Biophilic Design: 5 Easy Decor Tips for Renters

Add colour and charm to your rental home with an earthy, cottage style refresh.

Biophilia is the love of living things and nature that some people believe humans are born with. (Cambridge Dictionary)

Renters often feel limited when decorating – but for the modern renter, biophilic design, rich earth tones and cottage details offer endless inspiration. Biophilic living is all about striking the perfect balance between human world and the natural world creating a harmonious balance that feels both timeless and fresh.

In this post, I’ll share easy, renter safe ways to bring colour, botanical beauty and traditional charm into your space that will inspire you to transform your rental home into an inspired and cosy space.

Here are 5 Biophilic and Colourful Decorating Ideas for Renters

1. Embrace Earthy Colour Accents with Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

Landlords are notorious for choosing plain whites and creams to decorate rental properties – and that’s if you’re lucky! Many years ago my husband and I lived in a rental property with a bright yellow living room that did not match our taste at all. Fortunately for renters in 2025 peel-and-stick wallpapers have revolutionsed the rental decorating market! Choose deep greens, terracotta or dusty blues as feature walls or on your kitchen backsplash. Botanical and vintage floral prints are perfect for renters and are also easily reversible when it comes time to move out. Be sure to patch test your surface before applying a large panel of peel-and-stick wallpaper, particularly on fibrous surfaces like dry wall.

sofa with botanical wall paper — *‘Nola’ peel-and-stick wallpaper* – *http://www.peelandpaper.co.uk*

I really like this ‘Nola’ pastel green botanical peel-and-stick wallpaper from Peel and Paper. I also like ‘Nova’ and here it is being modelled by my unsightly stainless steel kitchen backsplash:

*‘Nova’ peel-and-stick wallpaper – http://www.peelandpaper.co.uk*

2. Real or Faux Greenery Everywhere

Pop down to your local garden centre, or even just to your supermarket, and get yourself some easy care houseplants. Potted herbs from the supermarket are low maintenance, low effort and perfect for brightening up a dull windowsill. There’s nothing like having fresh basil and thyme on hand!

A Peace Lily or a Snake Plant will look beautiful perched on a bathroom windowsill or on top of the toilet cistern, and having plants in wet rooms can help with mould problems.

Cacti and succulents are also super cute, great for compact spaces and will practically take care of themselves – my children have had a couple of very neglected succulents and cacti for almost five years and miraculously they’re still alive!

If you’re looking to make a bold statement and you have a larger space to fill, a monstera plant could be right for you.

Monstera plant in grey pot — Monstera Deliciosa *image credit: http://www.ourhouseplants.com*

If plant maintenance is really not your thing then do consider opting for some good-quality faux plants and flowers to brighten up your house. These days many of the faux plants on the market look just as good as the real thing, and Amazon has lots of cheap but good quality faux plants, such as these mini faux lavender plants in rustic pots.

lavender mini pots — *image credit: http://www.amazon.co.uk*

Also do consider consulting your local florist about a bespoke faux flower arrangement. It is probably cheaper than you think it is, and certainly it is cheaper and less fuss than buying fresh flowers every week. Here is a beautiful example of a bespoke faux flower arrangement made especially for me by Honeybee Floral Creations, in a vintage Wedgewood mantle vase that belonged to my husband’s grandmother. I love roses and lavender too, so I chose white roses for a softer look as I display this vase in my bedroom. You can find this exact vintage mantle vase and other similar types on eBay or Facebook marketplace

faux rose and lavender arrangement in vintage wedgewood mantle vase

3. Layer Patterns in Gingham, Floral & Texture

Mix gingham, florals and texture-rich throws or pillows for a soft maximalist cottage-core vibe – think “pattern drenching” – for a vibe look that’s bold yet curated. Start with small textiles like cushions and throws so you can adjust the balance of your home and bring your vision together one piece at a time.

gingham chair in white and patterned room with side table and flowers — *image credit: Better Homes & Gardens http://www.bhg.com*

In this delightful and inviting sitting area the clashing patterns are pulled together beautifully and harmoniously with a singular blue and white colour scheme, and the flower shaped gold side table simultaneously complements the colour scheme and provides a point of interest to break up the room. This look could be effortlessly recreated in a rental home with furniture you already own, by upgrading sofa and cushion covers and using peel-and-stick wallpaper.

