Renter-Friendly Apartment Upgrades

It used to be hard to make a rental apartment feel like home – especially if you only planned to stay for a short time. Today, however, there are a number of ways to update your apartment decor without having a big impact on your wallet – or your security deposit.

How to Make Renter-Friendly Upgrades

Before you make any decisions about how to update your apartment, schedule a time to talk to your landlord or leasing office. This conversation will serve as a guiding light to determine what you can and can’t do. Some landlords don’t care at all about changes as long as it looks exactly like it did when you moved in. Others welcome the free work, as long as you clear colors and hardware choices with them. You really won’t know your landlord’s preference until you ask, so put that at the top of your “to do” list.

After you know your landlord’s tolerance for change, it’s time to decide your budget. The options of renter-friendly apartment upgrades may be abundant – but they’re definitely not always cheap. Consider your overall goals. Are you planning on only updating your apartment decor – or are you thinking of changing up the layout to make it more functional? Weigh your goals against how long you’re planning on staying in the rental unit. If it’s only for a short period, you may want to focus on “DIY” decoration instead of large-scale improvements. 

Last but not least, save anything you remove. If you spend the money to change switch plates, lighting fixtures or faucets, make sure you can bring them with you when the lease if over by hanging on to everything that you replaced. If this includes larger items like ovens or refrigerators, remember that you can always park them in a short-term self storage unit for the length of your stay.  

Now that you’ve got the logistics sorted out, it’s time for the fun! Keep scrolling to find specific tips about how to update your apartment – without upsetting your landlord ­– with some surprising new renter-friendly apartment upgrades for all skill levels and budgets.

How to Update Your Apartment the Renter-Friendly Way: 8 Tips to Try Today

1. Don’t just paint the walls – decorate the walls. While painting the walls is always a great place to start, think outside the paint can and consider other ideas to customize and personalize your walls in a more rental-friendly way. We love the decadent look of removable wallpaper but if that’s not your style, you can always try either hanging pictures with washi tape or making washi tape patterns on the wall – or both!
2. Reconsider uses for peel and stick wallpaper. Everyone loves a good peel and stick wallpaper either all over the room or just on an accent wall, but have you considered using it for a headboard? How about the back of a shelving unit or the sides of a cabinet? If you’re stuck on walls, don’t be nervous about the application process: you can enjoy a bold pattern without the hassle by applying it to a large piece of foam core and hanging that instead. There are a ton of ways to use peel and stick wallpaper, so get creative!    
3. Turn your rental kitchen into a peel and stick paradise. When they think of peel and stick in the kitchen, most people think the story starts and stops with contact paper inside of drawers. While that’s still a great look, there are many more options today, including peel and stick backsplashes, tiles and flooring. These low-cost, high-impact touches can quickly turn a blah kitchen into a bangin’ one.
4. Glow up the lighting fixtures. While it may not be the easiest or quickest way to update your apartment decor, swapping out builder grade lighting fixtures with snazzier options will do a lot to improve the overall look of your rental. While you’re at it, swap out your switch plates with ones that have a dimmer option for maximum lighting scheme flexibility. 
5. Hang curtains or blinds to dress your windows. Most rental units come without window shades, and landlords generally expect tenants to provide their own. Architectural Digest lists bamboo shades as the number one renter-friendly upgrade, and we have to agree. They’re cheap, look great and are easy to install. And don’t worry about adding holes in the trim or wall when you hang your blinds; you can easily fill those in with spackle or wood putty when it’s time to hit the road.
6. Jazz up the basics. Rental units tend to be pretty barebones. Add a little life by upgrading the basics. Considering how often its used, the lowly kitchen faucet is one piece we always recommend swapping out with a more functional and attractive piece. Cabinets and drawers can also be perked up with a can of paint and new hardware fixtures (not to mention peel and stick wallpaper). And don’t forget toilet seats and towel racks while you’re at it. These pieces might not be the most glamorous of the renter-friendly decor upgrades we’re covering but trust us – you’ll get a lot of joy (and use!) out of them.     
7. Add plants and other organic elements. Warm up your rental with biophilic design elements like plants, natural light, and outdoor views, as well as shapes and materials found in nature. While houseplants are one of the easiest, and most portable, ways to add a natural vibe to your home, you can also diffuse essential oils and open those new curtains to invite the outdoors in. Cue up a playlist of surf crashing on the beach or rain gently falling among the trees, and you’ll achieve a new level of comfort and serenity.
8. Switch your furniture. Our last tip on how to update your apartment has nothing to do with the apartment itself but rather the pieces you choose to furnish it with. To begin, take a good hard look at your living room furniture, such as your coffee table, couch and chairs. This is likely the stuff that your guests (and you) will use the most, so first make sure it’s in good condition and comfortable/usable. Second, consider adding some flair. We love upcycling furniture with chalk paint, stencils, new hardware or new slipcovers for a fresh (and completely movable) take on old favorites. 

We hope these renter-friendly decor upgrades get you well on your way to a space where you feel truly at home. If we missed any of your top ways to spruce up a rental unit, check out other rental-friendly decorating tips and techniques from Food52 and Avail.