Makeover manual
Six ways to freshen a rented flat without big work
3 min read
Small paint jobs that make a rented flat feel new, without touching anything the landlord would mind.
One accent wall
You do not need to paint the whole flat. Pick one wall, usually the one behind the sofa or the bed, and give it a colour you love. The rest stays as it is. One wall takes a few hours and a small tin of interior emulsion. When you move out, one wall is easy to paint back.
Washable paint
In a rented flat, marks on the wall can cost you your deposit. Choose a washable interior emulsion for the living room and the children's room. Finger marks, tea splashes and pencil lines can then be wiped with a damp cloth instead of being painted over. Ask us which interior emulsion suits a wipe-clean wall.
Putty for small cracks
Hairline cracks and nail holes make a flat look older than it is. You can fix them yourself. Buy a small pack of wall putty, fill each crack with a putty knife, let it dry, and sand it smooth. Then touch up with the wall colour. No mason is needed for small jobs like this.
Doors and grills with enamel
Old doors and rusty window grills pull the whole flat down. A coat of enamel changes that in a weekend. Clean the surface, rub off loose rust and flaking paint, apply a metal primer on the grills, and then brush on the enamel. One fresh colour on all doors and grills makes the flat feel cared for.
Balcony floor
A balcony floor with old stains is easy to forget and easy to fix. Sweep it, wash it with soap and water, and let it dry fully in the sun. Then apply a floor coating made for outdoor use in a plain grey or terracotta shade. A clean, even floor makes even a tiny balcony feel like a proper sitting spot.
Light shades in small rooms
Rented flats often have small rooms with one window. Dark colours make them feel tighter. Stick to light shades such as off-white, cream, pale yellow or light grey on most walls. They bounce the light around and make the room feel open. Save any strong colour for a single wall or a cupboard door.
Ask us at the shop
Renting does not mean living with dull walls. Bring a photo of your flat to our shop in Amravati or send it on WhatsApp, and tell us what the landlord allows. We will suggest small jobs, the right putty, primer and emulsion for each one, and a colour that will be easy to paint back later. The advice is free.