*image credit: Newbury Homes http://www.newbury-home.com*

Again, the clashing patterns in this living room are effortlessly pulled together with a unifying colour scheme, this time using blue, white and red. Using the colour theory ‘unexpected red’, which involves adding red to a colour scheme in a way that doesn’t seem like it would match, actually lifts the room and enhances the overall aesthetic of the space. ‘Unexpected red’ is pulled off beautifully in this space as it pairs so well with the blue and white furnishings without dominating. The cane coffee table also brings the room together in unexpected ways by adding a pop of mid-century kitsch next to traditional English cottage style furniture and textiles. This effect creates a second interesting focal point aside from the large art work and keeps the eye moving about the room. As well, the coffee table colour-matches with the yellows and oranges in the artwork in a way that draws the colours out into the room almost brings the birds and plants in the artwork to life. The texture of the woven cane on the table brings lightness, dimension and warmth to the otherwise cool colour scheme. This living room is a perfect example of cool and warm colours co-existing harmoniously in one space. Landlord’s the world over favour stark white walls in rental properties because it (usually) brightens the space, has mass appeal and is cheap and easy to maintain. This living room is a brilliant example of how tenants can make having boring, plain, stark white walls work in their favour by getting creative with furniture and textiles.

4. Choose Multifunctional Furniture with Natural Materials

When decorating a rental home, opt for tables, seating and storage benches that are made with natural materials like wood, rattan and cane. Wood is hard wearing and will last a life time which is not only good for your wallet, but good for the environment too. An antique or farmhouse dining table is the most obvious go-to piece for a traditional style home. My mantra when shopping for antiques is – do I love it, is it within budget, can I have it delivered to my house for a reasonable price. The effort to find the perfect antique is really worth it, as the end result is acquiring a much loved, one-off piece of furniture that will last a lifetime. Alternatively, there are many store-bought furniture options available from expensive designer stores to Ikea. When it comes to furniture, buy natural materials where possible and also buy the best that you can afford.

*image credit: Wyrmwood http://www.wyrmwoodgaming.com*

A modular wood dining table is an ideal investment piece for renters because it is a piece that will work hard in a home where space is at a premium. No matter how big your house, there is never enough space! If you have children and they’re anything like mine, you will find that they tend to migrate to communal areas of the house to play cards and boardgames, do a puzzle or create some funky art together. This gorgeous wood table is an absolute game changer in my opinion! It gives both a beautiful and functional space for dining and entertaining as well as a place for family activities without having to pack everything away in time for dinner. The hexagonal shape is different and interesting, but these types of table are also available in rectangular or round depending on your personal preference and the shape of your room.

Ikea always seems to have exactly what I’m looking for at a reasonable price, and this rattan storage bench is no exception. The basket material provides cottage-core mixed with mid-century style warmth, and also the element of practicality can never be overlooked. I never have enough space now matter how big my house is, and I always favour furniture where I can stuff bits and pieces out of the way. Style this storage bench at the end of the bed for tucking away out of season linens and pillows, or pop it in the entry way as a convenient place to stash gloves and scarves.

5. Layer Lighting and Metallic Accent Decor

Battery operated and plug in portable lighting are absolutely having a moment, and as a renter I am here for it! Amazon has a million different varieties of renter-friendly lighting options that an be stuck to the wall using Command strips, and the best part is that renters can easily pack them up when moving. Vintage lamps are also very useful and an inexpensive option for renters (lamps are expensive!!) so be sure to scour your local antique shops and flea markets for unexpected bargains. Antique or vintage-style mirrors will also create a soft and elegant look to your space while also being useful to bounce the light around the room to create a soft and cosy glow.

Give your rental home a literal glow up with lamps and lighting in unexpected places like the kitchen. Lamps can be used to add extra task lighting during the day and to create a cosy, soft glow in the evening without having to hardwire into the electrical system. Choose lighting and mirrors with metallic elements to bring a harder element to your soft, traditional interiors.

When styled well, rental homes can feel intentional, vibrant and timeless without costing a fortune and causing damage to the landlord’s property. Earthy colours, botanical touches, pattern layering and smart furniture choices let you create a space that’s uniquely yours – all without permanently altering it.

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