Six Apartment Upgrades to Make Your Rental More Like a Home

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You may not own your home, but you still want it to feel like home. The problem is that many apartments are tasteless and sad. As a renter, you can’t demolish a wall or upgrade your kitchen appliances, but there are some simple, renter-friendly upgrades that will make your rental more homey.

Replace faucets and shower heads

Most of the fixtures in your apartment are probably not easy to replace, but you can do without some fixtures that can give these fixtures a completely different look.

For example, you may not be able to replace the entire kitchen sink, but it is easy enough to replace the faucet. It all comes down to a few basic steps :

  • Make sure the configuration of your new faucet matches the sink. Most hardware stores sell tap hole covers if the holes are left unprotected in a new mixer.
  • Close the water taps under the sink.
  • Unscrew the nuts on the supply lines of the existing valve, then remove the valve.
  • Install a new tap, then reconnect and secure the supply lines.

Valve prices run the gamut , but you can find some decent buys for less than a hundred bucks, especially at places like Amazon or IKEA . You may be able to find some suggestions too.

It is even easier to replace the shower head . Usually all you have to do is unscrew the old one, wrap the new Teflon tape around the nozzle, and then screw on the new head. However, some shower heads are designed to be screwed on without tape and can actually leak if you add tape, so read the instructions that came with it.

Install new doorknobs, handles, and other small parts.

Small changes can make a big difference, too. Here are a few pieces of equipment that you can swap around to make a big impact.

  • Cabinet knobs, knobs, or knobs : You can often buy a 25-piece pack for under $ 30 . Of course, the more beautiful you want to buy, the more you will pay.
  • Toilet seats: They usually cost between $ 20 and $ 50, but being the first to sit in your seat? Priceless.
  • Toilet paper holders : These aren’t the most glamorous thing in your apartment, but they are a very cheap exchange that can go a long way towards enhancing your bathroom.
  • Light Switch Plates : Make sure you unplug the power source when dealing with any kind of electrical retrofit. Plus, installing the new light switch plate is incredibly easy.

As small as these details may seem, they are easy enough to update and add to add personality to your apartment. Plus they are cheap!

Improve your lighting

Your lighting fixtures are usually pretty easy to replace, too . Mandatory but important caution: Make sure the power is off before trying to tinker with anything electrical, including removing and replacing lighting fixtures. This project can be a little tricky, but it mainly includes:

  • Removing the old fixture and using a circuit tester to make sure the electricity is actually off.
  • Locate the white (neutral), black (power), and green or bare (ground) wire and remove the nuts.
  • Attach these wires with wire nuts to the new fixture.
  • Attaching a new luminaire to a ceiling or wall

It can be helpful to have a friend for this because you will need to hold the fixture while you attach the wires. The video below will show you in detail how this is done.

Of course, when choosing a lighting fixture, it helps to choose the right lighting . Consider the function of each room, decide if you need outdoor, work or accent lighting, and then choose the appropriate lighting fixture.

You too want to choose the right bulb for the job. Most light bulb packages should include lumen information. Use this calculator to calculate how many lumens you need in each room based on your home and preferences.

If you are ready for this, you can also completely replace the light switch with an adjustable one . You can find a decent one for less than twenty dollars, and while it does require power off and wiring, it gives you more control over the lighting in your rental.

Whichever option you choose, the bottom line is that you don’t have to live with ugly lighting in your apartment. Best of all, when you move, you can take all of these accessories with you.

Rooms look best with mixed lighting. So in addition to the standard overhead lighting, add work lighting as well. Bulbs are an obvious way to accomplish this, but you can get a little more lighting with cabinet lighting. For example, it is incredibly easy to install the kind of LED lights that I used under my kitchen cabinets. Apartment Therapy also has a fun list of different options . Best of all, many of them run on batteries, so they don’t need to be plugged into the mains. In general, mixing lighting will make a room feel cozier and less homely.

Make the most of a small space

If you live in a small apartment, you can’t just add a room or tear down a wall to expand your space. You usually have to make do with it, but there are some ingenious ideas on how to make the most of your tiny living space.

For additional storage, it is useful to use furniture that serves a double function. For example, a storage unit , a work space in the attic, or a small kitchen island with shelves underneath.

When talking about kitchens, make sure you optimize all of your closet space. For example, I don’t have many cupboards in my kitchen, so I bought a shelf to use all the space for storing plates and bowls. They cost around $ 15, but they are an easy way to add storage instantly.

Likewise, you can use a tension bar to add extra spice space , or try this DIY magnetic spice rack that doubles as a shelf. You can even build your own pull-out pantry next to the refrigerator . It’s not exactly an easy option, but quite creative.

If you’re short on counter space, you can try your hand at a modular folding tabletop or wall-mounted cutting board like this one through Apartment Therapy. Of course, you want to check your lease to make sure you are allowed to fasten things to the wall.

If your bathroom is short on storage space, you’ll have to get creative too. Try putting a second shower bar in the bathroom and hanging portable baskets. Hang some shelves on the wall to store your towels . If you don’t have room for a towel rack, buy some suction cup hooks (they are under ten dollars) that you can hang from the back of your bathroom door, or maybe in a weird corner where there is wasted space. I installed mine right on the shower door.

Add a fresh coat of paint

This is the most obvious update, but I must say it is very effective. Applying a new coat of paint is probably the most effective way to make your apartment look like a real home. This is not the easiest method because it requires a little preparatory work and some time, but the payoff is great. Check your rental agreement to find out what the rules are, because some leases prohibit the painting, but most homeowners do not object to this, if you paint the walls back to their original color . In fact, some landlords may not even require you to it, because what you have done, in any case, looks better than what they plan to do. In any case, if they agree with this, be sure to get it in writing in case you run into problems when you move.

If you need help choosing a color, learning the basics of color theory will get you on the right track. You will be amazed at how great the color difference can be, but this also goes for the wrong color choice, so make sure it complements your existing furniture and the rest of your space. Based on this, Apartment Therapy offers several rules to follow:

• More than one color in a room might look great, but if you go in the same direction, keep a maximum of three colors. If you choose two bright colors, the third should be neutral to give your eye a rest.

• When choosing colors, start by choosing the boldest color, and then choose others with the first color in mind.

• Do not be afraid! The paint is not permanent and can always be changed.

Even easier, you can use online tools to help you select an additional paint palette and then test those colors with a tool like ColorSnap .

If your lease doesn’t allow you to paint, don’t worry – there are other ways to add color to your walls. For example, you can buy removable wallpaper that you can rent and take with you from place to place. And it is quite affordable at prices ranging from $ 55 to $ 60 for each 25-inch panel. You have tons of options online, but you can also buy them from major retail stores like Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond . Likewise, decorative vinyl decals are sold in these places if you want to add a little personal design without rendering an entire wall.

Hide ugly things

I’ve lived in different apartments over the years and there is always some horrible eyesore that drives me crazy, from the ugly carpet to the dirty old air conditioners. You can probably relate to this, so here are some simple fixes for common ugly tenants:

These are simple fixes, but if you’re looking for a more extensive update it never hurts to just talk to your landlord about the changes you want to make. Maybe they’ll come halfway with you and upgrade your technique or help with a renovation project, especially if you’re planning to stay for a while.

However, if you are just looking for simple solutions, these are some of the most affordable and cost effective solutions that will make your apartment less like the temporary home you are renting and more like your own home.

This story was originally published in February 2016 and was updated on March 15, 2021 to follow the Lifehacker style guidelines.

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