Living in a rental can make a bland space hard to call your own. Here are 7 cheap, temporary upgrades to make your rental feel more like home!
Rentals tend to be plain, generic, and often dated. Since you don't own the place, it can be tough to make it feel like you.
On top of that, most leases ban permanent changes. Some even rule out small tweaks that could "cause damage," such as drilling holes in the walls to hang pictures.
Because you don't own the place, it can also be hard to justify spending money on personal touches. Paying for something temporary can feel like throwing your hard-earned cash out the window.
Still, there's a strong case for personalizing your space so that coming home actually FEELS like home. That "sense of home" comes from your own touches, like furniture, color, and small details that make you comfortable and help you unwind.
If any of this sounds familiar, I have good news! There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to make a rental feel like yours without breaking your lease.
Key Points Before You Make Tenant Improvements
Keep these quick tips in mind before you upgrade your rental as a tenant.
Check With Your Landlord
If you're unsure which changes are allowed, reach out and ask your landlord.
Every landlord has different rules about what tenants can do. You'll likely have better luck getting bigger requests approved, like painting or changing hardware, if you can show that the change adds value to the property.
Invest in Items You Can Take With You
If you spend your upgrade budget on things you can take with you, like furniture, it won't feel like you're paying for something your landlord will enjoy.
Keep Anything You Take Down
If you swap out something (a showerhead, dimmer switch, etc.), keep the original so you can put it back when you move out and take your new one with you.
Hire a Professional
If you want to swap light fixtures but know nothing about wiring, I strongly recommend hiring a pro.
My Top 10 Temporary Upgrade Ideas for Your Rental
If you want your rental to feel more like home but still get your deposit back, here are 10 easy-to-reverse ideas to refresh your space (and take with you when you go).
Personalize the Bathroom
Surprisingly, this is an upgrade people often overlook, yet a "spa-like" feel can change how you feel every day. A nice showerhead and some bathroom decor are tenant upgrades that are well worth the cost.
Related Reading:
- Making a Small Bathroom Look Stylish and Bold
- Key Pieces for a Farmhouse-Style Bathroom
- Dressing Up a Basic Builder-Grade Mirror
Give Your Appliances a Stainless Look
Rentals often come with dated appliances, but if they still work, replacing them isn't worth the money. Instead, try this DIY stainless steel makeover using only contact paper, an idea from Julie Blanner. What an instant upgrade, and your landlord may even ask you to leave it in place!
Get the stainless steel contact paper here!
Bring Color to the Walls
Many people assume they can't paint or wallpaper a rental. Surprisingly, this is an upgrade your landlord will likely welcome, especially if you pick a light neutral or repaint the walls their original color when you move out.
If wallpaper is more your style, go with removable wallpaper and be sure to take it down when you move out. I love this herringbone removable wallpaper and these pretty gold geometric temporary wallpaper too! This geometric paper would also make a great kitchen backsplash!
Related Reading:
- The Best Gray Paint Colors for Your Home
- How to Pick the Perfect White Paint Color
- Top Living Room Paint Colors
Swap Out Light Fixtures
Let's be honest: rentals often have VERY outdated light fixtures. One of the most striking upgrades you can make (and take with you) is to replace light fixtures with ones you love to look at.
Related Reading:
- How to Replace a Light Fixture
- Lovely, Affordable Bathroom Light Fixtures
- Budget-Friendly Schoolhouse Lighting
- Fresh Kitchen Lighting
Put Up Curtains
Skip the metal mini blinds. Take them down (but keep them!) and hang some beautiful curtains instead. This one simple step will quickly and completely change the look of your space.
Related Reading:
- Easy DIY Pleated Curtains
- Making Curtains From Drop Cloths
- Ways to Stencil Your Curtains
- Adding Trim Tape to Curtains for a Custom Finish
- Floral Curtains for the Home Office
Update the Floors
Do you hate that 10-year-old carpet? What about those scratched hardwood floors? If you aren't a fan of your floors, one great temporary fix is to lay down a rug in the right size.
Love the look of tile in the kitchen or bathroom? These removable peel-and-stick floor tiles could be just the right touch!
Related Reading:
- Top Peel and Stick Floor Tile Designs
- Cheap Flooring Ideas: Refresh Your Floors for Less
- Installing Peel & Stick Floor Tile (permanent option)
Replace the Hardware
Swapping the hardware or faucet in the kitchen is an inexpensive way to refresh the decor and make the space feel like yours. Don't forget to save the old pieces and put them back before you move!
Today there are so many great budget-friendly cabinet pull options!
Related Reading:
- How to Measure and Put In New Cabinet Pulls
- Where to Place Cabinet Knobs {Tips and Tricks}
- Styling Kitchen Counters {Decorating 101}
Refresh your rental with these 7 effective upgrades. They're all temporary and easy to undo when you move, yet they'll go a long way toward making your rental feel like "home"!
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