How To Bring Charm To Your Rental

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There are many ways to bring charm to your rental home on a budget. So please don’t let the fact that you live in a rental stop you from having a stylish home.

I’ve slowly been transforming my own rental kitchen.

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I live in an apartment, so I know how it typically goes: The blinds are ugly. The bathroom is terrible. The appliances are tacky. And it’s just so damned generic.

First, ask your landlord what changes you can make while staying within the bounds of your lease. Then put on your creative thinking cap and find ways to make changes you’ll be happy with.

Removable Wallpaper:

Ask the landlord if you can paint the walls in your apartment. Tell him/her that you will paint them back to the original color before you move.

You can also consider removable wallpaper to make a real statement in your home.

I’ve compiled a list of companies where you can buy removable wallpaper. You can also find it at big-box stores like Target and Home Depot. Or you can order from Amazon.com.

Stylish Alternatives:

• Spoonflower
• Chasing Paper
• Tempaper
• Rifle Paper Co.
• Wallshoppe
• Etsy
• Graham & Brown
• Flavor Paper
• Eazywallz

After painting or applying temporary wallpaper, consider adding trim and molding. This will finish off the walls and give the room instant style.

Vinyl Floor Cloths:

Enter the world of vinyl floor cloths. They lay down like rugs, but they’re heavier-duty, more durable, and easier to clean.

Vinyl flooring can be cut to fit your floor space.

You can also purchase carpet tiles, click-in flooring planks, or peel-and-stick tiles. This can easily update the look of your kitchen or bathroom.

Peel & Stick Tile:

Peel-and-stick wall tiles are ideal if you’re renting. They install on any clean, smooth surface and can be removed without damaging the wall when you move.

You can find peel-and-stick wall tiles at any big-box store. And you can also order peel-and-stick backsplashes at RoomMates.

Change Light Fixtures:

If you’re stuck with ugly light fixtures like “boob lights,” there is an alternative. (Boob lights are flush-mounted ceiling lights you’ll find in many apartments.)

Builders and landlords love boob lights because they’re cheap to replace and easy to replace the bulbs. It’s one of the least expensive updates you can give your rental.

Most ceiling-mount light fixtures can be replaced easily without rewiring. Choose your new fixture, unscrew the old one, and replace it with the new one.

Plug-In Pendant Light With Cord:

Or you can purchase a plug-in pendant light with a cord like the one shown below. That would be the easiest fix.

Just attach it with a hook in the ceiling and plug it in. Voila! Instant charm.

Switch Faucets:

Of course, as with most of these tips, you should check with the landlord first.

If you’ve never done this before, it would be wise to hire a plumber who knows what he’s doing.

Updating faucets can give your kitchen and/or bathrooms a whole new look.

Kitchen Appliances That Don’t Match:

Many places sell appliance covers, including magnetic and self-adhesive contact paper.

For example, if you want your appliances to look like stainless steel, apply it over the existing cover for an updated, stylish look instantly.

You can get a roll of Yancorp 16 x 120 stainless steel contact paper for under $10. With that much contact paper on the roll, you could probably cover all your kitchen appliances cheaply.

Switch Shower Heads:

One of the first things I did when I moved into my apartment was order a removable handheld shower head.

I also had a plumber install a taller toilet because I’d just had ankle surgery. This expense did make my life infinitely easier. And I did ask the landlord first.

The landlord said, “Just have it professionally installed.”

You can easily switch out the toilet seats.

Switch Wall Outlet Covers:

This is as simple as unscrewing the original light switch plate and installing a new one.

Check Amazon, your local Home Depot, or Lowe’s. They will have a variety of light switch plates to choose from.

Or, if you’re crafty, you could buy cheap light switch plates and decoupage them. They’ll truly be unique if you do that!

Cover Vertical Blinds:

When I moved into this apartment, I discovered “No-No” Brackets. These are brackets that fit over the existing vertical blinds and cost about $20.

These brackets are such a game-changer for renters!

You can then add curtains without putting a hole in the wall. Just hang your curtain on the rod and slide it into the allotted space.

Then tighten the circular piece at the front to keep the rod firmly in place.

Curtains aren’t just for looks. You can also choose curtains that filter light.

Switch Door Handles & Knobs:

By switching out the door handles and cabinet pulls, you can quickly make a cheap kitchen look much fancier.

Just keep your old ones so you can put them back on when you move.

Unifying Colors:

A unifying color can also make your rental kitchen look cohesive.

Choose the color palette you’d like to incorporate and use it in as many places as possible. To do this, choose rugs, countertop appliances, and curtains in colors that unite and complement one another.

With all the excellent new products on the market today, you can do so much with a rental. Don’t let renting keep you from having a home you truly love.

As I always say, love it while you rent it. A temporary or leased home is still the place where you live.

So you want it to be as inviting as possible.