Rented Homes: Portable Design Fixes to Pretty Up Your Outside Space
Make the outside space of your rented home welcoming with clever design touches you can take with you when you move
With favourite furniture, a little imagination and perhaps a lick of paint, it’s possible to transform the interior of almost any rented property. But how can you improve the garden or patio without spending money on plants that will still be in the ground long after you have moved on? Check out these clever design ideas, that’s how! From essential potted plants to more off-the-wall solutions, these tricks and tips are ideal for anyone renting. And with spring on the way, there has never been a better time to tweak your terrace and improve your patio, even if you’re moving out in a few months’ time.
Hang paper lanterns
Often, objects designed for indoors work just as beautifully outside. Inexpensive paper lampshades look festive and pretty hung informally around a garden. Just remember to bring them in if it looks like rain.
Often, objects designed for indoors work just as beautifully outside. Inexpensive paper lampshades look festive and pretty hung informally around a garden. Just remember to bring them in if it looks like rain.
Create an installation
If you have trees in the garden, make use of them by hanging pretty or interesting items from the branches. Try wirework plant holders, like these, or have fun gathering finds from the seashore if you’re in a coastal spot, or shapely branches and seed cones if you’re near the woods.
If you have trees in the garden, make use of them by hanging pretty or interesting items from the branches. Try wirework plant holders, like these, or have fun gathering finds from the seashore if you’re in a coastal spot, or shapely branches and seed cones if you’re near the woods.
Put up a mirror
Whether hung inside or out, mirrors are brilliant for increasing the feeling of space and creating interesting reflections. When hanging them up outside, keep them tucked near to the house wall or hung low, to prevent birds flying into them.
See more ways to use mirrors creatively in the garden
Whether hung inside or out, mirrors are brilliant for increasing the feeling of space and creating interesting reflections. When hanging them up outside, keep them tucked near to the house wall or hung low, to prevent birds flying into them.
See more ways to use mirrors creatively in the garden
Pot on
Pots and planters are an obvious choice for greening-up a garden you don’t own. You can take them with you when you move, and also move them around, which is helpful when space is tight. Think carefully about what you plant: bright annuals look pretty, but evergreen shrubs will provide colour and depth throughout the year.
Perk up your patio with these ideas
Pots and planters are an obvious choice for greening-up a garden you don’t own. You can take them with you when you move, and also move them around, which is helpful when space is tight. Think carefully about what you plant: bright annuals look pretty, but evergreen shrubs will provide colour and depth throughout the year.
Perk up your patio with these ideas
Pick sizable planters
Don’t just pot up small plants – you might be surprised by the huge range of shrubs and trees that can flourish in a planter, rather than the ground. So think beyond the humble geranium and invest in a large planter that can hold something green on a grand scale.
Here, an olive tree brings height and structure while also concealing a stretch of garden wall. The lower-growing lavender, meanwhile, introduces colour and scent to this outside space.
Don’t just pot up small plants – you might be surprised by the huge range of shrubs and trees that can flourish in a planter, rather than the ground. So think beyond the humble geranium and invest in a large planter that can hold something green on a grand scale.
Here, an olive tree brings height and structure while also concealing a stretch of garden wall. The lower-growing lavender, meanwhile, introduces colour and scent to this outside space.
Transform a boundary
The exterior space adjoining a rental home may be on the small side and defined by walls and fencing. If so, treat those big, plain expanses as your own private gallery wall, and hang a whole stretch of witty, decorative pieces on it, from signs and artworks to empty picture frames.
The exterior space adjoining a rental home may be on the small side and defined by walls and fencing. If so, treat those big, plain expanses as your own private gallery wall, and hang a whole stretch of witty, decorative pieces on it, from signs and artworks to empty picture frames.
Go up the wall
Climbing plants such as clematis are great for concealing an unimpressive wall, but a portable alternative to a climber is the wall-mounted pot. These simple terracotta pots slot into decorative iron brackets, fixed to the brick wall. The pots are planted with herbs and are handily close to the kitchen.
Climbing plants such as clematis are great for concealing an unimpressive wall, but a portable alternative to a climber is the wall-mounted pot. These simple terracotta pots slot into decorative iron brackets, fixed to the brick wall. The pots are planted with herbs and are handily close to the kitchen.
Take advantage of vintage
Scouring car-boot sales and markets for vintage indoor furniture that can be used outside is an inexpensive and easy way to quickly furnish an exterior space. You can take it all with you when you leave, too, and if the furniture is battered anyway, you can also leave it outside. Bunting and a colourful tablecloth are further cheap-as-chips additions that bring colour to a terrace – no plants required!
TELL US…
Do you have any design tips or ideas for improving a rented outdoor space? Share them in the Comments below.
Scouring car-boot sales and markets for vintage indoor furniture that can be used outside is an inexpensive and easy way to quickly furnish an exterior space. You can take it all with you when you leave, too, and if the furniture is battered anyway, you can also leave it outside. Bunting and a colourful tablecloth are further cheap-as-chips additions that bring colour to a terrace – no plants required!
TELL US…
Do you have any design tips or ideas for improving a rented outdoor space? Share them in the Comments below.
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While a priceless oil painting is definitely not the right decoration for a garden fence or wall, all kinds of other artworks could be displayed outside. Wood carvings, metal signs and etched glass might all take a turn as a piece of exterior art.