Five Things I Wish Everyone Knew Before Designing A Rented Home
Five Things I Wish Everyone Knew Before Designing A Rented Home
If you're preparing to move into a rental or planning the design of your next rented home, you're likely juggling excitement with a fair bit of uncertainty. How do you make a space feel like yours when you can't knock down walls or repaint freely? How do you invest in a home that's temporary without it feeling like a compromise?
I've worked with countless clients who rent their homes in Singapore, and the same concerns come up again and again: “Will this damage the walls?” “Can I actually make this feel like home?” “What if I move in a year?”
The truth is, renting doesn't mean settling. With the right approach, you can create a space that feels personal, functional, and beautiful — without forfeiting your deposit or spending on things you can't take with you.
Here are five things I wish every renter knew before designing their space.
1. You can hang pictures without drilling holes
Most renters avoid putting anything on the walls because they dread the thought of filling dozens of nail holes with putty when they move out (I can relate after having put up a dozen pictures on a gallery wall which I then had to repair and give a coat of fresh paint). But bare walls make a space feel cold and unlived-in, and that's the opposite of what you want when you're trying to create a home.
The good news? There are plenty of ways to hang art, mirrors, and shelves without a single drill hole.
What works:
Command strips and hooks: These have come a long way. Use the heavy-duty versions for frames and mirrors, and follow the weight guidelines carefully.
Picture ledges: Lean frames on narrow shelves mounted with adhesive strips or tension rods. This also makes it easy to swap artwork whenever you like. Make sure the shelves are able to bear the weight, though, and use lighter frames where possible.
Tension rods: These are perfect for hanging lightweight textiles, macramé, or fabric pieces.
Freestanding easels or leaning mirrors: These add height and visual interest without touching the walls at all.
Your walls are prime real estate. Leaving them blank is a missed opportunity to add personality, warmth, and a sense of home — but you can definitely have art and style without having to knock holes in the walls.
2. Good lighting is possible without having to rewire everything
Overhead lighting in rentals is often harsh, poorly positioned, or just not the most aesthetically pleasing. But most renters don't realise how much control they actually have over the lighting, and how much of a difference it makes.
Good lighting changes the mood, functionality, and even the perceived size of a room. And the best part is that it's one of the easiest things to take with you when you move.
These are my favourite easy ways to add layers of light:
Floor and table lamps: Layer different light sources throughout the room instead of relying on a single overhead fixture. Each creates its own pool of light for ambience or for tasks — if you read often, a floor lamp next to the sofa is best. If you’re styling a shelf, table lamps on varying heights will add visual interest and highlight the different vignettes of your shelf.
Plug-in wall sconces: These look built-in but require no wiring. Mount them with adhesive strips or simply drape the cord along the wall using cable clips.
Dimmers on plug-in lamps: Use smart plugs or lamps with built-in dimmers to control brightness and ambience. One of my favourite tips is to have a lamp that dims around bedtime, so my children know it’s time to get ready for bed. You can also program a lamp in the entryway to come on during the evening, so you never come home to a dark doorway.
Warm-toned bulbs: Swap out any cool white bulbs for warm white (2700K–3000K) to instantly make the space feel cosier.
Lighting affects how you feel in a space more than almost anything else. It's worth investing in a few good lamps you love — they'll move with you and improve every home you live in.
3. Rugs define zones (and hide floors you don’t love)
Rental flooring is rarely something to write home about. Whether it's dated tiles, worn carpet, or that ubiquitous laminate, it's often the thing renters complain about most and feel most stuck with.
A well-chosen rug doesn't just cover the floor. It anchors furniture, defines different zones in an open-plan space, and adds texture, colour, and warmth.
What to consider:
Size matters: Go larger than you think. In a living area, all your furniture should sit on the rug, or at least the front legs. A too-small rug makes the room feel disjointed.
Colour: Opt for a neutral shade that blends in with the room if you have furniture that you want to take the spotlight, or a statement rug if you want more flair in the space. What you do in that zone also matters: if it’s just you and your desk, you can afford to have a white rug if you prefer, but a patterned one that hides stains might be a more sensible choice if you have kids who are constantly spilling things.
Easy to clean: Choose materials that can handle spills and foot traffic, especially if you have kids or pets. Flatweave and low-pile rugs are easier to maintain than shag.
Rugs are one of the most effective tools for making a rental feel pulled together. They bring cohesion, comfort, and style without costing too much, and they're completely portable.
4. Consider the layout first
You don't need a whole new furniture set to make a rental work. In fact, most renters already own perfectly good pieces — they're just not arranged in a way that makes the space feel functional or inviting.
I've seen rooms transform just by shifting a sofa away from the wall or turning a dining table to catch more natural light. Layout affects flow, mood, and how much you actually enjoy spending time in a room.
Here’s what you can try:
Pull furniture away from the walls: This creates a more intimate, intentional seating area. In some cases, it can even paradoxically make the room feel larger instead of smaller, because there’s the illusion of more space behind the furniture.
Create conversation zones: Arrange seating so people can see each other without craning their necks.
Use furniture to define areas: In a studio or open-plan space, a bookshelf or sofa can act as a divider between living and sleeping zones.
Consider sightlines: What do you see when you walk in? When you're sitting on the sofa? Arrange things so the view feels calm and appealing.
5. Invest in the things that move with you
One of the biggest mistakes renters make is either spending nothing (because “it's temporary”) or spending on the wrong things, like built-in furniture they can't take with them.
The key is to invest strategically in pieces and upgrades that you'll use in every home, not just this one.
What's worth the investment:
Quality lighting (as mentioned above)
Curtains and curtain rods: These instantly elevate a space and are easy to reinstall elsewhere.
Modular or freestanding storage: Think bookcases, drawer units, or stylish baskets that adapt to different rooms and layouts.
Art and decor: These are the pieces that make a house feel like your home, no matter where you live.
A good mattress and bedding: You spend a third of your life in bed, so this is non-negotiable.
What's not worth it:
Custom joinery or built-ins you can't remove
Expensive renovations that benefit the landlord, not you
Trendy furniture that won't suit your next space
Renting is temporary, but your life isn't. Choose things that support how you want to live, that bring you joy, and that will grow with you. Designing a rented space is all about working with the limitations instead of around them — and discovering that you have more freedom than you think. All you need is a plan and a few clever swaps.
If you're moving into a new rental and want help making it work beautifully (without losing your deposit), I'd love to help. Let's create a space you'll actually love coming home to.
