Hello Lovelies!

Let’s be honest here, many of us suffer from the limitations of a rental, can’t paint your walls, are stuck with old-looking appliances, ugly or damaged floors, overused shelves, etc. The list is long, but the point is, most of us went and still go through the frustration of not being able to make a rental yours, your home, your style, even if you lived there for 10 years. So, I found a few tips and tricks you can use in your rental without making your landlord unhappy. In this article, I will present a few options to personalize your rental, but whichever brand/product you decide to go with, I would strongly urge you to read the reviews to ensure its non-permanence (i.e. that it is damage-free).

1.     Wallpaper

What makes the biggest visual impact on a room? Yes, paint! However, this is not a luxury many can afford. I know, some landlords allow for paint but only from an approved list of colors or allow you to paint, as long as you put back the original color before vacating the rental. If you don’t want to go through that whole process, you can use removable wallpaper. This is an amazing way to change your bland walls and inject some of your personality into the room. Nowadays, you can find a variety of wallpaper designs, textures, colors at an affordable price. Even better, if you don’t like it, peel it right off!

 

GREAT TIP: wallpaper isn’t just for walls! You can use it as a backdrop to your shelves/bookcases or closets. This will add a pop of color to an otherwise boring spot.

 

2.     Wall Stickers

Wallpaper is great and durable, but if you are not sure that you’d love the pattern all over the wall, or if you have a tighter budget, I recommend wall stickers. This alternative is cheaper, and you can mix and match different patterns on your wall. You could also have only a portion of the wall with stickers. These are also good if you are the type of person that revisits design and redecorates yearly, much less hassle than removing Wallpaper. I see stickers as the temporary wallpaper, which makes it a great option for renters that don’t want the stress of removing wallpaper or repainting prior to vacating the rental.

Lastly, don’t forget to read the reviews and double-check that the wall decal you will be using is damage-free, you don’t want to deal with that when you have to pack and move.

 

 

3.     Wall Art

Another way to embellish your wall and be able to get a good reference letter from your landlord is Wall Art! This is a great way to add personality to a blank wall. You can never go wrong with a painting and the options are endless: classic, modern, oil/water paint, textured, minimal, colorful, etc. Of course, you can also go with a 3D installation, metal spheres, decorative mirrors, wooden carved pieces, woven textile wall hanging, etc. In other words, you can find wall art regardless of your taste and style.

 

The great news is that wall art is completely temporary, you can just put up a few nails and hang the art! Do you have to move? Or do you not like it anymore? take it down! Note that the nails will leave small holes in the wall, and most landlords are ok with it, but if you have a super strict landlord then you can slap some plaster on it, and BAM! Hole covered. Another solution to avoid nails and plastering is to use the magical command hooks! Once you’re done with the art, all you have to do is to take it down and remove the hooks.

 

GREAT TIP: to remove command hooks that are a little more stubborn, use a hairdryer to melt the glue and pop that baby off the wall.

4.     Tile Decals

Do you hate your floors? Well, a lot of us do, especially if you’re not the person who chose it. Worry no more! You can now cover them with decals, all you have to do is peel and stick them to your floor. They come in different shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors, just have to find the one that best suits your dΓ©cor and taste. Just like the wall stickers, if you want to remove them, just peel them right off. This is a convenient way to have a massive impact on a room while sticking to the landlord’s rules.

 

A friend of mine did it and she adored the result, though I would recommend doing some research to find a waterproof option. Also, go through the reviews to see which decals are damage-free. Though it shouldn’t be an issue as it is only glue, you don’t want that extra work cleaning the aftermath.

5.     Shelf Liners and Contact Paper

Let’s be honest, rental shelves can look overused and who wants chipped or stained shelves? So, grab some shelf liners and cover those cabinet shelves, drawer bottoms, even bookcase shelves! Not only these liners can be functional, but they can also add some personality to your shelves. You can get the basic transparent ones or any other pattern that best matches your dΓ©cor. Turn a basic builder’s kitchen into a custom space and take it with you before you leave, as most liners are glue-free.

 

Contact paper accomplishes the same purpose as liners, except that contact paper can be seamless and can be used on almost all surfaces. Peel it and stick it! I did it for my parents’ chalet kitchen island, I wasn’t a big fan of the island’s topper. So, I did some research and got a water-resistant contact paper roll. I peeled it and stuck it on the cleaned island top, I used a hairdryer to help stick it to the corners and crevasse. Plot twist: I didn’t like the way it looked, so I got another pattern that had more texture. I very easily peeled off the current one and installed the new one in a few minutes. It changed the whole look of the room and it is temporary!

 

6.     Window Treatment

Do you hate your view, are your neighbors or people walking by peeking through your window? AND you don’t want curtains/blinds? Window treatment could be a great option, it will allow for constant natural light entering the room but will give you the privacy you need. Also, these window treatments come in different patterns and sizes, if you want to cover only a portion of the window, all you have to do is get one that partially covers it. When you’re about to move, peel them off the window and get ready to have your deposit back!

