Renting an apartment means you can’t make any significant changes without potentially forfeiting your security deposit — but that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to liven up the space. Below, we’re sharing five simple (and temporary!) ways you can make your mark in your rental.
Line Drawers with Contact Paper
You can make any space your own by lining the kitchen and bathroom drawers with cute, colorful contact paper. Just clean the surface, measure the length and width, cut and check the size, and then remove the backing before sticking the paper inside the drawer. It should peel right off when you’re ready to move out.
Use Removable Wallpaper or Wall Decals
Since you can’t paint the walls in your rental apartment, removable wallpaper is the next best thing. You can create a vibrant statement wall, or do an entire room with peel and stick wallpaper. Check out Target’s budget-friendly options — or, if you don’t want to commit to wallpaper, you can add a bit of personality to your space with wall decals.
Install Tension Rod Curtains
Many apartments have windows with shades, but if you want to install curtains without the hassle of drilling into the wall, tension rods are an easy, affordable option. Home Depot has plenty of tension rods, like this matte black option. Just slide a curtain onto one and pop it into your window space.
Customize Your Cabinet Space
If you’re not happy with the cabinet space in your apartment, consider investing in some shelf risers or organizers. This will give you more storage in general, and let you customize it to your liking without having to install any permanent shelving.
Put No-Nail Shelves on the Walls
Sometimes you can drill into the wall of an apartment as long as you fill in the holes at the end of your stay. However, if you want to avoid the hassle of installing and removing shelves, you can use no-nail options, like this Command floating wall ledge, for lighter objects.
