How to decorate a rented property

If you have a question for Luke about design and stylish living, email him at lukeedward.hall@ft.com. Follow him on Instagram @lukeedwardhall

My partner and I have just moved into a delightful two-bedroom flat on a garden square in London. We had lofty dreams of decorating with Regency furniture to suit its handsome exterior. However, unbeknown to us, our landlord has covered the floors with a silver-grey carpet and painted the walls in brilliant white. Have you any advice on decorating against a backdrop that doesn’t feel as though it fits, but that we can’t change?

What a pain! Why some landlords feel the need to reduce an interior, particularly one belonging to a historic building, to a shaming, soulless white box is a mystery. And that type of silver-grey carpet — I know just the sort you mean — well, the less said about this, the better.

I’d begin with this carpet — if you certainly can’t remove it for the duration of your lease (and I’d try asking, just in case), you’ll need to cover it up. Consider the seagrass squares I have mentioned previously in this column: they come as 30cm x 30cm panels that are sewn together and so can be configured to fit most spaces.

In your large rooms cover up as much as possible of the carpet with big rugs: simple sisal ones, like those made by Alternative Flooring, would work well. You could layer other more colourful and patterned rugs on top of these to detract further from the carpet.

As for the walls, might your landlord be open to a paint job? Even if colour is off-limits, they might be sympathetic towards you repainting the walls a less institutional shade than brilliant white. Try convincing them that a softer white will be more suitable for the property (and your general wellbeing). Edward Bulmer’s Fair White, for example, would provide you with a bright but still neutral backdrop.

In regards to furniture, focus on statement pieces that can make the journey with you when you decide to move on: a good dining table, a comfortable sofa.

My current favourite sofa on the market might just be Hay’s new Arbour model, which comes in a very pleasing off-white fabric and wine-red lacquered beech frame. To my eye its shape feels very Conran in the 1960s, which is absolutely a good thing.

The interiors brand Oka allows you to choose from a range of four smart sofa models: you select your size and fabric, as well as cover options. I like its Beale design — its clean lines give it an elegant, contemporary look that would work well in all kinds of spaces, including a traditional flat. I’d go for the option of a slip cover. I love a breezy slip cover.

If you want to stick with those Regency dreams, something more formal would be interesting and appropriate: I noticed recently an English sofa from 1820 for sale via 1stdibs that now resides in America. Its shape could provide good inspiration, and I love its covering of raspberry silk moire. A fabric like this would certainly wake up plain white walls.

Antiques, of course, will add character to your flat. Tradchap, run by the Somerset-based dealer Jack Laver Brister, sells mostly via Instagram and always has interesting and well-priced pieces on offer. Chintz curtains and panels seem to be a speciality of his — you may not want to spend a lot of money on curtains because you are renting, but they are extremely important in a room, so it might be worth investing.

Plus, if you cannot paint walls or hang wallpaper, curtains will provide a way to introduce colour and pattern into your rooms. Buying second-hand fabrics and curtains can help keep costs down, and often you’ll come across beautiful prints that are no longer in production.

Last, give good thought to artwork. Cover expanses of blank wall with pictures if you can. Large pieces or collections of smaller works arranged in grids should provide an exciting contrast with the bright white.

To get around your problem here, it’s going to be all about making the most of the things you can control to maximise aesthetic effect, so don’t forget things such as framing: well-chosen frames in bright colours or with interesting mouldings will make all the difference to the overall look.

See designer Violet Dent’s London flat, the walls of which are more or less completely covered with framed pictures. Surfaces are littered with objects and curios. One barely notices the architecture, appliances or floors: the emphasis is on stuff, and what lovely stuff there is to see too.

With a few tweaks to the backdrop of your flat and a smart selection of furniture, artwork and accessories chosen by you, you won’t even see the offensive carpet. (Literally, if you cover it with rugs.) Of course, it would be wonderful to begin a decoration scheme with a beautifully appropriate setting: panelling painted a deliciously sludgy colour, fireplaces and stone floors, but for now, you’ll need to improvise — and perhaps squint your eyes occasionally.

Luke Edward Hall will discuss the dos and don’ts of interior design at the FT Weekend Digital Festival, March 18-20. For tickets go to ftweekendfestival.com

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