Add flair to your rental home

Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean your space can’t feel like home. With a few smart styling choices and renter-friendly updates using Resene paints and wallpapers, you can add colour, character and comfort without risking your bond.

Paint might seem off-limits, but many landlords are open to change if it’s tasteful and reversible, and if it helps them hang on to good reliable tenants. From choosing the right tones to clever alternatives when painting isn't an option, here’s how to make your rental feel like you without breaking the rules or the bank.

Inexpensive materials like wooden crates and upcycled wooden furniture can be instantly elevated with the right shade of paint to create a smart, unique look in a rental home. Floor stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, walls in Resene Half Black White, bench seat and bowl in Resene Frozen, peg hooks and basket planter in Resene Green Spring and crates in Resene Green Spring, Resene Frozen, Resene Quarter Frozen, Resene Half Black White. Light pendant and hanging bags from Kmart. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

First things first

Always thoroughly read your tenancy agreement and check with your landlord before undertaking any alterations to the property you’re renting.

Under New Zealand tenancy law, tenants must get their landlord’s written consent before making any changes to the property, including painting, hanging wallpaper or installing fixtures. However, under the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords can't unreasonably withhold permission for minor alterations, especially if the changes are low-risk and easily reversible.

The best approach is to put your request in writing, clearly outlining what you’d like to do, the materials you plan to use, and how you’ll return the property to its original condition if needed. If you’d like more information, visit the NZ Tenancy Services website at www.tenancy.govt.nz

The right Resene wallpaper can be a powerful tool to add personality when used in unexpected ways without damaging your walls. Walls painted in Resene Spanish White, floors stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Shade, drawers and headboard in Resene Night Magic, wallpaper accents in Resene Wallpaper Collection 39653-1, chair in Resene Green Meets Blue, lamp base in Resene Nullarbor and vase in Resene Gunsmoke. Throw, cushions from Nood. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

Embrace limitations

Even if your landlord is strict about what you can and can’t do in terms of decorating your rental home, you can still be creative in adding personal design touches, says Resene colour consultant Hannah Lynch.

“Decorating while renting can actually be a fun challenge,” Hannah says. “Not being able to paint or wallpaper walls, or make any permanent changes, can force you to think more creatively about what you can do.”

For example, Hannah suggests adding the flair and colour of an interesting wallpaper design but keeping it temporary by framing Resene wallpaper to use as artworks or papering over re-used or inexpensive stretched canvases. If your landlord is hesitant about holes in the walls to hang pictures from or you just don’t want the hassle of adding picture hooks, you can simply lean them against walls on top of shelves and cabinets.

Bold designs like Resene Wallpaper Collection DGILA301 are an easy way to bring eye-catching colour and pattern into rental rooms, often painted in versatile neutrals. You can also try a colour block wallpaper with a slightly textured finish, such as Resene Wallpaper Collection 36925-8 hanging it in frames to add visual interest and personality.

“Using wallpaper this way is a simple trick to add art to your home, and they can be swapped out easily and relatively inexpensively when your tastes change, or you move house.”

Hannah’s top tip: “If you are able to paint a wall, ask your landlord for the original wall colour or paint details. If they don't know, take a small paint chip from an inconspicuous spot into your local Resene ColorShop to have it colour matched. This way, if you need to return the wall to its original state when you move out, you’ll have the exact colour on hand, making touch-ups or repainting much easier and stress-free.” If you’re just wanting to paint one feature wall or a small area, you can get advice from Resene staff about accent colours that will work well with the rest of your room.

Colourful accents on furniture and decor are a simple way to add flair to a rental, and if you’re able to, painting one feature wall can have a dramatic impact and won’t be too difficult to reverse. Left rear wall painted in Resene Eighth Blanc, front right wall in Resene Green Spring, floor stain colour washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, clothing rack and bedside table in Resene Paddock, small pot in Resene Cabbage Point, wooden box in Resene Quarter Drought and frames in Resene Cabbage Point, Resene Paddock and Resene Kangaroo. Quilt cover and candle from Kmart, cushions from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Testpot triumphs

“A great way to personalise your space is through DIY art and decor,” Hannah says. “And for that blank canvases are a renter’s best friend, along with Resene testpots.

“Painting your own designs directly onto a blank canvas lets you control the colour scheme and vibe, whether you're after something bold or minimalist.”

