Rental Decorating

I always wonder if anyone hires interior designers to decorate their rental apartments and homes. I think it would be a worthwhile investment if you planned to spend some time in the house, especially if you focus on 'removable' decor.

I am currently moving out of home into a rental home. We have some leeway as we know the owners and were allowed to paint. However, we are still left with some fairly average looking walls that need some quick fixes to brighten up the rooms.

Some ideas...

Removable wall decals

(From Jenny Mac Wall Art on Etsy)

Cheap Artwork (hung with rental-safe double sided tape of course)

Try a photograph collage

(From Desire to Inspire)

or paint a poem on a canvas

(Design by Catherine Ekstrom via Desire to Inspire)

Frame some of your favourite things...frame your favourite fabric...mirrors...cork tiles...wall hangings and carpets...frame some doilies...hang some baskets...or hats...or shoes...shelving with objects...frame old boardgames...paint something yourself...the list is endless!

Another option I am desperate to try out (especially after seeing the amazing wallpaper options during M6) is a removable wall fabric idea. Find the instructions by googling 'Fabric as wallpaper' or check out the Apartment Therapy instructions here.

(From Domino Magazine)

(From Little Green Notebook)

Wallpaper Sampleboards

This is my sampleboard for the M6 wallpaper assignment. The wallpaper is a gorgeous red and gold paper by Julien MacDonald. Its the first sample board I've made so it took a while to work out how it should go. I wanted to make an intimate, exotic bedroom and this is how it turned out.

My second sampleboard is based around a Super Fresco Texture paper called Solitude White. I noted some ideas in the last post but this is the final board. You can't see this one too well but a lot of the items are shown in the last post.

Room Ideas for Wallpaper

(Ideas for rooms based on wallpaper - Assignment M6)

Wallpaper 1: Solitude White by Super Fresco Textures

Considering a cool colour palette to make the room soothing. I want to use colour, but neutral colours. The colours don't work very well when scanned but they are pale grey, two shades of dusty purple & black. Cream and some timber will add warmth to stop the room feeling cold. Still need to work out some black accents for a little drama.

Colours:

A neutral toned rug over wooden floors (rug by Robyn Cosgrove rugs):

Furniture:

I would upholster two of these chairs with a soft grey (by Carina Sherlock).

Upholster the couch in this fabric (Duckcloth.com):

Sofa by Orson & Blake

Side table by Bridgette Forestier
Cabinet by Baxter

Lighting:

A contemporary chandelier to add some sparkle (by Brand von Egmond)

Cushion fabrics

(From left: Ananya Snow fabric by Warwick, Blossom cushion from Rapee cushions & Metropolitan cushion from Rapee cushions)

Possible accent pieces & art

(from freeformsusa.com)





The colours come out strange for this piece of textile art. It's mostly shades of purple & grey with a few other colours thrown in. Artist: Sarah Symes.