 

7.     Plants and flowers

My favorite one! Bring some life and pops of color to your rental by adding plants and flowers to your dΓ©cor! I started with a couple of succulents and now I live in a garden! I think it’s getting a little out of hand, but I absolutely love my babies! I added a couple of plants and flowers to every room, even my windowless bathroom. I absolutely love how it adds life and freshens the air. If you don’t have the green thumbs yet, don’t worry, it comes with time, I had a couple of mishaps along the way, (still do…) but once you get the hang of it, you’ll love living plants. Until then, you can mix and match living, fake and dried plants/flowers, trust me, it does the job! In my living room, I have a bunch of dried and fake plants as well, I feel like it adds dimension and texture to the space.

 

These are great additions to a rental because they are damage-free and completely temporary, and by that, I mean you can take them with you when you leave the rental, and you can move them around as you change your dΓ©cor.

8.     Peel & Stick backsplash

You probably didn’t choose the backsplash of your kitchen, which means, you might not like it. Or you are in a rental that doesn’t have a backsplash at all… Worry no more, I have a solution for you: Peel and Stick Backsplash! It is completely temporary and very easy to put up, it’s in the name, peel it and stick it to the wall. Another great thing is that these come in different shapes and patterns, you can even choose the color of grout. I actually got some white subway tiles with grey grout for my kitchen, and it looks seamless! I love the fact that the backsplash has dimension and seems completely real. They were fast to put up and I was able to easily cut the tiles to fit plugs, light switches, and corners. I recommend them to anyone looking for a temporary way to update a kitchen. Again, just make sure they are heat and water-resistant, I recommend doing thorough research and going through reviews.

9.     Change hardware

The easiest way to update your cabinets, drawers, doors is by simply changing the hardware. Depending on what style you’re going for, you will have hundreds of options. For my kitchen, I chose modern golden pulls and for the bathroom, I go these beautiful marble doorknobs, sounds fancy but they cost me less than 20$ for 6 knobs. If you don’t want to patch holes, I suggest using hardware that can be installed on the existing holes. All you have to do is unscrew the current ones and put the new pulls/knobs on. Another option could be to put knobs on using command strips, these can easily be removed once you’re ready to leave. Just, make sure you store the old ones somewhere you’ll remember and install them back on before you vacate. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you could drill new holes and put up the hardware you want, just make sure to fill the holes using wood filler before you leave the rental. 

10.     Paint/Wrap your furniture

I love repurposing or reviving old furniture! And I think it’s a wonderful way to update the look of a room without causing any damage and it requires no extra work when moving out. You could:

Β·       spray paint or install new hardware on your dresser

Β·       Paint/stain your furniture

Β·       Use stencils/washi tape to embellish your old TV stand

Β·       Wrap your coffee tabletop with marble contact paper

Β·       Add cushions to your wooden bench

Β·       Wrap your old chair with modern fabric

Β·       Add lights under your shelves

Β·       Put up wallpaper/contact paper in the back of your bookcase

These are only a few examples, your options are endless, it all depends on the time you have to spend on these DIY projects. Also, if you’re lacking inspiration, head to Pinterest you will find great examples.  

 

11.     Appliances Decals

If you have old-looking appliances and don’t want/can’t buy new ones, well you can simply wrap them in decals. You can have brand-new-looking appliances for a very cheap price. Wrap the old fridge in nice chrome decals you can do the same for your stove and dishwasher and tada! You have a cohesive modern looking kitchen appliance package. I would recommend doing a deep search on what brand and type of decals you wish to use seeing as these appliances can get really hot and to make sure they are damage-free! When you’re ready to leave the rental, just peel them off! Or maybe your landlord will ask you to keep them because they look awesome!

 

12.     Rugs, throws, and pillows

These are my go-to quick dΓ©cor change items! Rental or not, if you don’t want to put crazy colors on your walls, then just buy a few throw pillows and blankets to add texture and pops of color. These are completely temporary, and you can change them whenever you want. Another great way to zhuzh up your dΓ©cor is using rugs! You can invest in a large area rug or simply layer a few smaller ones to achieve the look you want. These additions can change the whole look of the room, taking it from a lifeless place to a designer room! The reason I love these little changes is that you can go big and crazy with the colors and textures as you want and if you don’t like them, just return, or exchange them!

13.     Unique dΓ©cor items

Most importantly, I love adding my personality to any room in my home. The easiest way is by putting out a few dΓ©cor items I got on my trips, or I found interesting at the flea market. You know, the weirdly shaped vase, the nit tray, artsy planter, that little piece that you have no idea what it is but you love how it looks, etc. Though sometimes they don’t really match my dΓ©cor, I still put them on shelves, bookcases, and coffee table, I feel like it makes my home mine. These dΓ©cor pieces can take your dΓ©cor to the next level design-wise, but they also are great conversation pieces. Don’t be afraid to have a few weird items in your design, it is what adds life and personality to your home.

