emberlo

← All guides

Cushions, throws and rugs that do the most for renters

Soft furnishings are the highest-impact, lowest-risk category on this whole site — nothing here touches a wall or a landlord's paintwork.

Best cheap swap: IKEA GURLI cushion covers — £5 (50x50cm) / £12 (65x65cm)

The cheapest single change that actually alters how a room feels. Three to five cushions is the usual sweet spot for a small sofa — more than that starts eating seating space.

Rugs: IKEA TIPHEDE runner ~£15, KNARDRUP ~£19, STOENSE range under £40

Get the size right before the style — a rug that 'floats' as an island between furniture makes a small room look smaller, not bigger. Anchor it under at least the front legs of the main seating.

Throws: Dunelm chunky knit, from ~£10 in sales

Price moves around a lot with Dunelm's sales cycle, so treat this as a starting point and check the live price. Texture layering — mixing knit, velvet, and linen — is the trend doing most of the work in 2026 living-room guides.

What we look for

Machine washable, always — rentals mean less control over spills and previous-tenant wear than a room you own outright.