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I have lived in rentals my entire adult life. When I was in my early 20s, I decided it wasn’t worth the effort to personalize a rental – it was a temporary space, so why bother? However, as time went on, I realized that I didn’t feel relaxed or at home at home. The beige walls, overhead lights, and cluttered furniture and decor made me uneasy. Learning how to turn my rental apartment into a home was the beginning of my love for interior design.
8 interior design tips for renters
Through trial and error, I’ve discovered that living in a rental doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or personalized space just because you don’t own your own home. There are so many things you can do – from painting and wallpapering to upgrading fixtures and lighting. Ahead, I’ve rounded up my best interior design tips for renters, based on my personal experience transforming beige boxes into warm and stylish homes.
painting
Rental walls are often a safe, neutral beige color, which can look…well, a little boring. The best interior design tip I can give renters is to love your walls. Give them a makeover by adding a bit of color or choosing a neutral color that suits you better. Even changing your walls from beige to a crisp white will significantly brighten your space. Most landlords don’t have a problem with paint as long as you’re willing to paint the walls back to their original color after you move out, or they may let you keep it.
One of my favorite things to paint is the inside of a front door. My current landlord, as well as my previous landlord, both said I could leave it as it was when I moved out. I love pink, so my front door is Sherwin-Williams Coral Perfection. It’s a delightful pop of color that makes me smile every time I see it. Plus, it makes our entryway cheerful and inviting. The entire project was less than $20, proving that paint is an affordable way to make a huge impact on your space.
Peel and stick products
No roundup of interior design tips for renters would be complete without a big shout-out to peel-and-stick products. Peel and stick are incredible for tenants as they are a temporary solution for larger projects that often require renovations. Here are some of my favorites.
Peel and stick wallpaper
If painting isn’t an option, peel-and-stick wallpaper is a great option for decorating your walls. I’m a big fan of adding peel and stick wallpaper wherever you want. Create a dramatic wall in your living room or make your powder room pop with bold color or pattern. I’ve added peel and stick wallpaper to my kitchen, laundry room, and most recently my home office.
The wallpaper completely transformed these spaces and I’m so happy with how they turned out. Plus, removal was easy – there was no damage to the wall when I removed the peel-and-stick wallpaper. You can watch tons of installation YouTube videos, but I will say from personal experience, this is not quite It’s as simple as it looks. Don’t be afraid to hire a TaskRabbit or wallpaper expert to get the job done!
Peel and stick floor tiles
Tenant flooring can range from vinyl to tile and even hardwood. Peel-and-stick floor tiles now allow tenants to update their floors in a temporary and affordable way. I’ve never tried it myself, but peel and stick floor tiles look great in a kitchen or powder room. They can make outdated floors look new again without breaking the bank.
Make sure to clean and dry the floor thoroughly before laying it down, and to map the tiles before attaching them to the floor. There are cute floor tile designs out there, from checkerboard tiles to starbursts, and tons of color options. As with any tenant-friendly project, check with your landlord and be prepared to move when it’s time to move out!
Peel and stick backsplash
One day, when I have an unlimited budget for my home, I will add gorgeous tile to my kitchen. Until then, a peel-and-stick backsplash will do the trick. It’s entirely possible to update a rental kitchen without a major remodel. Peel and stick backsplashes range from sheet to peel and stick tile, so you can pick the product that works best for you, your budget, and your rental.
Be sure to look for heat-resistant and waterproof peel-and-stick backsplashes and make sure the product is suitable for your specific project. Peel and stick tiles are not only great for kitchen backsplashes, but also bathroom vanities, fireplaces, laundry rooms, and more.
Added puck light
Overhead lighting is my personal nemesis. Instead of relying on large overhead lights, add table and standing lamps to your rental. This will create a more relaxed atmosphere. For a more comfortable touch, use a puck light. These battery-operated lights often come with a sticky adhesive so you can place them under cabinets for gorgeous accent lighting that looks especially cute at night.
Puck lights also make wall sconces tenant-friendly without the need for hard wiring. Wall sconces instantly enhance your space and add cozy, personalized lighting to your entryway, bedside, or framed art or picture.
Update lighting fixtures
Ah, the terrible boob lamp. Most rental properties are packed with them, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay. For renters, an interior design tip that many don’t know about is updating your lighting fixtures. You can do it yourself (just make sure all circuit breakers are turned off!) or hire an electrician. I replaced the dated dining room light fixture with a woven pendant, which is more my style and it made a huge difference to our space.
I’m planning on replacing our overhead entry light and even the bathroom light fixture. Personalized lighting fixtures can transform a boring, neutral space into one full of personality. When you move out, be prepared to take your incredible vintage chandelier with you.
Upgrade your shower head
There’s nothing more frustrating than a shower with low water pressure. My current home has a handheld shower head with a very gentle flow of water. I don’t really like the shower head that falls off easily and the water pressure isn’t right for me. The simple replacement couldn’t be easier and I now have a spa like shower with water pressure that I think is just right. Most shower heads are removable by just unscrewing them, and I had a fixed shower head installed in minutes.
Read more: We tested the viral Jolie shower head — and here’s what we really thought.
Replace switch board
The little details in a home are everything. Even the smallest swap can have an impact on your space. One of my favorite things to do is replace the switch plate. Your tenant switch panels may match beige walls, which isn’t exciting. But there are many decorating options available to suit your aesthetic needs.
Decorative switch plates usually cost less than $20, and they come in brass finishes, different colors and patterns, and some even have wavy edges. The switch plate doesn’t come with matching screws, but a little nail polish on the top is an easy way to blend the screws with the rest of the plate.