If you’re not confident in your freehand artistic abilities, there are plenty of other ways to create abstract or geometric designs. Using a pencil, ruler, protractor and stencils to trace and plan your pattern will help make sure you’re happy before you commit to painting. You can also experiment with products like Resene FX Paint Effects Medium to create blurred, washed effects, Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect for a rough, plaster-like finish or Resene FX Crackle for an antiqued finish.

Resene testpots are also perfect for painting small decor pieces in your rooms, which add those personality-plus pops of colour for an instant mood boost. With many rentals decorated in versatile neutrals like white Resene Alabaster, cream Resene Pearl Lusta or beige Resene Quarter Sisal, look to rich, saturated jewel tones like Resene Optimist, Resene Aroha and Resene Very Berry for a sense of luxury and drama.

Setting your kids free with Resene testpots and blank canvases, planters or wooden crates can be a fun way to let them decorate their own rental bedrooms too.

If your tastes are more minimalist, look for layered neutral colours and play with textures to add interest. Sand an old wooden bookcase or cabinet and refresh the stain with Resene Colorwood Natural or try a relaxed colour wash stain finish with Resene Colorwood Bask. Choose a Resene neutral hue that works with the base wall colour in your rental and layer it in different strengths, such as Resene Eighth Tea, Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Tea and Resene Double Tea. The Resene Whites & Neutrals collection has up to six strengths of the most popular Resene colours so it’s easy to choose darker and lighter options.

One simple way to bring a cohesive design note to your rental, particularly if it’s already decorated in a neutral colour, is to choose just one or two colours and repeat them throughout your home. If your home is mostly painted in an off-white like Resene Double Rice Cake, try a lush botanical green like Resene Chelsea Cucumber dotted throughout for a fresh Scandi-inspired feel that brings the outdoors has come inside. Mix up your greens by adding accents of Resene Koru or Resene Aloe Vera for variation or try a third contrast colour like a burnt orange in Resene Fire.

Hannah also suggests unleashing your Resene testpots on second-hand treasures from your own belongings or found in op shops. “Think vases, frames or quirky sculptures. A simple coat of paint from a Resene testpot can turn a dated item into a standout piece that fits your space perfectly.”

Other items that can be easily painted to add flair without making permanent changes are wooden dining chairs or tables, cork, tile or wooden placemats, lightshades and floating shelves.

Aboldly decorated yet simple free-standing structure creates a fun hangout forkids that can be dismantled or taken with you when you leave your rental. Wallsand rear trellis painted in Resene Eighth Spanish White, front trellis staincolour washed in Resene Bask, decking in Resene Woodsman Tiri, rear ofplayhouse in Resene Wallpaper Collection 313010, playhouse frame in ReseneRaven, table in Resene Petal, stools in Resene Rulebreaker and Resene Highland,board in Resene FX Blackboard Paint, gumboots in Resene Cest La Vie and ReseneSunbeam, large planter in Resene Baltic Sea, medium planter in Resene Tana, front pot in Resene Petal, table pot in Resene WeatheredYellow, skittles in ReseneDuck Egg Blue, Resene Vibe, Resene See The Light, Resene Watermark, Resene CestLa Vie and tic tac toe game in Resene Pearl Lusta, Resene Cest La Vie, ReseneWoodland, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Vibe, Resene Watermark, Resene Highland,Resene Petal and Resene Manhattan. Project by Annick Larkin, image by BryceCarleton.

Watch your drips

One important thing to remember, no matter the scale of your rental paint project is to protect surfaces from accidental drips or spills that can cost you your bond. As well as thoroughly covering every surface when painting, some simple and smart habits can help avoid spills. This is true for outside as well as in, as landlords may not be happy with a paint splattered concrete patio or wood deck.

1. Only pour small amounts of paint into the paint pot or tray you are using, so if you do have a spill, it’s only a small amount

2. Work with waterborne products such as Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen (the paint found in most Resene testpots) or Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss for easy clean-up with just water.

3. Keep the floor area clear of any tripping hazards while you paint.

4. Keep pets and small children out of your painting area.

With a little imagination, it’s easy to use paint, colour and wallpaper to make your rental home feel like your own home.

If you need help with ideas to decorate your home, come in and visit your local Resene ColorShop, Ask a Resene Colour Expert free online, www.resene.com/colourexpert or book a Resene Colour Consultation free instore or virtually or a paid home visit in selected areas, www.resene.com/colourconsult.