Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

12 best homewares for renters: Put your own removable stamp on it

Make your rented house a home with our stylish finds

Friday 08 May 2020 12:39 BST

Sometimes it only takes a few statement pieces to truly make it your own (The Inependent/iStock)

Furnishing a rented pad comes with its own set of concerns, whether your abode is fully, part, or unfurnished. While it may not technically be your house, it is absolutely your home – at least for the agreed tenancy period – so you’ll want to fill it with feel-good homeware pieces that make you smile.

If you’re working around existing furniture that you wouldn’t have chosen yourself, the key here is accessories. Sometimes it only takes a few statement pieces to put your stamp on a property and truly make it your own. With that in mind, it’s worth investing in some high-end, design-led products that reflect your personality.

Some unfurnished rentals are a blank canvas but where developers often strip an apartment back to its bare bones, they can also remove that all-important character. Others are all-too “characterful” and you may find yourself (literally) papering over the cracks. It’s a good idea to check with your landlord or managing agent on what you’re allowed to do on the DIY-front. Pristine white walls are one thing but you don’t want to live in fear of losing your security deposit if you’ve got a trendy gallery wall filled with contemporary prints.

Look for ways to improve on what you’ve inherited, for example, bringing a period fireplace back to life with temporary wallpaper, finishing off a cold wood floor with a homely wool rug, or brightening up a dated kitchen with stylish, matching small appliances. We’ve put our top picks chosen specifically for renters to the test.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Poodle & Blonde square velvet cushion, money tree in bamboo: £80, Poodle & Blonde

Soft furnishings are a renter’s friend. You can transform a living space, instantly upping the cosy factor with the addition of stylish rugs, throws and cushions. Introduce plush textures and your rented pad will feel warm and homely in no time. Poodle & Blonde’s unique take on quirky luxury hits all the right notes. Made from the finest quality cotton velvet, and ingeniously filled with 100 per cent recycled bottles – although you wouldn’t know it for softness – our cushion proved a little opulence can go a long way.

Patch big Ken kentia palm: From £50, Patch

There’s nothing like a large houseplant to bring warmth to a rented apartment and Patch’s “big Ken” more than does the job. Adding a welcome splash of greenery, its impressive height alone promises big, homely impact. Ken, or “howea forsteriana” by his botanical name, is an easy housemate, too. The low-maintenance plant requires a light watering weekly, and even if you’re not gifted with green fingers, never fear: once you sign up, Patch will email you with follow-up care instructions post-delivery.

Pow Pots queenie plant pot: From £45, Pow Pots

An abundant houseplant deserves a stylish, modern planter, which is one way to bring a welcome dose of colour and pattern to your rental. We were thrilled to discover this Manchester-based brand whose cheery, contemporary, and eco-friendly pots are, we think, a bit of a game changer. Inspired by mid-century Australian and Scandinavian design, each lightweight, fibreclay pot is hand-painted in primary colours or chic monochrome, in arresting graphic shapes. We loved our black and white “queenie” pot.

Art & Hue London life August 1966 print: From £15, Art & Hue

While you may have to go easy on the hole drilling, some well-chosen artwork is a must when it comes to decorating a rented pad. Sussex-based Art & Hue offers an affordable way to bring graphic pop art to our walls. The brand’s ever-evolving range of colourful, quality gicleee prints feature icons of film and music, and images taken from popular culture. City-dwelling tenants will love the new “London life and Tatler” collection. Choose a colour to suit your decor.

Umbra Estique multi-organiser: £16.50, Red Candy

Over-door hooks are a nifty way to hang up coats and accessories without the need to drill into your rented four walls. Boasting a contemporary square wire frame with pale wooden spheres, this Scandi-influenced organiser is simply hung over the top of the door by its inconspicuous hooks – but it comes with the option of drill holes for a cleaner-lined look, too. In either configuration, it’s a stylish and affordable way to de-clutter.

