Following our talk with Houzz, we’re excited to start a series showcasing our top renting rules. Whether it’s nifty ideas of creating a dining space or adding little touches to the kitchen, follow our #RentingRules hashtag on Insta for more inspiration. First up, and one of the most popular topics when it comes to renting… art.
For us and many, introducing art into your rented home is one of the quickest, most cost-effective and creative ways to showcase your personality and style. With many rented properties a blank white box, pops of artwork can completely transform the space. With that in mind, here are ten budget-friendly ways that you can revamp your rented room. Oh, and one awesome competition to win something special from Rise Art (read more to find out how!).
You’ve been framed
We tend to opt for all white frames, simply because it means that no matter where you move to next it’s bound to adapt well to most schemes. However, mixing-up your frames will look just as good and will create a quirky and eclectic look. For cost-effective frames head to Wilko, Ikea, Dunelm, Argos and Flying Tiger. Habitat also have a great range, although they’re a little bit more costly.
If you’ve already got some frames but want to update the colour then don’t go out and buy new ones. Give them a lick of paint with some Annie Sloan chalk paint. It dries quickly, only needs one coat and will completely revamp a tired frame.
No more holes
Avoid saying ‘sayonara’ to your deposit and steer clear of bashing holes into the wall when bringing artwork into the home. Instead, opt for those nifty little Command Strips. These Velcro pads work wonders on walls. Simply ensure you have enough for the weight of your frame, peel back and apply to the wall. It’s handy if you have a second pair of hands to steady the art if possible! Just to note that Commands Strips aren’t the only supplier out there. Wilko do a cheaper version and UniBond have No More Nails permanent and removable strips too.
Other alternatives include Velcro hooks which are great if you’re hanging faux wall heads, tapestries or mirrors.
The statement gallery wall
It’s the best way to add maximum impact to a room. Gather your artwork in one concentrated area to create a fantastic statement. The best tip we can give if you’re going to create this look is to lay out your wall on the floor first. That way you can play with the composition and ensure that the scale, look and feel is all correct. Once you’re happy, go forth and hang.
Curate your cuttings
Art doesn’t need to be expensive. We are self-confessed hoarders but we use this to our advantage. Have a look through things you’ve kept over the years such as old postcards, magazine cut-outs and birthday cards. Posters are great too. Yes, they may at times remind you of a teenagers bedroom but some poster designs could look amazing and when placed into a frame, who would know the difference?
- TOP STYLE TIP! We love eclectic art but if you’re unsure of where to begin, take a theme and roll with it, just like what Bianca Hall from French for Pineapple has done here with her fabulous ode to the female form.
Retro revival
Vinyls have swung back around once again and with the revival of record players comes the introduction of beautifully designed LP covers. Urban Outfitters and Flying Tiger offer really good square frames that work perfectly for framing your vinyls.
Don’t stick to the wall
If you’re not allowed, or would just rather not bother, artwork doesn’t have to be bound to the wall. Propping up art against the wall on the floor can work just as well, especially if you’re renting in a more open space, this can look great. Alternatively, if you have them, make the most out of shelves. Play with scale and composition and layer your artwork.
Tap into tapestry
Wall hangings are really on trend at the moment and there are some really cool designs on the high-street and online. We nabbed ours on a trip to Bruges (right) but Sainsbury’s have a great little number for £10 in their SS18 collection. Although, if you’re a master craftsman and fancy giving a wall tapestry a whirl yourself, Wool & the Gang offer a really simple make-your-own kit and blogger, One Dog Woof, has a great how-to which looks fantastic.
Fab fabrics
A beautiful scarf that’s been hidden in the wardrobe or a stack of gorgeously designed pocket squares, utilise what you’ve already got to hand and frame or hang them.
Make a transfer
Fans of wallpapered walls will struggle in a rented property. Most rented properties won’t have wallpaper, nor will a landlord generally let you do it as it’s such a faff to get rid of after. Wall transfers are a really good way to get around this. With no need to commit to wallpaper, wall stickers add a little pattern to the room. There are plenty of grown-up designs on the market and best of all they’re easy to remove, so you don’t have to worry about damaging the paintwork. Head to wall-art.com, Icon Wall Stickers or Not on the High Street. You’ll need to filter through some, how shall we say, less attractive designs, but you could create a really bold graphic look with some options.
The best places to shop & one great competition!
Finally, if you’re looking for some really great ready-to-go art then there are some exciting places online. Museums and galleries offer lovely exhibition prints and designs. This is where posters are great and the V&A is where we bagged our Andy Warhol Venus print which you can see framed in the main image above. Rise Art has a whole host of wonderful artists in an array of styles. You can filter down into category, price, size and style to make it really easy to choose. We treated ourselves to the hip Smoke IV by Delphine Lebourgeois and are thrilled with our experience with Rise Art. Curious Egg’s Art Room has some incredible prints, some at really affordable prices, as do Out There Interiors, who not only have art but also offer wall tapestries and even really fun and affordable neon lights. Finally, why not champion independent designers? People like Heath Kane, whose bold political pieces will be sure to set tongues wagging when you have visitors over.
Now for a really special competition! Fancy winning yourself a £100 voucher to spend at the wonderful Rise Art? It’s pretty easy! Just CLICK HERE to head to our Instagram post, or see below to follow the instructions. We’ll choose one lucky winner & announce on Wednesday 7th March.
There you have it, ten top tips for bringing art into your rented home!
Go forth and art attack it,
David & Mark x
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