As issues with mortgages and home buying continue, interiors retailer ScS has spoken to UK renters to discover which rooms are a top priority when it comes to interior changes, to create a more homely atmosphere.
The data revealed that the living room beat out the bedroom to the top spot with over half (56%) of UK renters saying this room would be the most important if they were to redecorate. Unsurprisingly, functional rooms were labelled the most important than any other space in the house; the bedroom and kitchen placed second and third on the list with 51% and 36% of renters emphasising the importance of these rooms respectively.
The top 5 rooms for redecoration were:
Living room (55.6%)
Bedroom (50.8%)
Kitchen (35.5%)
Hallways (22.1%)
Dining room (17.4%)
When it came to the jobs renters wanted to undertake, buying new furniture (48%), painting walls (40%), better storage solutions (24%) and adding smaller décor items (24%) were all named as top priorities for creating a more homely atmosphere.
For renters who are keen to invest in interior changes, ScS interior stylist, Vicki Foster, has shared expert advice on how to spruce up each room whilst still being mindful of your deposit.
Living room
“The top priority for renters when it comes to redecorating, the key to making a living room homely is by getting the essentials right. The sofa, for example, should be both practical to your needs; consider material type, durability, and day-to-day use, as well as looking good in the space. Don’t get one that will dominate by taking up all the free room – there should be ample space to still move around and enjoy other parts of the area.
"As it’s the focal point of the room a sofa can really determine the style and feel of a room so if you do this right, you’ll be able to see and feel, an instant change in the room. If you’re worried about sofa legs damaging the flooring your landlord has laid, furniture coasters are excellent for not scratching the surface and also make it easier to rejig the layout so you can play around with the space.
“If you’re not allowed to repaint or change the wallpaper adding accessories that are more in line with your style is ideal; hang prints using adhesive strips that won’t pull paint or paper away, breathe new life into the room with plants and make use of lamps so you have better control over your lighting.”
Bedroom
“Your bedroom should be an escape from the hustle and bustle of every day so you’ll want to turn it into a sanctuary that you can enjoy. Given much of the space will be taken up by the bed, this should be the focal point of the room. Adorn it with bedding that suits your overall theme, cushions of varying sizes for variety and a big chunky throw to add extra warmth and cosiness.
“Lighting is also a fantastic way to create a cosier feeling in a room. Use strategically placed lamps around the room to create a soft glow that you can enjoy whilst you relax.
Kitchen
“Stick-on tiles or vinyl wraps will help to disguise any unwanted worktops or wall tiles and can be easily removed before you move out. Using these means you can change the room to suit your preferred style without impacting your deposit.
“For the cupboards, if you’re not allowed to paint them but don’t like the current colour, stick-on wallpaper is ideal for this as it’ll instantly change the appearance. You can easily swap out the handles on most cupboards too, just make sure you keep all the original fittings and handles to install them before you move out. With a new colour and handles, your kitchen cupboards get an instant upgrade for you to enjoy.”
Hallway
“The hallway can quickly become a bit of a dumping ground where things are dropped off as soon as you walk through the door. With this, adding some storage solutions to the space can help declutter and keep it tidy so you’re always walking into a fresh, open space when you get home. By using open shelves, shoe racks, sideboards or coat hooks, you can keep the space clutter-free and inviting but also fully functional.
“Make use of already-existing storage space such as under the stairs for items you don’t want on show; vacuum cleaners, mops, suitcases for example.
“Finally, as hallways have the potential to be dark and dingy, use mirrors on the walls or a leaning mirror against a free wall to reflect light and really open up the space.”
Dining room
“When designing a dining room, it’s vital to plan everything around the table as it’ll be the centrepiece of the room. If there’s an existing colour scheme that you can’t change, opting for a light wooden or glass table could be a good option, as these styles tend to work with any design choice.
“Make sure you measure up correctly too; there should be enough room for people to walk around the table comfortably as well as space for people to push their chairs back when leaving the table.
“If the dining room will have multiple uses, it might be best to go for a table that can fold down or shorten when not in use to help save space and make the room multifunctional.”
