TRANSFORMED RENTAL
Amara Hasham’s amazing makeover of her rented family home is a masterclass in clever, reversible decorating
Yellow chair and filing cabinet, Ikea. Striped cushion, Homesense. Graphpaper design lamp Anthropologie. Ceramic stool, TK Maxx. Rug, The Range
Moroccan Ornament, wallpaper, Photowall. Cushions, Anthropologie. Ceiling light, Made In Design by Printemps. Red and white throw, homemade from Ikea fabric
For similar blue mid-century-style drawers, try Litfad. Basket on stand, TK Maxx
Just because you’re paying rent doesn’t mean you have to live with blank walls, basic light fittings and boring bathrooms. That’s the conclusion Amara had reached before starting to improve the family’s four-bedroom home in Berkshire.
And the results of her daring – and temporary – transformation, all done by Amara with help from her family, has made her the well-deserved best makeover winner in the Real Homes Awards. Hasham’s former job as a pilot meant they moved around a lot, living in various rented homes for the past 20 years. ‘I’ve always been cautious about making changes,’ admits Amara. ‘But our current landlord knew we were taking good care of this property and was comfortable with us making cosmetic updates.’
She earned her design and decorating stripes in the downstairs cloakroom, where she painted the walls and used removable wall stickers to change the look. ‘It��
