Let's not get too sad about it,but the is pretty dire at the moment.You might have noticed.It's like the worst financial collapse since the'20s.It's pretty big news.
And as a result,more people are renting rather than buying.A recent MoneySupermarket.com study confirmed as such,finding that 40 per cent of Brits are planning to continue renting until they can afford to buy.With the average age house hunters presume they'll be able to purchase a home being 37,it means more people are answering to landlords for longer than ever before.
Does that mean those people have to wait until they hit the grand old age of 37 before they are allowed to decorate?Not according to Grant Gibson,no.The San Fransciso-based designer recently told the Architectural Digest his top tips for renovating a rental.
"With a rental,you have to think of how you spend money in a different way,"said Gibson."I had had some thoughts of changing the Formica countertops in my kitchen to marble,but I realised it wasn't the best use of my money."
It's important to bear in mind that investing in things you can transport-rather than cupboards and shelves that may improve a property's value-are more important in a rental flat or home.And modern ceiling lights are a prime example of this-easily installed to create a centrepiece in any room,they can be transported to reinvent your dream home once you can afford to buy it.
Indeed,Gibson attests that minor changes make the biggest impact.A rental occupier himself,he edited the plush furnishings in his living room by losing some of the clutter and replacing the original dark,Oriental-style carpet with a light sea-grass rug for a fresh new look.
For the bedroom,plain walls were complemented with contemporary art-including a framed paint splash image created by a client's five-year-old daughter.
Gibson's top tip for renters?Splurge on the paint,whether it's for walls or accessories such as bookcases."A couple of gallons of good paints doesn't break the bank,"he said.
