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21 Bridge Street, Newport, NP20 4AN
e: hello@redkeylets.co.uk
t: 0333 3447850
Newport Area Guide

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Out of Hours Emergency

An emergency repair would include issues that need to be fixed as soon as possible. Examples would include: burst pipe/flood, fire, vandalism, broken locks, blocked drains, blocked toilet and no heating/hot water. Anything that would be a danger to your health and safety or likely to cause damage to the property.

In the event of an emergency during a holiday period – or outside office hours – please follow the guidance below.

Smell Gas?
In the event that you smell gas open all the windows, turn the gas off at the meter and call National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
For all other emergency issues, please call 01633 742371 and our friendly team will assist you.

Home/News/Spare Room Ideas: 5 Alternative Ways to Use Your Spare Bedroom

Spare Room Ideas: 5 Alternative Ways to Use Your Spare Bedroom

about 2 years ago

Lifestyle

Spare Room Ideas: 5 Alternative Ways to Use Your Spare Bedroom

Although it’s nice to have the space to offer a guest, our spare bedrooms often go unused for a considerable portion of the year. So, here are five incredible ways to use your spare bedroom instead, allowing your family to get the most from the home.

1. Build a Home Office
The way we all work has shifted dramatically over the past 18 months, with most of us now working from home in some capacity. Therefore, a home office is essential for all modern properties.

Many households have a spare room upstairs yet spend their days hunched over the dining table working on their daily tasks. Yet, switching your mind off from the day’s stresses is much easier when you can physically close a door on your work.

Invest in a sturdy desk with ample storage and create yourself an excellent home office. Additionally, you will be astounded at the difference an ergonomic desk chair will make to your working day.

For the most productive spaces, place your desk in front of the window. Natural light is incredible for productivity, and a view of the outdoors will help you keep inspired throughout the day.

Be sure to hang up some of your favourite artwork and paint the room in a colour you enjoy. Relish in the freedom to design your own working space, creating a room that you will love spending time in. This room can also double as a study space, perfect for those with teenagers.

2. Children’s Playroom
A children’s playroom is perhaps the most popular use for a spare room.

There is a huge range of benefits to keeping the majority of toys out of the bedroom and living spaces. It keeps the house much tidier and removes distractions and stimulants during the often testing bedtime routine.

Turning your spare room into a playroom allows you to have fun with the décor, creating a vibrant and exciting space for the children to express their creativity. It’s an excellent idea to have one side of the room as a ‘messy play’ space. Think paints, chalk, or even clay, depending on the age of your children.

Fill the other side of the room with toys, games and books. It offers a fantastic space for siblings to play together or for children to invite over their friends. As the year’s pass, the area can be transformed into a movie room for teenagers to relax.

3. A Cosy Snug
If you find yourself looking for a relaxing escape away from the living room, then a snug might be the ideal option for your family.

In here, you could include some comfortable seating and plenty of blankets and soft furnishings. Decorate in deep, dark colours and add a range of house plants to create a true oasis.

Keep the TV out of the snug to build a calming spot, and instead, add in a record player or smart speaker to allow you to enjoy your favourite music.

4. The Perfect Dressing Room
Most of us have dreamed of having a walk-in wardrobe and dedicated dressing room. An unused spare bedroom can provide the ideal solution to this. A whole room for getting ready will also free up an immense amount of space in your bedroom, which often gives the room a whole new lease of life.

Many homeware shops offer a build-your-own service to design and create a wardrobe perfect for your lifestyle. Alternatively, you could hire a carpenter to produce a bespoke piece for your needs.

As with the home office, remember to place the dressing table directly in front of the window. Again, the natural light will help hugely with getting ready, especially in the darker winter months.

5. Gaming Room Heaven
Most families have experienced their home being taken over by games consoles. With PlayStations in the living room, Xbox’s in the bedrooms and laptops dotted all over the home – our family properties can quickly feel overrun by electronics.

However, dedicating an entire room to games can be a great way to keep your home in top shape whilst simultaneously reinventing family time.

Be sure not to stick to only electronics in your new gaming room. Instead, fill the space with plenty of the classics, such as Monopoly, Draughts, and Cluedo. This will make it a fun spot for all of the family to hang out.

Want more tips?

Red Key are your local property experts for the Newport area. Call us on 03333447850 or email hello@redkeylets.co.uk to see how we can help.

