What Makes a Rental Apartment Truly Feel Like Home

What Makes a Rental Apartment Truly Feel Like Home

20th May 2025

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Renting an apartment comes with several advantages, such as lower upfront costs and the flexibility to move. However, it can also feel unfamiliar and strange, unlike a home. Thankfully, there are ways to spruce up your rental apartment in small but meaningful ways to make it more homely and in sync with who you are.

At places like Dolphin Square, an estate of private flats in London, residents often find that thoughtful personalisation transforms a rental into a welcoming, lived-in space. From creating cosy corners and adding rugs to avant-garde or contemporary art pieces, you can style your space and create a sense of belonging.

A pro-renting tip is to choose properties professionally overseen by block management in Barking or central London. These are often well-maintained and run smoothly, making for a stress-free and pleasant home environment.

In this article, we’ll be discussing a few ways you can make your rental apartment truly feel like a home.

1. Bring in Nature

Adding fresh, lush green plants to your apartment can instantly bring a breath of fresh air, quite literally. This enlivens your space with a feeling of growth, excitement and life in a transformative way. They’re natural air purifiers and can enhance your mood and your apartment’s appearance.

Indoor plants are a great way to incorporate greenery into your space. They’re easier to maintain, yet add a nice touch. If plants are not your thing, consider adding fresh flowers in glass vases around your apartment. These can add colour and brightness, while making it aesthetically pleasing for your eyes.

You can also get creative with floral arrangements for a more stylish look by choosing a cosy corner nook and making an elaborate display. For a more sustainable option, consider using fake silk flowers in ceramic vases to add a rich yet sophisticated touch.

What Makes a Rental Apartment Truly Feel Like Home

2. Choose a Colour Palette

If you go by colour psychology principles, you’ll realise how colours can influence our moods and behaviour in significant ways. Pay attention to colours that relax you and incorporate them into your apartment. This is an effective way to infuse some contrast and life into an otherwise neutral space.

You don’t necessarily have to paint your walls anew. Instead, try incorporating colour through decor accents, wall art, or even rugs. Even if you prefer neutral colours, you can bring them to life by choosing richer shades like a rich caramel, a deep navy or creamy ivory. Or you could use pops of bright colour like red, burgundy or cerulean blue to add a contemporary yet elegant feel.

Another reason why you should consider incorporating a colour palette to work with is how colour makes a room feel. Lighter colours can make your apartment look more spacious, roomy and airy, while darker shades could balance wider spaces. Adding colours can add depth and make your rental apartment feel more grounded yet inviting. 

3. Personalise Your Furniture

Furniture can make a huge difference to your living space. Rental apartments benefit from practical yet functional pieces that elevate your space. This can make life much easier, especially with modular furniture, which can be used in numerous ways. Whether that’s a dining table that can double up as a work desk or a coffee table that can be used for storage, you have several options.

Personalising your furniture or choosing functional furniture is more than just aesthetics and style. It’s a practical way to align your living space with your apartment’s floor plan. This can greatly improve how your space is utilised. If you’re not keen on changing or buying new furniture for your apartment, you can always add personal touches. 

Consider adding throws for your couch or cushions in colours that match your apartment. These small touches can make your rental apartment feel more comfortable and homely with minimal effort.

What Makes a Rental Apartment Truly Feel Like Home

4. Connect with Your Community

Making your rental apartment truly feel like a home requires you to look beyond your physical space. If you’re looking to cultivate a sense of belonging, you should consider connecting with your local community. From getting to know your neighbours to exploring local bookshops or finding your favourite cafe, you can explore your neighbourhood.

This can help you ease into your community and make new connections and also add a sense of community, excitement and adventure to your lifestyle. You’ll feel energised by these new connections and feel a sense of belonging in this new space while feeling more at home.

If you’re unsure of how to start, consider joining the local gym, yoga or a hobby class. A daily visit to your local cafe can also kickstart conversations and be a great way to get to know folks in your community. Engaging with them routinely will make you feel more secure and at ease in your new apartment.

Conclusion

You can create a beautiful and inviting atmosphere with a few small touches. This can make all the difference in making your rental apartment feel more homely and grounded. While you don’t need to go all out on a renovation spree or spend lots of money to achieve this, adding a few personal touches can transform your space.

We hope this article has helped you with tips to give your rental space a more homely feel.

Image Credit: Deposit Photos

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