 

14.     Command hooks, command strips, Velcro tape

These are the magic wands of renters! Command hooks/strips, Velcro tape can be used to hang art, curtain rods, shelves, towels, etc.  These were a great help to me, especially when I was renting! I was able to decorate my home with minimal damage. However, I did have a few mishaps! You have to be thorough in your research for the right hooks, strips, or tape:

Β·       Make sure they are damage free (i.e., doesn’t chip the paint badly when you remove it)

Β·       Look at the weight capacity and get the right one for whatever you are trying to hang.

Β·       Find out whether the one you chose can adhere to the material you want to stick it to.

Β·       Make sure they are water-resistant when using them in water prone areas (e.g., when using them to hang a shower caddy)

Alright my lovelies, there you have it, my tips, and tricks for decorating and making your rental your home AND keeping your landlord happy! Remember, you can decide to use all these tips or mix and match depending on your Interior design needs, preferences, and budget.

 

Try my tips and let me know how it looks!

 

Don’t forget to tell me if you enjoyed this post and if you found it helpful in the comment section. Also, if you have any additional tips don’t hesitate to write them down as well.

 

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22 Comments

  1. avatar

    I love this post! We moved in and this house hasn’t been updated in years. I’ve been looking into a peel and stick backsplash for the kitchen, just to jazz it up a little.

    1. avatar

      Thank you Cindy πŸ™‚ Yes, I can relate! I found my subway tiles on Amazon after a couple of days of research πŸ™‚

  2. avatar
    Mychelle says:

    I want to get into Airbnb and this is a great source when it comes to decorating. Thanks !

    1. avatar

      Yes! these tricks are great for Airbnb! Especially in the beginning, you don’t want to invest too much in remodeling before you start making money!

  3. avatar
    Kelly says:

    We were fortunate enough that our complex was new when we moved in, so all the cabinets and flooring were in line with what’s in style now, but I’m so excited to move into our house and do all the things to the walls!

    1. avatar

      You’re lucky! but I completely understand the excitement to make an apartment your own! I was so excited to do my DIY renovations when I moved to my condo!

  4. avatar

    Although we are not renters and can do whatever we want, this ideas are great even for homeowners! We don’t have the time for major renovations. Just a little paint last year was a huge project! I want to revitalize other rooms and just don’t have the energy to go though that again! So, I’ll be using some of these ideas! Thanks!

    1. avatar

      yes! I used a lot of these tricks for my parents’ chalet and my condo. What I love about these is that they are temporary so, if you change your mind in a couple of months, well you have a way out haha but if you’ve invested thousands on projects, you gotta suck it up!

  5. avatar
    Marjie Mare says:

    These are absolutely beautiful decors. All of them have that intimate and personal touch. I also love the guitar touch.

    1. avatar

      Thank you for your feedback! I love adding personality to my decors!

  6. avatar

    These are all such great ideas to decorate a rental. There are so many different options nowadays with the use of command type strips and all of the peel and stick wallpaper/decals. Thanks for sharing.

    1. avatar

      Thank you for your feedback! Yes, I’m so happy we get to have so many options for rentals, it can be so hard to add personality to a rental!

  7. avatar

    Love these tips, I live in military housing in the UK and move every 2/3 years. I can’t do too much to the houses but don’t want to live in a bland box either. It’s refreshing to read a post that really understands the limitations, but is embracing the idea of making the house our home anyway!

    A great read, very enjoyable.

    1. avatar

      I’m so glad you found it helpful Helen! Moving frequently doesn’t mean you don’t get to enjoy the home you are in, the best part is you can take some of those decor items with you to the next house and can keep some consistency!

  8. avatar

    Great ideas! My hubby and I are renting while we build our house and it’s so hard not being able to really make our space feel like OURS. Great tips here.

    1. avatar

      Thank you for your feedback Karen! There’s no harm in making a few changes to match you and your hubby’s personalities, even if it’s temporary!

  9. avatar
    Grace This Place says:

    Super cute! We’re about to sell our house and we may need to rent for a month or 2 so I might have to implement some of these tips!

    1. avatar

      I’m so glad you found my tips helpful! πŸ™‚

  10. avatar

    These are all super cute! Many great ideas here to spruce up the spaces. I love the colors, the decals, tiles, and plants! Really beautiful.

    1. avatar

      Thank you Catherine I’m happy you enjoyed it! It’s crazy what we can do now with temporary decor πŸ™‚

  11. avatar

    So many excellent ideas! There are many ways to make any rental home cozy and you covered them well here. Pillows and throws are my favorite, but the appliance decals are brilliant.

    1. avatar

      Thank you Maria, I’m happy you enjoyed the read πŸ™‚

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I'm Nelly, writer, artist, designer, property manager, and interior design and lifestyle blogger. I currently have a full-time job and I am a part-time University student for Masters Degree, but as if that doesn't keep me busy enough, I still make time to start design projects, write, paint and blog. I've always been the creative type and I cannot sit still to save my life! Fortunately, my creative projects actually relax me, which helps balance my overwhelming academic and professional life.

I am a DIY kind of person, if I can do it, why spend on labor? besides, most of the time, I actually enjoy being a handywoman! So, "why blogging?" you asked? Well, when my parents bought a cottage, I offered my services to renovate and redecorate it to represent them and to make sure they feel at home while sticking to the agreed-upon budget.

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