Rental Interior Style: How to Make a Rental Feel Like Home

You might not own your own home but putting your personal stamp on your rental interior is achievable with a little creativity and expert tips

Have you stood in the middle of your rented home, scanned the walls painted in the landlord special, magnolia; surrounded by furniture that doesn’t reflect your personal taste, and despaired of how you can make the space feel like it’s yours?

It’s easier than you think, especially when you get tips from a professional stylist who happens to be a renter herself.

Renter-Friendly Decorating Tips from an Interior Stylist

“Accessorise,” says Lois Lyness, stylist at EZ Living Interiors. “Unique and interesting homeware accessories are a great way to add personality to your home. Living in a rented home can feel limiting, especially when you can’t change the wall colours. A great workaround is to use wall art and fun frames to create a gallery wall. Using command strips keeps everything renter-friendly.”

Longterm renters have often refined their skills in making a place their own but do check your lease to see what ‘dos and don’ts’ have been included, and if in doubt check with your landlord. Most will be happy to have a tenant who is taking an interest in the property as it typically means they’re planning on staying longer than the short-term, and the property will be well cared for.

Some landlords are happy, too, for tenants to decorate within reason if the colour choices are somewhat neutral, but for the tenants it might not be worth the effort and personal expense if, unexpectedly, the landlord decides to sell up as sometimes happens.

Happily, there are other ways of bringing in your favourite colours, and should you decide to move you can take them with you.

Ariana Manhattan Pine Power Recliner Sofa Collection

Accessorising a Rental: Colour, Mirrors and Finishing Touches

“My biggest tip is to collect pieces over time,” says Lois. “This helps your space feel more curated and meaningful. I love when someone’s home truly reflects who they are and tells a story. At EZ Living Interiors we introduce new accessories every season so there are always fresh fun pieces to add to your space. We also have a great new range of mirrors in stores, perfect for smaller rentals as mirrors can make a room feel bigger. It’s all about the finishing touches.”

The Luna irregular mirrors are a change from typical shapes, with a sculptural quality giving them an arty feel. Totally renter-friendly is the Tova free-standing full-length mirror which doesn’t require attaching to a wall.

Luna Irregular Shape Mirror Collection

Living in a Rental: Making the Most of Temporary Spaces

There’s no doubt about it that there are more cons than pros to renting, and while it may be necessitated by accessibility to your job, it also gives you a feel for a locality if you are thinking of buying, so in a way you get to live in and ‘try on for size’ an area before making what’s likely to be the biggest financial commitment of your life.

It doesn’t mean, though, that in the shorter term it ought to feel anything other than home, and if there’s one area of your rental apartment or house that should feel that it’s yours, it’s the bedroom.

Thanks to accessories this is easy to achieve.

Rental Bedroom Ideas: Cushions, Rugs and Soft Lighting

“A bedroom should be a calming space where you can recharge, and adding soft lighting is a great way to create that atmosphere,” says Lois. “My favourite way to add personality to a bedroom is by layering bedding and cushions in different textures, colours, and patterns. We have a lovely new range of own-brand cushions in a variety of colours and textures, all at great prices, making it easy to elevate your rental on a budget.”

Among the trending colours for 2026 are warming neutrals, terracotta and rich green.

The Terra, Soho and Cinnamon cushions offer warming tones and pattern for styling in front of pillows to add a luxury touch in the bedroom.

The Everett cushion’s soft green elevates a chair that may have seen better days. The same goes for rugs disguising a less than lovely carpet or damaged floorboards.

The Renuu and Ishani rug collections have vintage styling to work in both period and contemporary properties. If you crave colour and patterns that make a strong statement, the Topaz and Jacqueline rugs are eye-catching conversation pieces, with added value according to Lois.

“Using a fun rug can help tie all the colours together in your space,” she says. “Choose a larger rug than you think you need; it grounds the room and adds the perfect finishing touch.”