Decorating A Rented House

[Ric.ror]

As I have been saying for the past year and a day - I will soon be in a position to rent my house out. Its a three bed in an area where they cannot get enough houses for the people wanting them
Before I put it on the market I will be decorating - should I use the Laura Ashley wallpaper I have or just use lining paper to allow the new people to decorate to their own tastes

[youngmafbog]

We paint ours top to bottom with magnolia and white woodwork.

It looks clean and is easy to paint back up again when the tenants move out. In addition we leave a tup so the tenants can touch it up if they scrape it. Some do, some don't.

Wallpaper is not a good idea, it gets tatty very quickly in our experience.

[andy-hughes]

I'd agree with youngmafbog - neutral paint to start with, and a written agreement that the tenants will return the house to that condition when they lave - you don't want any 1970's patterned wallpaper left!

[Ric.ror]

you don't want any 1970's patterned wallpaper left

Oh I don't know - very retrochic ;-))

[Sycamore3House]

As youngmabog says. Magnolia & white woodwork. You will be more likely to rent at a higher price if the walls are neutral. Some landlords let their tenants decorate on the understanding that it is returned to the original condition when they leave. I had this once and the house was spotless for the next occupiers.

[ladybirder]

Not Magnolia please. It's awful.

[Ken4155]

Either blown vinyl or lining paper - hung vertically, of course - is excellent for a rented property. White ceilings, magnolia walls and white woodwork is just about the cheapest way to go. Magnolia may not look very nice, but it is a neutral colour and makes a very good base for whatever colour the new tenants choose.

[Ric.ror]

I think I might just do the woodwork and vertically hang lining
That way they can do whatever they like

[237SJ]

I would keep to pale neutral colours. There is more to neutral than boring Magnolia. I painted my rental property in Crown Soft Linen throughout.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Good idea young....however ...how leaving an un castrated sheep can aid decorating is beyond me :-)

[chokkie]

Sorry if this is a late response, but, for what it's worth ... we've just completely refurbished a ground floor flat into which our new tenant has just moved. We virtually gutted the place - new kitchen, new bathroom, new carpets, flooring, etc. We didn't use wallpaper to keep the cost down, just used a neutral colour paint (can't remember what it was called, but it wasn't magnolia - although I can't understand what is wrong with magnolia ). All the rest of the decor has been done very inoffensively (well we hope it is anyway) .... When we first took over the flat, the first tenant made a complee mess of the wallpaper (and it was absolutely ghastly), so we were glad to get rid of it in favour of just painted walls. So keep everything neutral. Then if you are renting it as "unfurnished" everything your new tenant brings in with her/him will be okay with the neutral decor. Good luck with your project ... Chox.