A Quirky Home in Leicester
Welcome back to What I Rent – a tenant diary series exploring what renting is like in the UK and further afield. Natalie Jade Reading, 32, has a home that’s sure to make guests smile, even on the greyest of days. With a keen eye for interior design, the photographer has put her own stamp on her Leicester one-bed flat, which she rents for just £645 per month.
Natalie shares her quirky aesthetic on TikTok, where she’s amassed 12,000 followers, all eager to learn her tips. Here’s what Natalie had to say about her ‘pastel palace’…
About Natalie
I’m a fashion photographer and retoucher — basically a professional photo editor. I work on campaigns, lookbooks, and social content for brands all over the world. I love interior design and do a lot of upcycling, crafts, junk journalling and scrapbooking. I’m from Coalville, which is 30 minutes outside of Leicester. There’s not a great deal to do there, but it’s surrounded by countryside, which was nice to grow up around.
Property Details
I’m in a one-bedroom flat in a converted house, and there are five others in my building. In June, I’ll have lived here for five years. I’m friends with two of the other residents, who are also single women living alone. We have BBQs and wine nights outside in the summer. It’s lovely.
Cost of Living
I pay £645 a month, which is reasonable for the area. My landlord is pretty chill, and the rent has gone up by £50 or so every year for the past three years. From May 1, it’ll be £700 per month. On top of that, bills cost between £400 and £450.
Location and Community
I live in Clarendon Park in Leicester. It’s close to the city centre with good transport links, but also far enough away that it’s quieter. There’s a strong sense of community, like the Clarendon Park Facebook page, where people gift items, ask for help, and generally share events. The parts surrounding Clarendon Park get super busy when there’s a Leicester Tigers rugby match on at their ground on Welford Road.
There’s also Tiny Bakery around the corner, Mitsuki for Japanese food, Fingerprints Cafe for a full English breakfast, and the botanic garden in Oadby, which is a 10-minute drive away.
Finding the Property
I spotted the flat on Rightmove during Covid, which meant that I wasn’t able to view the property. So, I took a leap of faith and took it based on the listing alone. At the time, I was unhappy in my houseshare as our lifestyles didn’t align.
DIY Projects
I’ve vinyl wrapped the kitchen worktops, and I got those tiles from Amazon. I taught myself how to do it by watching videos, but my dad helped too. I’ve painted a bunch of the walls, which my landlord is okay with. In fact, he’s been in that flat and seen what I’ve done with the place. I’ve also custom-built furniture.
The communal courtyard actually used to be a gravelled area with one bench, but I’ve worked on improving it with my neighbours. We’ve nailed astroturf into the ground and bought garden furniture. This has made a huge difference, and we love sitting outside on sunny days. About 90% of my pieces, like the Murano glass and paperweights, are thrifted from car boots and charity shops.
My dining room table was £100 on Facebook Marketplace, and the guy had had it since the 80s. He got it imported from Italy. My dad is also very hands-on, so I’ve learned a lot from him. He always did DIY at home, so any idea I’ve conjured up in my head, he’s always been able to find a way to help me execute it.
Favorite Projects
I love my upcycled IKEA drawers, which I’ve actually had years — since I lived with my parents’. I superglued electrical wire on them to make a wiggly design, and then painted over the top. I also designed my desk and helped my dad custom-build it. It has curved edges with an overall wavy shape. We designed the curves to allow for things like wires to slot down the back.
Sharing on TikTok
I’ve been doing it for a couple of years, on and off, but since January, I’ve been quite consistent with posting. Generally, I’ve had a good reception. I’ve been lucky to find people who’re also into maximalism and pastels. When I painted polka dots in the hallway and did the kitchen vinyl, I got some negative comments there. It didn’t really bother me, because everyone has an opinion. It’s okay if people don’t like it.
Mood and Space
You have such a colourful home – does that boost your mood? I’m a very visual person, so having a lot of colour and stimulation is really good for my brain. My friends say it’s very chaotic, but I find it quite calming. There’s also something about pastels and softness I really love. Do you feel like you have enough space? I would love a second bedroom. I also wish the kitchen was bigger. If I have guests, it can get a little overwhelming and I often have to clean dishes as I go as there isn’t enough space to leave everything until the end.
Challenges
It’s an old building, and it’s single-glazed. In the winter, I struggle with the cold, condensation and mould. The soundproofing isn’t amazing, and I have quite a noisy neighbour above me.
Future Plans
I’d love to buy in the future, but until then, I can’t see myself leaving here.
Tour of the Flat
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