Getting a foot on the property ladder is becoming increasingly difficult, especially for young professionals embarking on a new career. That’s why many people nowadays seek rental homes as a first step.

Most of us have, at one time, shared a flat or rented a property and a good proportion of families still do. After all, it can be a highly flexible and cost-effective way of living, especially if your profession is more casual, where you may need to move location at short notice.

One of the disadvantages of renting a home is the fact that you are unable to make any wide-reaching changes to the layout or the décor. Many rented homes come with beige carpets and white walls throughout, simply to appeal to the widest range of potential tenants.

However, this shouldn’t leave you feeling downhearted. There are many simple ways you can add a personal touch to your house or flat, without having to spend too much or make any permanent changes.

Your bathroom is one of the most important rooms in any rental. It’s the place you begin each day and where you go to relax, unwind and wash away those stresses and strains. So, let’s begin in your smallest room and make some big changes for less than you’d think.

Figure out your style

The very first thing you need to figure out is the stylistic direction you’ll be taking with your bathroom. If you’re renting a period property, it’s highly likely the bathroom will reflect this too with a more traditional style décor.

Most modern rental homes will come with a modern or contemporary style bathroom, containing simple forms, clean lines and unfussy fixtures.

It’s important to work out to understand the style, as it will help you choose any new products you wish to buy.

Add a splash of colour

A lick of paint can do wonders for any space in your home, not least your bathroom. Most modern bathrooms will come with a simple white colour scheme, perhaps with a few neutral shades thrown in for good measure. As long as your landlord is happy, you can transform your interiors with colours that reflect your personality.

Despite the negative connotations, grey is a highly versatile colour which works well in both contemporary and traditional settings, and you’ll find plenty of shades to choose from. Aside from grey, why not consider other on-trend colours such as Spiced Honey (named Dulux colour of the year for 2019) or Spring Green?

Plant some seeds of inspiration

With many of us heading to the city for a living, outdoors space can come at a premium, especially with rental properties. That’s why home interiors are getting greener, with houseplant sales soaring in recent years.

Your bathroom is the perfect space for certain plants to thrive, creating an oasis of calm in the heart of your home. Spider plants, Bamboo, Ferns and even Ivy are incredibly easy to maintain, thriving in warm and humid conditions, and can be bought for next to nothing in your local garden centre or supermarket.

Add the final touches

Starting with the more functional items around your bathroom, accessories can be used to highlight and accentuate your space. Look out for coordinated accessory sets which work well with your chosen style and colour scheme and pick out some luxurious towels which also complement your palette.

Taking things a step further, why not seek out some beautiful art prints to liven up your walls or create your own personal display with treasured possessions from your travels.

Keep things clear of clutter

Unless you’ve rented the most magnificent of mansions, chances are your bathroom will be short on space. This can often result in clutter caused by all manner of toiletries, lotions and potions, and nowhere to put them all.

If this is the case, why not add some storage space?. You can achieve this in a number of creative ways, without having to crack open the piggy bank.

Simple wooden boxes offer a stylish place to stick soaps, shampoos and shower gels, and hooks on the inside of a cabinet door will offer a handy place to hang hair straighteners. Ladder storage is really simple to install, providing additional shelving without having to go to too much effort.

As these ideas will attest, adding character to your rented bathroom can be done on a shoestring budget, helping you turn a house or flat into a home.

CreditLadder can help you improve your credit score

If you want to improve your credit position by reporting your rent payments, CreditLadder is the only way to improve your credit score and position across all four of the main Credit Reference Agencies in the UK, namely Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Crediva. Building up a high credit score has a lot of benefits, including helping you access finance at better rates - this can also help save you money.

CreditLadder also runs a free mortgage application service in partnership with Tembo which will tell you how much you could borrow.

Remember the information provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be considered as advice.