How to Style a Cosy, Timeless Home Without Losing Your Deposit
Discover 2025’s top rental-friendly home decor trends – from chateau-core charm to multifunctional biophilic design. Learn how to make your leased apartment or house feel timeless, cosy and completely your own.
If you rent your home, you’ve probably been told a hundred times what you can’t do – no painting, no drilling, no major renovations. But in 2025, the good news is that style is more flexible than ever and there are many products on the market that allow tenants to personalise their rental home in easily reversible ways. Rising home decor trends are all about personal expression, sustainability and easy updates – making them perfect for renters.
Tenants have the right to make rental properties into a home, and in 2025 more people than ever are priced out of owning a home. Don’t wait to own a house before bringing your own personalised touch to your home. Expensive renovations are not always the answer – believe me! My husband and I have been both renters and home owners, and we have found that making expensive alterations to a property does not always make it more livable, and will not always add monetary value. A home is made with the small details – furniture, furnishings, artwork and decor.
Whether your taste leans toward romantic cottage charm, or maximalist vintage flair, these trends can help you create a space you love without risking your deposit.
1. Chateau-core – French Cottage Elegance
The chateau-core trend brings soft romance to your rental home: think pastel florals, toiles, antique-style mirrors and warm lighting.
- Use peel-and-stick wallpaper for a statement wall without damaging paint
- Layer lace curtains over your existing blinds or curtains using a double curtain rod, to create a soft flowy look. You will also benefit from having light and privacy at the same time.
- Swap standard light fixtures for thrifted chandeliers and complement existing lighting with plug in lamps or battery operated wall sconces.
2. Cottage Flow – Nature Inspired Charm
Cottage Flow is the serene cousin of the bolder “City Glow” trend – focusing on natural textures, mossy greens and wood tones.
- Bring in faux or real plants for a biophilic touch.
- Use woven baskets for storage that doubles as decor.
- Add removable window film to soften light and create privacy.
3. Rococo Revival – Playful, Ornate Maximilism
Rococo Revival is all about opulence in small doses – perfect for renters wanting a curated, luxe feel.
- Use ornate gold frames with removable hooks for art and mirrors.
- Layer pastel cushions and draped throws on neutral sofas.
- Incorporate vintage-inspired rugs to cover standard flooring without adhesives.
4. Sustainable and Personalised Styling
Eco friendly and budget-conscious, this trend thrives on up-cycling, thrifting and hand-made pieces.
- Refinish a vintage dresser with removable contact paper.
- Visit local antique shops or search online marketplaces for kitschy ceramics and pottery for a unique touch.
- Use secondhand wooden trays to corral clutter stylishly.
5. Biophilic & Multifunctional Design
Renters need their furniture to work harder – and 2025 is leaning into pieces that combine beauty and utility.
- Try a storage ottoman as both seating and hidden storage.
- Add slim, foldable desks that double as console tables.
- Use hanging planters or wall mounted ledges to bring nature indoors without taking up floor space.
Decorating a rental home doesn’t mean settling for bland. These 2025 trends prove that you can embrace personality, tradition and comfort without breaking your rental lease terms. The key is renter-safe upgrades – items that are easy to stall, pack into a moving truck and are timelessly stylish.
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