25 Things To Help You Transform A Rental Apartment
Spruce up the place and still get your security deposit back. (Updated February 16, 2018.)
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1. If the built-in blinds are bumming you out, cover them up with your own curtains.
Block out the blinds ~and~ the sun with blackout curtains.
Get it from Amazon for $13.30 (available in 28 colors).
2. If you hate the white walls, cover them up with removable wallpaper.
3. If you want some more life in your apartment, add some animal-themed planters.
4. If you want so much life in your apartment that it looks like the jungle, start installing some hanging planters.
5. If you have a lot of roommates and only one bathroom, keep your beauty tools organized and out of sight with this organizer.
Promising review: "This product did exactly what I needed it to. Before all my items were in a drawer and the cords were a pain, but with this metal basket, it minimized clutter, kept things organized and separate, and looks nice. It fits two of my blow dryers, a flat iron, and curling wand. The bars are adjustable as well. Worth the buy." —Alyssa Jewell
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
6. If you're trying to entice your friends over to your new place, buy a bar cart for fancy entertaining.
7. If you want to cover up the decidedly ugly floors, add an area rug.
8. If you want the kitchen to feel more like your own, apply some stick-and-peel backsplash tiles.
9. If you want to make your room look like it deserves its own Apartment Therapy feature, add a statement chair.
10. If your place comes with cabinets or drawers, you can change out the knobs for something more fun.
11. If the fridge is bumming you out, add some fun magnets.
12. If gallery walls seem like too much work, consider the humble tapestry for instant wall decor.
13. If you're feeling whimsical, try adding a garland.
Get the rose leaves from Amazon for $17.99 or the mountains from TheUrbanHedgehog on Etsy for $14.06.
14. If the countertops aren't the granite you've been dreaming of, fake it with vinyl coverings.
Promising review: "I purchased a roll of this to cover up an old, stained, and otherwise generally ugly bathroom counter in a rental I live in. Not only does it look better than the original counter, it actually looks pretty good on its own. I'm not going to go as far as to say that it looks like real marble (it's a sheet of glossy vinyl), but it might from a distance and still looks pretty good up close." —R. Morris
Get it on Amazon from $19.99.
15. If the overheard lights aren't cutting it, consider a standing lamp or two.
16. If you have a lot of mugs and nowhere to put them, turn them into functional kitchen decor.
It can hold 18 of your most attractive mugs.
Get it on Amazon from $47.50.
17. If you want some dynamic and unexpected wall art, consider these copper prisms.
Thanks to their shape, you can stuff fabric or other items into them for added texture.
Get it from Amazon for $25.99.
18. If the apartment still feels too bare, add some removable vinyl decals to the walls.
19. If you want to leave your roommates notes, spray on a chalkboard.
You will definitely need to check with your landlord before going to this route, or at least get a thick white paint to cover it up later.
Get it from Amazon for $3.49.
20. If you're lucky enough to have a flight of stairs, add some personality with removable decals.
Get it from StickersColoray on Etsy for $12+.
21. If you want your space to look bigger, use the oldest trick in the book and get some mirrors.
22. If you have more kitchen items than space, use these helpful organizers to keep everything stacked and tidy.
Promising review: "Wow. This cabinet organizer is an amazing value. So far I've used the helper shelves to reorganize my kitchen cabinet, and the wrap rack to store stuff like aluminum foil, Ziploc bags, and of course plastic wrap. I used small command hooks to hang the wrap rack from the side of my fridge. The pieces are still sturdy after a month of using them; no bending or rust. This product is an easy, affordable way to straighten up your kitchen. I highly recommend!" —A. E.
Get the six-piece set from Amazon for $16.03.
23. If you want to make your kitchen look way fancier, add some peel-and-stick tile.
24. If your showers aren't cutting it, replace the shower head.
25. And if you need some storage space in the bathroom, place some shelving right above the toilet.
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Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.