Making a rented flat feel like home without losing the deposit
This piece for Crazish collects the advice that holds up in practice.
Rules about walls and fittings do not stop a rented place from feeling personal. Textiles do most of the work: a large rug anchors a room, curtains that reach the floor make windows look taller, and cushions and throws add colour that leaves with you. Freestanding shelves and a tall plant fill corners that would otherwise need pictures on the wall.
For lighting, replace harsh overhead bulbs with warm ones and add two or three lamps at different heights. Removable hooks hold mirrors and light frames, and a strip of washable wallpaper behind a bed can be peeled off on moving day. Keep the original fittings in a labelled box so everything goes back exactly as it was when you hand over the keys.