Living in a rental property has a lot of pluses – got a leaky roof or a storm-flattened fence? Just call your landlord!
But, there’s also the drawback of needing permission to make big changes and maybe having to cover the costs.
The solution? Style your space with portable projects that won’t break the bank, and we’ve got a few for you to try.
1. Wall-panelled arches
Style your space from the ground up. An oversized area rug covers up not-so-nice flooring, and swap boring blinds for billowing white sheers to give your room a fuss- free facelift. Instantly bring life to any space with plants and blooms, and if you’re starting from a base of white and neutrals for floors, walls and furniture, bring in the fun – and colour – with soft furnishings, accessories and works of art like these DIY arches and pictures. Easy!
Painted panels are a terrific way to add colour without painting your walls, and you can inject patterns into your living space with painted arches. Made from budget-friendly MDF, they are a cross between wallpaper and a feature wall.
How to make colourful wall arches
Materials:
- 2440 x 1220 x 9mm MDF panels (3)
- Primer and acrylic paint in green and blue
- 89 x 19mm x 1.8m DAR pine (3)
Step 1
Cut panels to measure 800mm wide with a circular saw. Draw a line across each panel 600mm from top. Hammer a nail onto each panel, centred on this line. Attach 1 end of a 400mm length of string to nail and the other to pencil. Use pencil to scribe an arc across panel top. Apply primer to each panel using a roller, leave to dry.
Step 2
Apply a coat of green paint to each panel using a roller, leave to dry. Use tape measure to mark points in pencil 80mm apart across panels. Repeat marks down length of panels. Draw vertical lines to join marked points using a straightedge. Apply 2 strips of painter’s tape within marked lines of every second section. TIP Using 36mm wide tape means you only have a little gap between strips.
Step 3
Using a small roller, apply blue paint to first masked off section, then third and so on across the panel. Leave to dry. Pull off painter’s tape on an angle while paint is still tacky, taking care not to smudge paint. Leave to dry. Attach battens to back of panels flush with base and 200mm from the top using PVA glue. Leave glue to set. Use hanging strips on battens to secure arches to wall, evenly spaced.
2. Modular banquette seating
Get the best of both worlds with this modular storage-on-wheels DIY project which doubles as banquette seating. You can hide your linen, gym bag, beach towels or kids toys under the life-off tops and roll it out as seating when you have guests.
It’s simple to make, all you need is a flatpack of kitchen wall cabinets to create the seats, and moulding as a feature (and also hide the screws). A timber top turns the cabinets into benches and castors make them mobile, so they’re perfect for any get togethers!
Here’s how you can create it yourself.
How to make banquette seating
Materials:
- 600mm flatpack slimline wall cabinets (2)
- 900mm flatpack slimline cabinets (2)
- 66 x 11mm x 5.4m white primed pine moulding (4)
- Acrylic paint in white
- Castors (16)
- 1800 x 405 x 18mm timber panel (2)
Step 1
Assemble all flatpack cabinets following manufacturer’s instructions and using supplied screws. Mark moulding, then use a saw to cut four 622mm long sides, four 922mm long sides, eight 300mm short sides, and 32 uprights 234mm long. Apply PVA glue to long sides and attach to cabinets, then glue and attach short sides in between long sides. Use painter’s tape to hold in place until glue sets.
Step 2
Apply glue to uprights and position flush with ends of long sides, then add uprights to sides to form a butt joint. Use painter’s tape to hold in place until glue sets. Apply 2 coats of paint to trim using a roller, leaving to dry after each coat. Turn cabinets over and secure castors to each corner using supplied screws. Put 2 brake castors on the same side.
Step 3
Cut timber panels into four 650mm and four 950mm lengths for the benchtops. Sand cut edges smooth. Apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane, if desired, to seal the timber. Cut 8 lid stoppers to 30mm long from moulding. Test fit to check stoppers fit inside cabinet, trimming if needed. Secure stoppers to underside of lid using PVA glue. Let glue set.
