How To Update Your Rental Apartment Without Causing Damage

Moving into a new space is so exciting, but what may not be so exciting are the things you don’t like but aren’t allowed to change. For most rentals, all they allow are nail holes to hang pictures and decor.

However, with some clever decorating hacks, you can make your rental feel like home without sacrificing your deposit! Here are some landlord-friendly tips to help you upgrade your rental apartment decor.

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First, You’ll Need To Understand Your Rental Agreement

Some apartments or rentals can be very strict.

While others may allow you to do more to the place you are renting.

For example, our apartment complex is pretty strict. We are not allowed to do anything more than add nail holes to hang items on the walls.

Some landlords are more lenient though, allowing minor changes like painting, while others may only permit nail holes for hanging pictures. Always ask first and communicate with your landlord to know what’s allowed!

How To Hang Curtains In Rental Apartments

The classic oh-so-amazing plastic horizontal blinds.

They did the job at least.

Simply hanging curtains over them is a great way to upgrade your rental apartment decor.

It’s so simple, but makes a huge difference in a space.

I love these Amazon Basics black out curtains especially. They are such nice quality at an affordable price point and don’t allow any light to peek through!

It also helps keep the heat out too helping us save even more on our electricity bill in the summer months. Read the reviews – people are raving about these! Not just me!

These exact ones come in six different lengths and nine different sizes. Making them perfect for anyone’s style, color scheme, or height of their windows.

Peel And Stick Flooring In Apartments

The holy grail of renters everywhere.

They make so many different designs nowadays and it’s super user friendly to install!

From flooring to backsplashes, these removable items can dramatically change the look of your space. Here are some options to consider:

• Flooring: The best and most authentic choice but also more expensive are peel-and-stick wood planks. A more affordable option that still looks pretty good and is water proof are these Amazon vinyl flooring rolls. They’re more wear resistant and they don’t bubble or scrunch up like contact paper would. DO NOT USE wood-grain contact paper for your floors!! Those will not wear well!
• Backsplash: Transform your kitchen or bathroom with peel-and-stick backsplash tiles. If you like marble subway tiles, these ones are really popular on Amazon, or these wider thinner tile sheets, there’s something for everyone!
• Countertops: Update your kitchen or bathroom counters with faux marble contact paper or other patterns to match your style.

Remember, patience is key when installing peel-and-stick products for a polished finished look.

Make sure to set enough time aside in order to focus on this project because if you do rush you could end up giving yourself an even worse look than before (especially if you’re trying out contact paper for the first time).

Done right, this will totally transform your rental apartment decor by helping just about everything look like a more high-end finish!

With so many options out there, you will have no problem finding a print to match your style.

Clever Ways to Hide Your Electrical Panel

Many apartments have the electrical panel in plain sight, with seemingly no good way of hiding it.

You can’t put much in front of it, because it needs to be easily accessible in case you may need to use it.

But, that doesn’t mean it needs to be an eyesore!

Try decorating this part of your rental by hanging a cute painting or picture directly over the panel.

This way, it can come right off the wall when you need it to, but it is completely hidden without becoming a hazard if you need to ever get to it fast!

Swap Outdated Hardware

An easy but drastic change that can be made around the home is with the hardware!

This can really elevate the space. The details really matter!

But, don’t drill new holes! Keep it the same as what you already have in terms of knobs or pulls.

Choose hardware that matches the existing holes to avoid drilling new ones. I love the look of matte black hardware, but you can find any colors you like!

This is a great way to make the space unique and your own. Plus, you can bring them with you when you leave and incorporate them into your next home!

Choosing The Right Sized Pieces of Furniture

If you are just moving into your first place on your own, or are moving from another rental, it is important that your furniture fits your space.

Furniture that is too big or too small for space has a huge impact on the look and function.

Make sure you find the right rental apartment decor for your space.

Our apartment was much larger than the last home we were in. So all the previous furniture was too small, except the TV.

It made the apartment look weird and it actually made the living room feel smaller.

Some before and after photos- the entire room feels drastically bigger even though we added large furniture!

Don’t wait to make it feel like home because you don’t think you’ll be there for long

Now, this doesn’t mean spend a fortune decorating.

But you may stay there for longer than planned. Even if you’re only there a short amount of time, it’s important to be comfortable where you are!

We were very young when we moved out and had our daughter. Taking our stuff with us from our first tiny home didn’t exactly fit right in our new larger apartment.

Since decorating our apartment I feel much happier and comfortable in our space! A well-decorated space can significantly improve quality of life.

Since we will be here for a while longer I want it to really feel like a home and decided it was completely worth it to put the money into.

Last tip for updating your rental apartment: don’t be afraid to ask!

When learning the best ways to go about rental apartment decor it’s important to remember sometimes landlords may be open to doing upgrades.

Don’t be afraid to ask!

Ask your landlord about changing some things, whether they would be willing to make the upgrade or whether they would allow you to do it yourself!

For example, ask to paint the walls! Chances are if you’re doing the work and paying for materials they will let you.

Now, if you’re in an apartment complex, it may be less likely to be allowed to do anything, but it’s always worth asking. The worst they can say is no!

Transforming your rental apartment into a cozy, personalized space is entirely possible with these landlord-friendly decorating tips. Happy decorating!

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For more budget-friendly decorating ideas, check out my post on How to Decorate with Little to No Money.