Chances are if you’re renting a property, it’s because you are saving money for a home deposit or you don’t have much money full-stop. Either way, there won’t be much money left in the budget for smart, modern furniture. Don’t worry – you can have a nice home and you don’t need a big budget to do it. Read on for some easy ways to revamp your rental property without splashing the cash.

Upcycle Old Wooden Furniture

Buying new furniture is great if you can afford to spend money on decent brands, but low-budget flat-pack furniture is cheap for a reason. That bookcase you bought from Argos won’t last more than a couple of years before it starts to look shabby. Besides, it’s not especially stylish.

You are better off looking for solid wood pieces you can upcycle to make your own. Check out online auction sites like eBay and see what you can find. People often get rid of old, dark wood furniture because it doesn’t fit their modern décor. Dark wood isn’t pretty, but furniture made from solid pine or oak is, well, solid, and it’s lasted 50 years or more so you know it’s not about to fall apart yet.

Do check for woodworm before you take an old item of furniture home, but assuming it’s free from pests, you can sand it down, paint or wax it, or even practice your decoupage skills.

There are some great videos on YouTube that are full of useful instructions and ideas. Spend an evening searching for inspiration before you begin your project. You never know, it could become a profitable side-gig!

Recover Old Chairs

Old sofas and chairs are often thrown in a skip because the fabric has worn out or is simply old-fashioned. As long as the interior springs haven’t worn out, you can revive the item with a new, more attractive cover.

Take a look at the fabric options that the Yorkshire Fabric Shop supply, as they stock a range of different fabrics in all colours and styles. You can use these to transform an old brown chair with a new, red velvet cover. It can be a focal point for your room!

If recovering a chair is a step beyond your sewing skills, why not practice making a custom bench seat cover? Pick up a cheap storage unit and make a padded cushion using a piece of foam and some nice fabric. It will make a great shoe store for your hallway or kitchen.

DIY Blinds

It’s surprisingly easy to make DIY Roman blinds. There are kits available, and all you need is some fabric and a sewing machine. Once you’ve made one, why stop there? As long as your landlord approves, you can make a blind for every room!

Rag Rugs

Rag rugs are a cool way to cover worn-out carpet or laminate. Recycle old t-shirts and give them a new lease of life as a rug.

It may be a rental home, but it needn’t be sad and boring. Get creative and have fun!