There are certain limits to what you can and cannot do to a rental property when it comes to customization. Apart from the limits of the lease themselves, it also won’t make much sense to invest in home upgrades that you can’t take with you to your next apartment. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t personalize your rental, even if it’s just with reversible upgrades.
Here are some of the best upgrades you can do to your apartment without violating your lease contract:
- Install removable wallpaper
When you can’t paint over the walls or install regular wallpaper, your next best option to give your walls a new look is removable wallpaper. This type of wall treatment lets you personalize your space without the commitment. Best of all, it’s easy to install and remove, meaning you won’t have to stress over the removal come moving day.
- Use paintable wallpaper
Alternatively, you can install paintable wallpaper on your walls and paint over them with any color you like. This type of wallpaper is just like removable wallpaper, able to be removed without leaving any residue that can cost you your deposit. It also doesn’t allow for paint seepage, given that you install them correctly. However, you should still check with your landlord before doing anything to your walls.
- Install a removable backsplash
Want to give your kitchen a little upgrade? A removable tile backsplash is a great option for temporary dwellers with lease terms to follow. Just like removable wallpaper, removable tiles are peel-and-stick and are incredibly easy to install. One word of caution though; many removable backsplashes have a powerful adhesive that makes them difficult to remove when it’s time to vacate your apartment. They may even take off some of the paint and wall material with them. Hence, you have to be prepared to do at least a little repainting when it’s time to remove your backsplash.
- Lay vinyl plank flooring
Ugly, well-worn carpets? Faded and stained hardwood floors? When the flooring of your apartment is an eyesore in and of itself, it can affect the appearance of the entire space. But unfortunately, most landlords won’t be willing to replace the entire flooring just because you ask for it.
The next best option? Lay down temporary flooring to hide the unpleasant sight that is underneath. A great choice is vinyl plank flooring, which can fake the look of a hardwood floor without sticking to the material underneath. These “planks” stick to themselves instead of the floor, making them very easy to remove when it’s time to move out.
- Hang LED lights underneath cabinets
If you need extra illumination in the kitchen, peel-and-stick LED lights are a great temporary option. These lights are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. If you live in an apartment with not-so-good overhead illumination, these lights will help you see better while cooking in the kitchen.
- Switch out knobs
Cabinet knobs and doorknobs are easy to switch out. Plus, installing your own can have a significant impact on how your space looks. Just make sure you keep the original knobs and screws in a box so that you can be ready to replace them when it’s time to move.
- Get a better showerhead
The original showerhead of your rental will probably not be luxurious. Fortunately, making every shower feel like a spa-experience won’t cost you much since shower heads are relatively inexpensive. And if you have some DIY skills under your belt, you will likely be able to install it yourself. Otherwise, ask maintenance to do it for you.
- Hang curtains
Most apartments come with ugly blinds that can’t be removed by the renter. If this is the case for you, hanging curtains can help hide those blinds and upgrade the look of your apartment. Pro tip: use removable stick-on hooks to hang curtains if your lease prevents you from drilling holes in the wall.
Living in an apartment can be pretty limiting to your desire of personalizing your space. Nevertheless, there are lots of ways you can make your rental your own, starting with the ones mentioned above.