Swan Nordic kettle, grey: £51, AO

One downside to renting is perhaps living with a kitchen that’s dated or not to taste. This is one room you really can’t do much with on the decor front, so the key here is choosing stylish accessories. Stand-out small appliances will successfully distract the eye from tired tiling, and this kettle is a sleek, design-led addition. In a chic mid-grey, it will go with any kitchen scheme. The tall, jug-style appliance boasts a quick boil function and gives you seven cups of tea before you need to refill it. We loved its modern Scandi look.

OYOY Living Design dish tray and drainer set: £28.99 and £23.50, OYOY Living Design

OYOY’s innovative dish tray and drainer set adds modern glamour to even the most underwhelming stainless steel sinks, making it an ideal buy if you’re looking to update your rented kitchen. Sold separately, the grooved, rainbow-shaped silicone tray in rose sits underneath the curved brass drainer, each complementing the other beautifully – and playing on the metallics trend in the most unexpected of places, a quirky little detail we love. This one’s not cheap as far as dish drainers go but it proved a fashionable addition to our kitchen corner that we certainly won’t regret.

Buy drainer now
Buy dish tray now

Polkra artist collection tea towels: From £9, Polkra

Tenants can add a dash of style and colour to the kitchen simply and cheaply with a smart new tea towel set, and we loved this artist collaboration from Polkra. St. Petersburg illustrator Sainte Maria mixes old and new with motifs from modern packaging and images of the natural world, while London-based Julianna Byrne’s graphic, inky paintings depict mythical creatures and bold botanicals. Digitally printed onto high quality cotton, these were a refreshing splash of modern art in our cooking space.

Next linen mix wipe clean tablecloth: From £22, Next

If your place is fully furnished and you’re keen to protect both the furniture pieces and your security deposit, a wipe-clean tablecloth is a shrewd buy. Where oilcloth can be a little too rigid and canteen-like, Next’s linen mix cloth offers a pleasing drape along with its durability. We loved the spring-fresh leafy repeat pattern, which instantly brightened up our kitchen. Made from a mix of polyester, linen and viscose, and with a waxy polyurethane coating, its wipe-clean properties proved true. It comes up as good as new every time.

Homescapes linen duvet cover set: From £54.99, Homescapes

In the bedroom it’s worth investing in good quality sheets but where pure linen can be expensive, Homescapes offers a purse-friendly option in the guise of its linen-cotton mix. The duvet cover set is woven from French flax and premium combed cotton, and comes in a small range of colours from the earthy-toned burnt orange and khaki to the lighter natural and pure, bright white. The low maintenance bedding is breathable, gets softer wash after wash, and looks best when left un-ironed and naturally crumpled.

NuWallpaper halcyon blue self adhesive wallpaper: £24 per roll, Dunelm

For renters wishing to inject personality into their pad, self-adhesive wallcoverings are the way forward. Dunelm’s affordable peel and stick collection allows homemakers to quickly and easily update a feature wall or chimney breast without damaging existing painting. NuWallpaper’s halcyon paper, with its painterly herons in flight, offers a contemporary splash of colour and pattern that’s both textural and calming. Take care in matching up the motifs properly.

Urbansize oak desk for bloggers: £335, Urbansize

If square footage is an issue in your rented home, this is a furniture brand dedicated to clever design that maximises on space. Founded by Sallie Agnihotri – whose own little London flat was crying out for innovative furniture in smaller proportions – Urbansize is all about sleek, streamlined pieces with shrewd functionality, including this petite oak desk. Made from 100 per cent solid oak, the diminutive piece is strong and sturdy despite its slimline silhouette.

Verdict: homeware for renters

We loved Poodle & Blonde’s money tree cushion for bringing a touch of contemporary opulence to our living room. In plush velvet, it isn’t cheap, but for renters with an existing sofa to accessorise, we think it’s worth going all-out on the soft furnishings. We were also impressed with Umbra’s estique multi-organiser. Design-led yet surprisingly affordable.