try your hand at dip-dyeing or even spray paint them to match your colour scheme.

Lean a mirror

A mirror will help bounce light and make small properties seem larger, but unfortunately, they usually need extra support when mounted on walls due to weight. 'No drilling on walls' clause in your contract?

Get around this with a large freestanding mirror designed to lean on walls. You can get adhesive pads that stick to the back of the mirror that will protect the wall, so it won't leave a mark.

Style up string lights

Fairy lights (or string lights in other places in the world) add a little festive sparkle all year round. They bring a gentle glow to rented spaces that may rely on eco-friendly, but sometimes harsh, halogen lights overhead.

Go for indoor micro-festoons with globe caps, stringing them above your bed like this for a magical update to the room.

Colour block paint

If you are allowed to paint walls why not go wild and break the mould? Painting shapes or simple blocks of colour on a wall is a great way to up the stakes and highlight certain areas if you rent a studio apartment. It's also much easier to paint over a shape if you need to return the walls to their original condition before you move out.