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5 Home Office Features That Attract Tenants in Cardiff & South Wales

Published 4 days ago

As more professionals embrace remote and hybrid working, demand for well-designed home office spaces is on the rise. Whether you're a landlord in Cardiff or across South Wales, understanding what makes a great home office can help boost your property's appeal, reduce void periods, and attract quality long-term tenants.

At RedKey, your local Cardiff and Newport property experts, we know how to position your rental to meet modern tenant expectations. Here are five key features that make a home office truly desirable — and how you can use them to your advantage.

1. 🌞 Natural Light: A Must-Have for Productivity

Tenants value properties with plenty of natural light, and this is especially important in a home office. Natural light not only boosts productivity but is also linked to better sleep, improved mood, and fewer headaches.

✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
If your rental’s home office has limited light, use mirrors to reflect brightness, opt for light-coloured furniture, and choose pale window dressings that let the sun in. Small changes can make a big impact when staging.

2. 🪑 A Comfortable Desk Setup with Adequate Space

Remote workers spend hours at their desks, so comfort and functionality matter. A desk cramped against the wall may look space-saving, but it lacks practicality.

✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
If space allows, pull the desk away from the wall to give the illusion of more room and improve comfort. Legroom is a key feature tenants now look for in Cardiff rental homes with workspaces.

3. 🌿 Plants: The Green Boost Tenants Love

Adding plants to a home office doesn’t just improve the aesthetics — it also boosts health and wellbeing. Studies show greenery can reduce stress, improve air quality, and increase focus and happiness.

✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
When staging your Cardiff rental, place low-maintenance plants or high-quality faux greenery in the office. It adds instant charm without requiring tenant upkeep.

4. 📦 Smart Storage Solutions for a Clutter-Free Office

Clutter is a productivity killer, and tenants want tidy, organised workspaces. Office essentials like chargers, stationery, and documents quickly pile up without the right storage.

✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
Install floating shelves, built-in cabinets, or stylish storage baskets to help tenants keep the space organised. Highlight these features in your rental listing for extra appeal.

5. 🎨 Neutral Wall Colours That Encourage Focus

Wall colour plays a huge role in a home office environment. While tenants may personalise later, neutral shades are universally appealing and help stage the space in a way that feels calm and professional.

✅ Top Tip for Landlords:
Stick to pale greens, cool blues, light greys, or off-whites. These tones help promote focus and relaxation — exactly what remote workers need.

🎯 Why Cardiff Landlords Should Care About Home Offices

With more tenants than ever working from home at least part-time, the home office has become a major selling point. Properties that include a functional and attractive office space stand out in the competitive Cardiff rental market.

By making just a few simple upgrades, landlords can:

Increase rental appeal
Reduce void periods
Attract high-quality, long-term tenants
Enhance rental value

📞 Need Help Staging Your Cardiff Rental Property?

At RedKey, we specialise in property management and marketing in Cardiff and South Wales. We know exactly what tenants are looking for and can help you present your property at its very best — including highlighting work-from-home features that drive results.

👉 Get in touch today for expert advice on staging, letting, or managing your rental property:
📞 Call 02920 090690 / 03333 447850
📧 Email hello@redkeylets.co.uk

Let us help you turn your rental into a high-demand property in the Cardiff rental market.

#CardiffLandlordTips #HomeOfficeCardiff #CardiffRentalMarket #RemoteWorkReady #CardiffLettings #SouthWalesProperty #LandlordAdvice #RedKeyPropertyExperts

As more professionals embrace remote and hybrid working, demand for well-designed home office spaces is on the rise.

Bookscaping: the paper-based way to boost your home’s appeal

Published 15 days ago

Over the years there have been a number of ‘light touches’ touted as a way to impress potential property buyers. The aroma of freshly baked bread and brewing coffee? Great for making your property feel homely and masking less attractive whiffs. A neatly-folded pile of clean, fluffy towels in the bathroom? An easy way to give off five-star hotel vibes. Fresh flowers and a fully-stocked fruit bowl? They draw attention away from less desirable areas and add colour to a drab space.

6 Living Room Styling Tips for Landlords in Newport & Cardiff to Maximise Rental Appeal

Published 19 days ago

For landlords in Newport and Cardiff, the living room is arguably the most crucial space when it comes to attracting quality tenants and maximising your rental income.

It’s likely to be the room where you spend most of your time, the room where you spend time entertaining guests, and it’s probably the first room that people see when they walk into your home.

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