How to transform an unfurnished home: renting furniture and homeware is the fast solution for home decorators in a hurry

Renting an unfurnished flat can seem like a daunting prospect. However, it does offer the freedom to put your own stamp on a space. Investing in big furniture items may not be the most practical choice, especially for Generation Rent who are used to moving regularly and adapting to different sizes, spaces and colour schemes.

So why not rent your furniture and home accessories too? Cue Roomservice by CORT which stocks more than 300 lines of furniture covering every style from designer luxury to contemporary budget.

Putting the service to the test, we transformed an empty central London duplex apartment into a fully furnished property with a homely feel, complete with framed prints, plants and accessories.

The makeover process took just one morning’s installation.

Start by checking out roomservicebycort.com. You can search by room or by piece. The room option offers pre-designed sets of furniture for every space in the property and is ideal for interior design novices who are not ready to take the plunge and match up their pieces.

We liked the idea of choosing each piece and building our own look to add personality. The furniture is given a description with measurements and often forms part of a collection which you can scale up or down. There is a good amount of design choice and the brands used are reputable.

In addition to the furniture for each room, Roomservice by CORT can supply white goods, TVs, lighting, accessories, mirrors, rugs, cushions, bedding and kitchenware, right down to the last teaspoon.

A home can be completely transformed without the need for built-in pieces or renovation work. First, choose a statement product in each key space and create the rest of the design around that. Roomservice by CORT purposefully sources pieces that are functional and durable as well as looking the part, but it is your job to make sure that the furniture works for your lifestyle and wellbeing needs. For example, never underestimate the importance of choosing the right mattress and do your best to subtly incorporate storage into each room to avoid clutter.

Properties can be fully furnished within as little as 48 hours. That is one of the most impressive features of this service. It is often the case in London that you view a place and put down a deposit within the hour, so if it needs to be kitted out to move in urgently this is a rather seamless solution.

All of the items are delivered directly to the residence and the experienced installation team will work with you to create the best possible layout before ensuring the space is left clean and tidy.

Gone is the worry of having to book time off work for several delivery windows. There is no hassle of building each piece and all of the packaging is removed after the installation. This will be music to the ears of those with busy lifestyles.

You can rent furniture and accessories for a month up to three years, with a minimum total order value of £750 + VAT. Expect to pay around £181 a month including VAT for a one-bedroom flat, based on a 12 month rental.

The service is available in London, Surrey, Sussex and the surrounding areas. Plus, Hampshire, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Edinburgh.

For those who feel like they need more direction, give Roomservice by CORT an idea of your budget and requirements and they will put together a furniture package for you. Email rentals@roomservicebycort.com, use the live chat or call 020 8397 9344. There are also interior designers at hand to give you a professional take on your suggestions. They are happy to get involved as much or as little as preferred.

A resounding thumbs up. The service is particularly useful for style conscious tenants who want ultimate flexibility. Whether you have moved to London for work and are not quite sure of how long you will be based in the property, or just need a quick fix for a short term rental, this service really ticks the boxes. This is a stress free and efficient approach to turning a property into a real home. Plus, it means you don’t end up having to purchase pieces that you will need to find a new home for after moving out or sacrifice on the quality of the homeware.