Easy interior design tips for rental homes, with Aziza
Aziza (@homewithaziza) is renting in Berkshire (UK), whilst she saves for a deposit on her very own home. In the meantime, nothing will stop her making the space her own. Let's dig into Aziza's interior design tips for rental property tenants.TLDR: The opportunities are limitless 🚀
Researching rental hacks 💻
“I chose to rent as I’m currently saving for a deposit to buy a house. I knew my first move would be into a rental, so I did a lot of research online and saved many rental hack transformations and ideas that I wanted to try out. When I look at a space, I always look at the potential. I know what I like and I know my style very well so it was easy to envision what I wanted my home to look like. I work from home so I needed my space to feel like my sanctuary. I stuck with neutrals and kept my space feeling calm but also cosy.”Creating a bitchin’ kitchen
“When I first saw my rental kitchen, I knew exactly how I wanted to transform the space. My landlord was happy for me to make any changes I wanted as long as they’re reversible. I started by adding some shelves to a plain wall for extra storage and to add some character to the space. I’ve always disliked dark countertops, so I knew the main thing I wanted to do was to use a sticker vinyl to transform them. I watched YouTube tutorials and got all the materials I needed to attempt it. It was very tricky and I didn’t do the job perfectly, but I was very happy that I gave it a go. In the end, it looked great!"
"Most rental kitchens come with standard boring silver handles, but I’ve never been a fan of silver. I feel like warm touches of gold and brass always elevate everything, so I chose Plank's Brass BECKER Handles to replace the old handles with new ones. All these small changes made a huge difference to the final result of my kitchen.”“When I saw the BECKER Handles I just fell in love! I love the rigid groove detailing all around the handle, which gives a bit more character compared to the plain handles I previously had. The brass colour is just so beautiful too, having an almost soft gold finish. I’m obsessed!"5 (landlord-friendly) design tips:
"I always stick to one design theme throughout my home. It’s more cohesive and makes your entire space feel like one.Everything I’ve done is reversible, which is super important for keeping landlords happy. The kitchen worksurface vinyl is easy removable, for example.I don’t like too much clutter or "stuff" in my home. I want to feel relaxed and comforted when I enter each room, so I prioritise placing and styling the elements I want to see. This mindset has massively helped me to decide the important things to keep and have on display, plus identify those things that I should lose.I make sure my home is for me and not others. When styling my home, the main person I’m thinking of is me and my enjoyment. I spend (practically) 24/7 in my home, so I've never thought too much about the opinions of guests.DIY projects or styling is rarely permanent! You can always change things over time. So take the leap, be experimental and attempt those things you see and want to try."
Aziza’s “D.I.Why”
"There’s many reasons why I think DIY is so much better than buying new. A few are:More sustainableIt’s usually cheaperIt's more rewarding to know you did that yourselfYou’re able to personalise it so much moreYou learn new skills"
Red Bull gives her wings 👼
"Honestly, when I'm working on a DIY project, I get so focused that it’s all I think about. I have so much drive to get the task completed! But that sometimes leads to burn out, resulting in a lack of energy and motivation. As a pick me up refreshment, I like to have a Red Bull! It gives me wings (or a sugary rush) to push me through to project completion."TikTok-ers for Interiors Trends 🤳
“My current favourite social media platform is TikTok. You can get some much inspiration from there! You should all follow:"@homeofshade
"She’s an amazing DIY-er!"@our_bears_home
"Another amazing DIY-er and stylist."@lonefoxhome
"He’s amazing at styling and has the more creative DIY’s."A huge thank you to Aziza for joining us for a TEA BREAK. Why not follow her rental-hacking wisdom over at @homewithaziza?
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