Renting a property can be an excellent option when it comes to both flexibility and cost, especially for younger people who are saving up to buy a new home or a stop gap if you have sold your property and haven’t found your new dream home. As with anything in life, there are certain advantages and drawbacks to rental homes which you’ll need to take into consideration when weighing up your options.
Whilst you can be flexible in your tenancy terms, renting can also mean inflexibility when it comes to sprucing up your home or changing the décor. On the whole, landlords will opt for a fairly neutral colour scheme throughout, with whites, browns and greys providing a safe yet uninspiring backdrop.
Bathrooms in rental properties should be fitted out to a good standard, as your landlord won’t want to keep spending money on plumbers for old or poor quality fixtures and fittings. Whilst in some cases you probably won’t find a designer bathroom suite, the décor will most likely be modern in its appearance.
If you have developed a good relationship with your landlord, they may allow you to make some minor alterations to your home but do check with them first. In this article, we look some quick and cost-effective ways to add character in your rental bathroom.
1. Pick out a new palette
As we’ve already mentioned, some rental properties can come with a rather drab and dull neutral colour scheme, characterised by large expanses of white space and low maintenance flooring.
The great thing is, you can turn this to your advantage. With all this white space, it presents you with a blank canvas on which you can paint some personality.
So which colours are best for a bathroom? Grey is still the most prized contemporary colour when it comes to home interiors. It really is a timeless hue that never goes out of fashion and comes in a variety of different shades. The rise in monochrome bathroom colour schemes has also boosted its popularity.
If grey is still too dull for your taste, why not check out some of the “colours of the year”? Paint brand Dulux named Spiced Honey as colour of the year for 2019 and you’ll find it has already influenced interiors up and down the country.
2. Coordinate your style
To give a rental property the widest appeal, many landlords choose a modern or contemporary style bathroom rather than something that is more traditional (unless the property itself is period in style). The two looks are quite distinctive and you can immediately tell the difference. A contemporary bathroom will contain a suite which is characterised by simple forms and shapes. A traditional bathroom may come with ornate ceramics, taps with cross head handles and even a roll top bath if your landlord is very generous!
If you are looking to add accessories to your bathroom, it’s best to complement with items in the same style. Which leads us neatly on to the next tip…
3. Accessorise to your heart’s content
Adding a new splash of colour is all well and good but accessories could be the key to unlocking the full potential of your rental bathroom. Just like shopping for a pair of heels to match that gorgeous new party dress, accessorising your bathroom is one of the most joyful things you can do.
Begin by considering those vital necessities, like a toilet roll holder or a tumbler to contain your toothbrushes and toothpaste. Instead of choosing each item individually, why not buy as a set to ensure they coordinate with each other, along with your chosen style and colour scheme.
Plants are a great way to add some much-needed greenery to your bathroom space. Shrubs that thrive in a bathroom environment included Aloe Vera, Boston Ferns, Spider Plants and even Ivy.
To add the finishing touches, pick out some nice fluffy towels that match your chosen colour scheme.
4. Store things in style
Furnishing a rental property can be a major challenge for your landlord and the last thing they’ll probably think about is bathroom furniture. As with any home, a lack of storage space can be a very real problem, especially if you are a bit of a hoarder. That’s why it is certainly worth considering adding further storage units to your bathroom space.
If your landlord isn’t happy with you drilling into the walls, you could look at freestanding storage options. Top of the on-trend picks is ladder storage, which is simple to add into any bathroom space. All you need to do is lean it against a wall and it will provide you with plenty of shelving for all your bath time essentials.
If you are allowed to use your wall space, why not consider wall cabinets? Helping to free up floor space, there are plenty of size and style options to pick from. Try and pick a colour or finish that complements the rest of your bathroom. You could even coordinate with a matching toilet seat and bath panels.
5. Large-scale improvements
Many landlords will be open to the idea of a bathroom refurbishment on a bigger scale—especially if you offer to pay for at least part of it. After all, it should add value to their property and make it more attractive for future tenants. It’ll also keep you happy and help to maintain a good landlord/tenant relationship.
If the suite is looking a bit worse for wear, a matching basin and toilet can be purchased for well under £100, providing a quick and easy update. Even a simple tap replacement could brighten up your bathroom space, bringing a touch of sparkle. It’s always worth discussing with your landlord and seeing if you can come to some kind of compromise.
Whilst it may seem your hands are tied when owning a rental property, there are countless creative ways you can turn the space into a home that matches your unique character.
Thinking about your next move? Talk to one of our expert local advisors to explore your options today.
The Your Move Content Marketing Team
