A UK Renter Added Tons of Bold Color and Print to Her 500-Square-Foot Semi-Detached House

Name: Maisie, partner, 9-week-old daughter, and a crazy cat, Pablo
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Type of home: Apartment
Size: 500 square feet
Years lived in: 3 years, renting

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: I live in a rented one-bed apartment with my partner, 9-week-old daughter, and our crazy cat, Pablo. We live on the ground floor of a converted semi-detached house in Birmingham, UK. We have our own private garden. Over the three years we have lived here, I have transformed our home with renter-friendly decor solutions in my eclectic and maximalist style.

I’m very creative, hands-on, and love a bargain, and it’s totally reflected within my interiors through my charity shop upcycles, maximalist prints and colors, and budget-friendly decor hacks.

What is your favorite room and why? My living room. It’s where I spend most of my time relaxing or entertaining guests. I love how big the room is and how tall the ceilings are. I have accentuated the size of the room by changing the color of the dado rail to black (which I will paint back when we leave the apartment). I also love the pattern and color clashes against the monochrome palette that I have created with renter-friendly products like black washi tape and contact paper on the fireplace, as well as a monochrome chevron rug. I also love the faux detailed panel walls either side of the fire place, which were created using washing tape and can easily be removed when we leave the apartment. I have used bold and graphic prints to dress the walls as an alternative to wallpaper or paint too.

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? My last purchase for my home was my bargain 99p dresser that I got off eBay and upcycled!

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Maximalist, Eclectic, Graphic, Budget, Neon

Any advice for creating a home you love? Don’t be afraid to use color and pattern! Even if you are renting, you can add color and pattern with soft furnishings, prints, and furniture without committing to painting or wallpapering, and that way, you’re still putting your own unique spin on your rental home.

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

Share Your Style: House Tour & House Call Submission Form