You don’t have to completely transform your rental apartment to make it more unique and more suited to your individual style. One of the best things about renting is that you get to be creative with the finishing touches of your apartment. You may not be able to change many of the fixtures and furnishings, but you can be clever with accessories.
After all, as American interior designer Nate Berkus says: “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.” So, embrace your creativity and switch up your apartment by paying attention to the little details is key.
Add Statement Art
Artwork, whether photography, paintings or graphic design pieces are extremely personal. Art collections say a lot about a person, so it’s a perfect way to add your personality and essence to your home.
You don’t need to drill lots of nails in the wall to introduce statement art. Make use of surfaces to prop up your artwork – chests of drawers, shelving, bookcases, worktops and dressing tables. Having large-scale artwork can provide a focal point to each room. Alternatively, mix up smaller pieces of artwork in frames to create a collage effect.
For a more contemporary feel, look for bold graphic prints and lettering. To channel an air of tradition, consider a statement painting or portrait. Or, for a mix of contemporary and classic chic, stick to a black and white collection of photographs and prints – you can add accents of colour elsewhere in your home.
Play with Textures and Patterns
Touch is one of the human senses that we often forget, but when decorating your home, you can use textures to your advantage. Play around with fabrics, including cushions, rugs and throws. Add opulence with rich velvets, warmth with shaggy furs and wool, luxury with fine silks, or modernism with coarse cords and jute.
On the flip side, sight is perhaps the most cherished of the human senses. As such, the colour scheme of your apartment is really important. Keep things contemporary with a neutral colour scheme, adding pops of colour and bold patterns through soft furnishings and bed linen.
Or incorporate a more quintessential decor scheme with a few rich colours, such as aubergine, midnight blue, peacock green and wine red. The important thing to remember, though, is not to overdo your colour or pattern choices.
Give Life with Plants
Plants are the perfect accompaniment to any home. Not only do they look chic and allow you to bring the outdoors inside – which is especially important when living in a bustling city and in an apartment without the benefit of a garden – but many scientific studies have shown the health benefits of living and working around plants.
There are plenty of ways to bring plant life into your home. Green succulents and leafy house plants such as aloe vera, Chinese evergreens, aspidistra, monstera and spider plants all require little upkeep. Find ornamental pots, simple ceramic pots, or unique glass terrarium holders to place your plants in, and dot them across your apartment.Alternatively, a fresh bouquet of flowers instantly breathes life (and injects colour) into a room.
Experiment with Lighting
Lighting is a powerful tool that can dictate the atmosphere and tone of a room. It can be just as much an accessory as soft furnishings and ornaments. Be clever with floor and table lamps – you can find ones to match your interior style and scheme, and you can easily move them from place to place, as you wish, throughout the apartment.
Sultry low-lighting is ideal if you are entertaining guests in the evening, whilst clean lighting that reflects natural lighting can bring your home to life whatever the time of day. Add artistic flair with boldly-coloured lamp shades, find a show-stopping piece such as a gilded metallic lamp, or play with geometric shapes for contemporary cool.
Embellish with Ornaments
Give your apartment some finishing touches with a few choice ornaments. Look for the finer details to help contrast the boxy, angular shapes of your furniture.
Novelty candlesticks, ornamental trinkets and glass vases are all effortless additions to a home. Mirrors can also help to dress up your apartment. Indulge in gold gilded frames or stick with an elegant frameless oval mirror.
The Importance of Design in Your Home
At Essential Living, all of our apartments across London are carefully designed and styled by leading designers to maximise space, to offer an abundance of natural light, and to provide timeless interiors with you in mind. We offer a unique renting experience, letting you choose from a range of different styles, meaning that no two apartments are the same.
Find out more about our locations and get in touch with a member of our team for more details, through our online enquiry form or by calling us on 0800 2100 200.
