A single mum has revealed her secrets to how she transformed her 1940s rental into her dream home, saying “home is where your family are,” whether or not you own it.
Jess Rowlands, 29, said she is sick of the stigma around renting and feeling limited around decorating a living space, just because you don't own the house.
"When I moved in it was originally this magnolia box and for years I didn't have the money to do anything and I was looking after my daughter, Felicity [now six],” Jess told the Liverpool Echo.
"But in 2018 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer and I knew I was going to be spending a lot of time at home and I wanted it to just be my safe space for me and my daughter.”
Following home decor accounts on Instagram had helped her with inspiration, she said, helping her to create a vision for each room.
She had since set up her own Instagram account, which she said had provided her with an outlet throughout lockdown.
The senior recruitment partner said since working from home she spends more time there than ever.
Jess said: "There is a lot of stigma around renting when there really shouldn't be because not everyone is in a position to buy a house.
"For me, anywhere you raise your family is your home and you will want that space to be comfortable.
"This is my home and I don't plan on moving and I know I won't be in a position to buy a home for a while so I want to be able to make it my own.”
Jess said a home should be one’s “safe space”; somewhere they could sit, relax and enjoy for their own mental wellbeing.
"I realise not everyone's landlord will allow them to do certain things like painting the walls, but you can still make it your own with furniture,” she said.
"I have hung pictures because those holes can be filled, but there are things I would like to do but don't.”
She had drawn the line at having new floors put in, Jess said, feeling it was a big expense for a place she did not own.
Jess encouraged anyone who wanted to give one of their rooms a revamp with a small amount of money to be patient when digging out the bargains.
“I am a single mum, everything I do is on a budget and I went room by room,” she said.
"The most expensive things have been my new sofa and paint - everything else is from eBay, Facebook Marketplace or charity shops.
"I always have a picture in my mind of what it is I want, for example, I wanted a new sideboard so I looked at ones I liked then I waited until I could find it second had and get the best deal - but you have to wait for that."
