Sprucing up your home with affordable art

If you’re a London tenant renting a furnished property, you will often have the basics covered; typically a sofa, bed, dining table and a couple of storage units usually come as standard. It’s great to have these items already in the property you’re renting, but the chances are, you will want to make it as homely as possible without breaking the bank whilst doing so. In this blog, we look to how to add the personal touch to your rental property.

Understand what you can and cannot change

Of course, before you get too excited about completely redecorating your living space, it’s important to understand what you can and cannot do to the interior of your property. The best place to look for this information is your tenancy agreement and rental contract which will outline what is allowed. Understandably most landlords limit what can be done in their property to avoid any damages so using items such as blu tack and sellotape should always be avoided as they can leave marks on the wall or tear the wallpaper. If you would like to hang art or photo frames on your walls, make sure to use commercial hooks as long as they don’t result in permanent damage. You will be liable for any damage caused to the property and could face the issue of losing your deposit. Most landlords are reasonable and want to accommodate tenants, so as long as you’re sensible, there shouldn’t be any issues. Our property managers can advise further on what’s included in your tenancy agreement.

What to buy?

Now that you know what you can and can’t do regarding wall furnishings, the next question is: where to get the art from and what’s the budget? An excellent place to start is at the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea. Running from the 12^th of March to the 15th, the event is an excellent way to discover interesting and stylish art pieces to personalise your home. There are over 100 galleries with 1,100 different artists on show, displaying their unique artworks, with pieces starting from as little as £100 rising to £5,000. The best part about the art fair (other than the relatively cheap prices) is that you don’t need to be an expert to spot a good piece. The event prides itself on having so many different styles and collections; it’s all about what matches your personal taste. Picking up something from The Affordable Art Fair can add a touch of class to your home that separates the style from the usual identikit collections that you often find in most rental properties.

Art on a budget

Finding art that’s not too expensive can be a good solution for tenants who are staying in London on secondment. You may only be renting your property for a year or less but still want to give it a homely feel without spending too much money. If you’re going to spend the next four or five years moving around, you may not wish to transport a large number of pieces that you accumulate over time. By purchasing something that’s not too expensive, you can give your home some individual style, without being too concerned if you decide to leave it in the property for new tenants to admire when you depart.

Complementary styles

Buying art is an emotionally-led activity and different personalities suit different genres. If you have a property in the City you may want to find something modern and chic that matches the contemporary buildings you often find in the area. Alternatively, if you’re living in the leafy area of Hampstead village, you may prefer to go for something more classic, fitting in with the country-style vibe. Whatever style you choose, make sure it’s something you admire every day! As William Morris once said “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” We wholeheartedly agree.

The Affordable Art Fair takes place at Battersea Park between 12^th and 15^th of March, with tickets prices starting at £10. If you happen to be looking for a new rental property in Battersea or nearby, contact our Imperial Wharf branch or check out our available property listing here.