Change up the kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity hardware

Swapping out old, generic knobs and pulls with stylish new hardware is one of the easiest and most effective ways to update your kitchen or bathroom. New knobs can drastically change the look and feel of a space. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to do yourself.

Look for fun and unique hardware that reflects your personal style. Consider purchasing knobs and pulls that you can reuse in your future home or on furniture pieces. And remember, the key to a successful and landlord-approved update is careful storage.

Make sure you store all the original knobs and screws in a safe place. This will allow you to easily reinstall them when you move out, leaving the cabinets exactly as you found them.

What *Not* to Do: Avoid drilling new holes at all costs. Drilling new holes typically requires a landlord’s permission, and it’s best to avoid this type of permanent modification. Stick to hardware that fits the existing holes. If your cabinets lack hardware entirely, you *will* need to ask your landlord for permission before drilling.

Inspiration from Jeweled Interiors

Create Your Own Walls with Pieces of Furniture

Feeling cramped in your rental? Need to carve out a separate workspace, reading nook, or dining area? The solution might be simpler than you think: use your furniture to create distinct zones within your space.

Bookshelves, sofas, room dividers, and even strategically placed plants can act as “walls,” defining different areas without the need for construction or permanent changes. This is a fantastic way to maximize functionality and create a sense of separation in smaller rentals.

Experiment with different furniture arrangements to find the layout that best suits your needs. You’ll be surprised at how much you can transform your space simply by rearranging what you already own.

Inspiration from Skonahem

Remove Your Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Does your rental kitchen suffer from drab, uninspiring cabinets? Consider temporarily removing the doors to create an open, airy feel. This is a particularly effective strategy if you have attractive kitchenware that deserves to be displayed.

Carefully remove the cabinet doors, storing them in a safe place where they won’t be damaged. Protect them, especially if they’re painted, to avoid any potential charges when you move out.

If you’re hesitant to remove the doors entirely, another option is to conceal them with removable adhesive paper (contact paper). This allows you to add a pop of color or pattern without making any permanent changes.

What *Not* to Do: Never lose the hinge hardware or attempt to fill the door hinge holes. Kitchen cabinets can be incredibly expensive to replace, so it’s crucial to store the doors and hardware properly. Failure to do so could result in a significant deduction from your security deposit.

Inspiration from The Casual Free

Do Use Temporary Wallpaper

Longing for a splash of color or a bold pattern on your walls, but your landlord has a strict “no painting” policy? Temporary wallpaper is your answer! This innovative product allows you to transform your walls without causing any permanent damage.

Temporary wallpaper is available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures. Some brands are even paintable, giving you even more creative freedom. As long as the wallpaper is properly installed and carefully removed, most landlords will have no issue with this type of temporary update.

Consider using temporary wallpaper to create an accent wall, add visual interest to a small space, or even line the back of bookshelves for a pop of color.

Inspiration from Domino.com

Install Plug-in Pendants

Say goodbye to boring, builder-grade lighting! Plug-in pendant lights are a fantastic way to add style and personality to your rental without the need for complicated electrical work.

These lights simply plug into a standard wall outlet and hang from a hook in the ceiling. If your landlord allows you to drill small holes for picture hanging, then installing a hook for a pendant light should be no problem.

Plug-in pendants come in a variety of styles, from modern and minimalist to bohemian and vintage. Choose a light that complements your decor and adds a touch of personal flair to your space.

What *Not* to Do: Be sure to use the correct hook and hardware when installing the pendant light. Using the wrong hardware could create a larger hole than necessary, which would be more difficult for your landlord to repair.

Inspiration from Vintage Revivals

Switch Up the Shades or Bulbs of Your Light Fixture

Another easy way to transform your rental lighting is to simply switch out the existing shades or bulbs. A new shade can instantly update the look of a dated fixture, while changing the bulb can alter the ambiance of the entire room.

Experiment with different shade shapes, colors, and materials to find the perfect fit for your style. Consider using warmer bulbs for a cozy, inviting atmosphere, or brighter bulbs for a more energizing space.

Remember to store the original shade or bulb carefully so you can easily return it to the fixture when you move out.

What *Not* to Do: Replacing the entire light fixture without your landlord’s permission is generally not recommended. It’s always best to ask first. Even if you’re willing to pay for a professional electrician to install it, your landlord may still decline for liability reasons.

Inspiration from The Heathered Nest

Take the Closet Doors Off

If your closets have outdated or unsightly doors, consider temporarily removing them to create a more open and spacious feel. This is a particularly effective strategy for small bedrooms or apartments where space is limited.

Removing the doors can also make it easier to access your belongings and create a more organized and visually appealing closet space. You can replace the doors with curtains or leave the closet open for a minimalist look.

As with the cabinet doors, be sure to store the closet doors carefully to avoid any damage. If you put them back before moving out, your landlord should have no issue with this simple change.

Inspiration from What Molly Made

Use Rugs to Cover Ugly Floors

Whether it’s stained carpeting or dated vinyl flooring, ugly floors can be a major eyesore in a rental. Fortunately, there’s a simple and stylish solution: rugs!

A well-chosen rug can instantly transform the look and feel of a room, adding color, pattern, and texture. Rugs can also help to define different areas within a space and create a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

For particularly unsightly kitchen floors, consider purchasing a vinyl sheet remnant. Cut it to the desired size, paint the white side with a pattern or design of your choice, and secure it to the floor with rug tape for a water-resistant and easy-to-clean solution.

Inspiration from Apartment Therapy

Install Outside Mount Roman Shades to Hide Ugly or Broken Blinds

If your rental comes with outdated, broken, or just plain ugly blinds, don’t despair! Outside mount roman shades are the perfect way to conceal them and add a touch of elegance to your windows.

These shades are easy to install and relatively affordable. They mount outside the window frame, completely covering the existing blinds and providing a clean, sophisticated look. Choose a fabric that complements your decor and adds a pop of color or pattern to your space.

Inspiration from Everhem.com

Use Contact Paper for a Versatile Design Solution

Contact paper is a renter’s best friend! This versatile material can be used to add color, pattern, and texture to a wide range of surfaces, from walls and cabinets to refrigerators and doors.

Use contact paper to create a faux backsplash in your kitchen, line drawers and shelves, or even add a pop of color to your furniture. Frosted glass contact paper can be used to create privacy on windows without the need for curtains or blinds.

The possibilities are endless with contact paper. Let your creativity run wild and transform your rental into a personalized haven.