Build to Rent (BTR) is moving the dial when it comes to the rental experience, with interior design playing a crucial role in the rapid growth and popularity of this sector. As the younger sister of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), BTR today has a wide demographic, with individuals and families expressing a desire to live in dynamic communities, with beautiful and thoughtfully designed spaces. By creating aesthetically pleasing and functional environments, the overall living experience is heightened, making these properties more desirable and reinforcing their appeal in the competitive rental market.
Responding to a changing market
According to Savills, the UK needs an additional one million rental homes by 2031 to alleviate the growing rental crisis. Demand for rental properties often exceeds supply, especially in urban areas such as London where jobs and amenities are concentrated, driving up rents and reducing the availability of high-quality options. BTR is primed to address these challenges by offering modern and energy-efficient homes, created for the way individuals want to live today.
But it is not just young professionals attracted to the convenience BTR offers. The sector serves a wide range of residents, including digital nomads, students, couples, families, downsizers and those in transitional phases of life. Therefore, the interior design needs to be carefully curated to appeal to a wide range of contemporary renters.
In fact, the family market looks set for extreme growth. Knight Frank's latest single-family housing (SFH) report projects significant growth in both multifamily and SFH sectors, with an especially large opportunity in SFH. Currently, nearly 50% of privately renting households in the UK, or around 2.65 million households, reside in suburban areas. However, the existing SFH supply meets only 0.4% of this demand, underscoring the vast potential in this market. Looking ahead, SFH is expected to double within the next two years. Knight Frank also predicts that, at full maturity, the BTR sector could represent 30% to 35% of all privately renting households.
As the demand for BTR and SFH surges, getting the interior design right will be crucial not only to meet the evolving needs of families but also to differentiate properties in a competitive market and enhance long-term tenant satisfaction and retention. This could mean more co-working spaces, more green areas, and more communal facilities that encourage social interaction.
An eye for design detail
A Designer at Heart is a dedicated interior design company for shared living spaces including BTR and PBSA. With a wealth of knowledge in developing practical, beautiful spaces which meets the needs of residents and investors, they are the perfect partner to support the development of your BTR portfolio.
"Design isn't just about aesthetics; it's about creating a space that feels like home while serving the needs of those who live and invest in it,” says Martina Pardo, Founder & Director at A Designer at Heart. “At A Designer at Heart, we bring an eye for detail and a passion for functionality to every project, ensuring that each space not only looks beautiful but also works beautifully for its residents and investors."
Enhancing the experience through design
Martina’s and the team’s experience has shown developers and operators must focus on creating versatile and engaging spaces that cater to a diverse range of needs. Marketing often highlights amenities such as communal gardens, pet-friendly policies, co-working spaces and gyms as key attractions. These amenities are not just selling points—they are integral to fostering a vibrant community and the design must reflect these features to create spaces that are not only practical and usable but also adaptable to various lifestyles.
Creating multi-functional spaces that serve different purposes can significantly enhance the living experience and give developers the chance to ensure they are appealing to a wide customer base. For instance, integrating co-working spaces with comfortable lounge areas or providing flexible rooms that can be adapted for both work and leisure can meet the diverse needs of residents.
How to design outstanding BTR interiors
- Flexibility: Create multi-use spaces that can adapt to various needs, from home offices to relaxation areas.
- Community Areas: Design inviting communal spaces that residents will enjoy spending time in. Think about exactly how the space could be used.
- Practical Amenities: Include features like pet-friendly zones and ample storage to cater to diverse resident needs.
- Style and Comfort: Use stylish, high-quality materials and finishes to create a welcoming and comfortable living environment that will stand the test of time.
- Integrate Green Spaces: Bring the outdoor in to improve well-being and encourage a connection with nature.
- Adapt to Different Lifestyles: Design with an eye towards varied resident profiles, from young professionals to growing families, ensuring the space works for all.
- Data-Led Design: Learn from current tenants and use this data to feed-back to the development team to incorporate changes in the future.
- Steal Their Style: Get inspiration from hospitality through to residential and beyond. A good designer will strike the right balance between a luxurious space and a comforting one too.
Get in touch
At A Designer at Heart we are uniquely placed with experience across a range of sectors in shared living as well as collaborating with a wide range of diverse designers from different backgrounds. This, combined with our internal PBSL knowledge, gives us a comprehensive understanding to deliver innovative and tailored solutions for your projects. Get in touch with A Designer at Heart to discuss how we can tailor our design expertise to create the ideal interior for your BTR development.
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