Happy new home! Getting the keys to a property (whether you’re renting or owning) is a really exciting milestone.

But — and we’re speaking from recent experience here — that feeling of excitement doesn’t always last. You get through the door and, yikes, you notice little “quirks” that weren’t so obvious during the tour. Maybe the walls need a refresh or the bathroom’s looking tired.

In those first weeks of a new home, you can be left wondering how on earth you’ll manage to make it feel like yours. Whether you’re operating on a tight budget or you have a rental contract to stick to, it’s not always easy to make sweeping changes to your home from the get-go.

So where do you start?

A quick note on rental rules in California (and the US)

Hey, home renters! Check out these guidelines before you go any further.

But if your new home is yours for the keeping, then skip to the next section right away.

Check your contract

Renters don’t often get free rein when it comes to decorating their homes. Read your rental contract and you’ll usually find a number of restrictions have been placed on your interior design dreams!

Depending on the contract, and the landlord, you probably can’t make lasting changes to the property.

So that means painting the walls and hanging pictures might be out of the question — unless you’re prepared to spend the time and money returning your walls to their former state when it comes time to leave.

You generally have to work with what you’ve been given. Floor coverings, room shape, wall colors. These things are often non-negotiable, but there are some smart ways to change them (which we’ll cover in one second!).

Get permission from your landlord

Some landlords are very open to their tenants’ ideas.

They’re happy for someone else to put in the hard work to update their property — especially if changes are made with future tenants in mind.

As long as you shelve plans for any highly personalized designs, and you discuss your ideas thoroughly with your landlord first, they may just give you the green light to update more of the property than you thought possible.

Okay, ready for action? Here’s some quick non-permanent ways to decorate (without causing damage or knocking down walls!)

Renting or owning, if your place is to feel like home then you need to put your mark on it.

When you walk through the front door after a busy day, you want to enter your sanctuary. You don’t want to feel like a paying guest in someone else’s digs.

Luckily, there are lots of easy ways to change the look and feel of your home. For quick interior updates that offer quick results (with minimal mess), check off this list of design tips:

Bring character to your walls and surfaces

Is painting a whole room off the cards? It’s time to get creative.

A splash of color on one, feature wall can go a long way. You can paint a design or lean on contrasting colors to completely makeover a room’s look and feel.

There are also lots of products on the market specifically designed for renters with an eye for design. You can use temporary wallpaper and stickers to change the appearance of your walls without falling foul of your contract.

The same goes for other surfaces, too. Are your kitchen countertops looking retro in all the wrong ways? Easy to apply and promising damage-free removal, self-adhesive vinyl is a great way to refresh your work surfaces.

Display some artwork — stat!

There’s really no excuse for empty walls.

If you’ve bought your property, getting pictures up on the wall is the first thing you should do. Sure, you’ll have to spackle before you paint. But being surrounded by familiar artwork makes a place instantly feel much more like home.

If you’re renting, there are (again) lots of products that allow you to hang pictures without damaging the walls. Command strips are a reliable go-to. You can also lean bigger pieces on dressers and existing shelves — very stylish and rental-friendly.

Invest in adaptable furniture

Furniture tends to be costly. So you need to think carefully if you’re investing in pieces that may have to move with you at a later date.

As a renter, the furniture you choose should be easy to transport and as timeless as your personal sense of interior style will allow. This will make the process of moving to, and furnishing, your next home that bit easier.

Look for modular sofas that can be switched from left to right. Pick garden furniture that folds flat. Always buy good quality furniture that won’t fall apart on its way to the removals van!

We also always try to make rooms as functional as possible from the moment we move in, making good storage solutions and comfortable seating a priority.

Cover questionable flooring with rugs

In our experience, a rental carpet is almost always well past its prime. And floors are expensive to change.

So if cheap laminate flooring or threadbare carpets are causing you a new home headache, invest in a statement rug. It will be super easy to transport if you end up moving. And (as long as you choose a big rug) you can cover nearly all of the offending floor space.

Accessorize

Room accessories really do have the power to transform a room.

Cushions in your color scheme. Luxurious bed linen. A warm-toned table lamp. A ton of well-tended pot plants. These are the things that will make a house or apartment feel your own.

You can also make quick and easy changes to smaller fixtures, like cabinet and closet handles. By installing your own improved version (and keeping the originals somewhere safe if you’re renting) you get a simple and affordable upgrade.

Get some professional input

Your home is your haven, whether you own it or not! At Titanium Space, we can help you to create the sanctuary you’re dreaming of.

With a focus on beautiful form and practical function, we design spaces with the power to improve your interiors and your wellbeing too. Get in touch to arrange a complimentary consultation today.

A new home interior design checklist for home-owners and renters