Since we’re all spending a ton more time at home, the state of our space really impacts our mood and mental health. Personally, I know that when our tiny bungalow isn’t tidy, I feel more stressed. But I also realize that a lot of people aren’t homeowners, so I wanted to share ways you can temporarily update your home even if you’re a renter! Just because you don’t own your home doesn’t mean you can’t make it feel more your style. Here’s how!
Temporarily Update Your Rental with These 7 Easy Tips
Removable wallpaper
This is a MAJOR game changer for any rental. You can literally change the entire feel of a space by simply putting up a patterned wallpaper. You can also use temp wallpaper to cover your refrigerator, ceiling, or cabinets! I shared a giant round up of removable wallpaper prints and patterns I love recently, that’s a great place to start when shopping for some.
Stick on tiles
If you can’t stand the tiles on your backsplash, floor, or even shower, there are some incredible and stylish adhesive tiles out there! Etsy is a really good place to start looking for options. Make sure that whatever you choose is removable — and if you put it near water, double-check with the seller about the water resistance!
Bring the outdoors in
Honestly, I’m a firm believer that plants can cover up anything. After all, I hide my thermostat behind a tree! Perk up your rental with lots and lots of plants, both big and small. Not only do they add a lot of color, plants are great air purifiers, too. Win-win!
Hang curtains
Curtains are a great way to bring some color and pattern into your apartment or rental, especially if you’re not allowed to paint. Check to make sure you’re allowed to hang the hardware brackets first! If you can’t, another option is to swap the currently blinds for new ones. Try to find a set that has similar mounting points so that you’re not creating new holes.
Change your light fixtures, hardware, and outlet covers
I know this one might seem daunting, but it’s totally not! It’s so easy to switch out light fixtures, drawer and cabinet hardware, and outlet covers… you just need a screwdriver usually! When it comes to changing a light fixture, definitely watch a few YouTube videos, but the process is seriously so easy. Back when I was a renter, the first thing I did when I moved in was swap all the gross, old outlet covers that had been painted over a million times to fresh white ones. It’s a cheap update that makes SUCH a difference! Same with changing cabinet and drawer hardware.
Hang Art with 3M velcro stripes
Every time I moved into a new apartment, I dragged my feet to hang artwork… it always felt like such an undertaking given that it’s only a temporary home that I didn’t own. But it makes such a world of difference! I discovered these picture hanging strips that are absolutely incredible. It’s actually how I created my most recent gallery wall in our living room! Then, when you’re ready to move out, they are soooo easy to remove.
Use mirrors to bounce light
This tip is especially helpful if your space is really small because a mirror will help to bounce around the light and make it feel bigger. If possible, you can also swap out the crappy mirror over the bathroom vanity into something more special, like any of these stylish round mirrors.
Those are just a few of my favorite ways to temporarily update a rental. Have you tried any of them? What else should be on this list? Leave a comment and let me know!
