If you’re renting an apartment, you know how limited your options can be when it comes to making your space your own. You only have so much space for furniture, and you know you can’t make too many major changes that you’ll have to repair or pay for later.
Landlords often have strict rules about what you can and cannot do to the property. Painting the walls is often out of the question, and you don’t want to drill too many holes by hanging lots of shelves either.
But fear not because there are plenty of clever, budget-friendly upgrades you can make to your apartment without risking your security deposit or violating your lease agreement.
Whether this is your first apartment or you’ve done this song and dance before, let’s explore some creative ideas to enhance your living space and make it feel more like your home. From maximizing storage, improving lighting, and adding a touch of personality, we’ve got you covered.
Get ready to transform your apartment into a stylish and functional haven with these rental friendly hacks.
Apartment Hack #1: Renter Friendly Shelves
Space is a big issue in most apartments, and built-in shelving is not something you’re likely to find. When it comes to hanging shelves (or anything, really) on your apartment walls, you want the damage to be minimal.
If you’re storing lightweight, decorative items on your shelves, go with adhesive shelves that don’t require any drilling or screws. For heavier objects, floating shelves require minimal drilling that’s easy to fix when you move out.
Tension rod shelves are held up by tension between walls or cabinet walls without any hardware required. These are great for maximizing space in your kitchen, closet, and bathroom.
Apartment Hack #2: Removable Wallpaper & Decals
Plain beige walls aren’t most people’s favorite thing to see when they walk in the door. You can add color to your walls by hanging plenty of pictures and art, but all those holes add up.
Removable wallpaper is a fun, inexpensive, and temporary way to make your space your own. Peel and stick wallpaper takes a bit of practice, but it’s very beginner friendly to use so you don’t need to worry about air bubbles or creases, and it’s just as easy to peel off when you’re ready to leave.
Decal stickers are an even easier version of removal wallpaper because you’re handling small stickers rather than one big one at a time. Create whatever pattern you want!
If stickers aren’t your thing, don’t be afraid to ask your landlord about painting a wall or two. They might have a list of approved colors for you to choose from and you only have to repaint it before you move.
Apartment Hack #3: Use Adhesive Strips and Hooks to Hang Almost Anything
Using adhesive to attach things means you won’t be leaving holes in the walls when you move out, and that’s the most renter friendly hack of all.
Use adhesive hooks in your bathroom, closet, and bedroom as extra hanging storage for hats, purses, towels, jackets, and more. You can use adhesive tape to hang photos for a gallery wall, hang curtain rods, hang shelving on your pantry door, and even to attach new fancy knobs to your drawers and cabinets.
When applying adhesives, make sure the wall or surface is clean and dry, and firmly press them to the wall for about 30 seconds to maintain the hold.
Apartment Hack #4: Create Your Dream Bathroom
Apartment bathrooms are typically on the small and outdated side, but there are some things you can do to fix that!
For one, you don’t have to be stuck with the old, weak shower head provided to you. Buy a new shower head with the pressure you’re looking for and it’s an easy swap!
Secondly, over-the-toilet storage is great for anyone with a cramped bathroom. You need more space to store extra toilet paper, towels, and more. You can install floating shelves or go with a freestanding unit that requires minimal assembly and no drilling.
You can do many of these same wall updates as elsewhere in your home with peel and stick wallpaper and decals, and you can even check with your landlord about installing peel and stick tiles to upgrade your bathroom floor.
Finally, purchase storage containers and baskets to keep your toiletries organized in your cabinets. They come in every size and color imaginable and truly maximize your space.
Apartment Hack #5: Hide and Protect the Floors
If you’ve got ugly tile or vinyl flooring or carpet that you hate looking at, throw some rugs down and fix two problems at once.
Problem number one? The look. When buying rugs, choose patterns and colors that match your style to make your space reflect your personality. And now for problem number two. Rugs not only liven up your space, but they also protect the flooring from damage you might have to worry about when moving out.
Rugs prevent your furniture or animals from scratching tile or hardwood flooring, and they can also protect carpet so you don’t have to worry about stains or pulling the carpet up.
Apartment Hack #6: Add Storage Space Wherever You Can
When it comes to apartment hacks, one of the most useful and rental-friendly upgrades is getting storage space out of anything you can.
An ottoman or entryway bench should be more than just a place to rest. Get an ottoman that has room to store extra blankets or pillows inside of it. You can even find couches with similar underseat storage options.
And don’t waste the space beneath your bed either. Use storage bins for excess clothing items or get a bed that comes with storage drawers.
When it comes to your chest of drawers and kitchen cabinets and pantry, maximizing storage is all about organization. Drawer and shelf dividers and containers can help you keep everything where it needs to be and open up even more space.
Make Your Apartment Your Own, Even If It’s Temporary
Just because you’re renting doesn’t mean you can’t make your home entirely your own. There are plenty of rental-friendly upgrades you can make to personalize your living space that won’t come back to bite you when it’s time to move out.
When the time comes to move, don’t let it stress you out. At Cento Moving, we can help you pack and move all of your belongings into your new home and even store items if you need.
You can rest assured that we’ll be just as careful with your belongings as you’ve been in upgrading your rental so as not to incur any damage to them or the property. We’re experienced and trusted Orlando movers, and we can handle local and long-distance moves.
Get a quote today for a stress-free move so you can focus more on settling into your new home.
