Five-day furnishing turnaround: How InStyle Direct drove a 41 % rent rise in SW7

While an SW7 address will always command a respectable rental income, shrewd investors realise the importance of quickly maximising potential and keeping ahead of the competition. Such was the case when a landlord promptly enlisted our furnishing partner, InStyle Direct’s furnishing services, after witnessing the impressive outcome yielded for a neighbouring property.

With intentional furnishings and smart refurbishment, our furnishing partner earned the landlord a 41% rental increase in under one week. Read below to learn how efficient interior changes rocketed rent from £3,400 a month to £4,800 in under one week.

Budget-savvy tweaks for maximum ROI

The design briefs for the two properties furnished in the same building differed in that the first one reflected the lifestyle aspirations of a homeowner client. This second project brief focused on lifting rental yields and slashing voids, guided by granular knowledge of what tenants in each micro-market actually want. The ability to quickly adapt to a different business model and design logic is one of the core organisational strengths.

Tight scheduling and a strict operational budget meant relatively small changes were required to create a big impact. Replacing items would be costly and not a prudent use of allocated resources, so our furnishing partner promptly devised some ingenious workarounds. Door panels were sanded down before being re-lacquered and fitted with new hinges and handles. This had the effect of retaining their character while giving them a new lease of life. The ponderous bedroom cupboards overshadowed the natural light from the windows and were no longer providing optimum storage. In their place, full-height matt-lacquered wardrobes were installed that were not only more versatile but also had a smaller footprint.

Light-filled luxury for less

Following this theme of space creation and light enhancement, satin paintwork and warm neutral colours allowed light to be distributed more evenly around the apartment. Generously proportioned mirrors gave the living space a more expansive and welcoming feel. Streamlined light fittings in the form of brass pendants were both elegant and unobtrusive. The living space needed a focal point that was practical, easy to adapt and pleasing to the eye. This came in the form of a luxury-looking, yet durable glass-topped dining table and sleekly profiled chairs that stylistically match the contemporary sofa. After selecting these foundational pieces, the furnishing team could now enhance the overall design palette with cushions, artwork and rugs taken from their extensive range of design-led products.

Five-day makeover, 41 % rent uplift

First impressions are lasting impressions, and the final result was a masterclass in how to provide prospective tenants with a vivid picture of prestigious London living. The fact that the whole process took only five days to complete is a testament to acute focus on design skills, product and target tenant knowledge and customer care. In any business, boosting your income by over 40% almost overnight would be seen as a positive outcome, so the client was extremely gratified to see an investment that rocketed from a secured rent of £3,400 per month to £4,800 in such a short time, with such little spend.