I come from an interior design background and let me tell you, living in a rental for the last 4 and a half years has almost been torture. We are now in our third rental since we’ve been married and not being able to paint, change flooring, fixtures or hang certain things has been so difficult for me. I can’t stand bare walls and most fixtures/surfaces that come in a standard rental are pretty ugly. Over the years, and through many hours of researching on Pinterest, I have found some pretty amazing rental hacks that can easily change the look of your home without damaging it. Here are 7 hacks to make your rental feel like home
1. Ditch The Ugly Vertical Blinds
Let’s be honest – vertical blinds are one of the most hideous and horrible inventions of our time. Not only are they ugly, but they break all the time, are really loud, and if you have one tiny gust of wind come through the window they are done for. The easiest way to remedy this problem is to take each blind out of it’s clip on the track. Find a safe place for them that’s out of the way where they won’t ever be seen or thought of again until after you move out and have to put them back up. Go buy some curtains that you love and slip the top of the curtain right into the clip where the vertical blind would clip in. This hack is very easy to do and looks so much better than those boring white blinds.
(If you need to see an example of this there is a great video tutorial on Mr. Kate along with lots of other creative DIY ideas).
Source: everythingemilyblog.com
2. Make a Creative Wall Using Tape or Contact Paper
Have you ever heard of a little magical thing called washi tape? If not, you are really missing out. There are so many uses for washi tape, one of them being making a creative design on your boring white rental wall. There are so many options of what you can do with washi tape. I even did something similar with black contact paper I bought at Home Depot. I cut triangles out of it and stuck them to my son’s nursery wall. It’s a creative wall that is often a conversation starter. And the best part about using both the washi tape and the contact paper? It peels right off without damaging your wall!
(If you need a guide on how to make a washi tape wall, head on over to the Everything Emily Blog where she has countless DIY projects to get your creative juices flowing).
3. Removable Wallpaper
Yes, there is such a thing as removable wallpaper. This rental hack is wonderful, but can also get expensive, so if this is something you want to do, make sure you are planning on staying in your rental for a while so you can get your money’s worth. You can buy it from lots of sources such as Amazon and Sherwin-Williams and the effect is quit stunning. There shouldn’t be any damage on the wall when it’s removed, but even if there are minor damages, most rentals require that they paint the place when you move out, so it shouldn’t count against you anyways.
(If you have more questions about how to install removable wallpaper, Oh Happy Day does a wonderful review on her website as well as lots of other DIY projects).
4. Temporary Granite
I have some of the ugliest countertops known to humankind. They are a mustard yellow laminate and straight up from the 70s. I have wanted to find a way to cover them up since we moved in. I have done a lot of research and have found a company that offers an amazing product called Instant Granite. It’s a peel and stick granite that you put over your countertops and looks almost exactly like the real thing. It is reported to have easy removal simply by getting it hot with a hair dryer. It is definitely something that is on my to do list.
(Instant Granite offers a variety of colors for your temporary granite countertop needs).
5. Create A Gallery Wall
One way to take up lots of space on a blank white wall is to create a “gallery wall.” A gallery wall is a series of pictures and/or wall decor that are hung up on a wall in a sort of pattern or cluster. You can make it as small as you want or as large as you want. I have a large gallery wall in my home and it is a very bold and creative way to decorate a wall. People always comment on how much they love it and how unique it is. The best part about this hack for your rental is that you can be as creative as you want with this to make it feel like home. It doesn’t have to just be pictures or frames. I have hung low profile baskets and clocks as well as taped up cute printables I’ve found online.
(If you need inspiration for your gallery wall check out Lulu & Georgia’s website where you can find a tutorial for the one above as well as lots of lifestyle, fashion, and home decor inspiration)
Source: homedepot.com
6. Temporary Backsplash
Have some really ugly backsplash in your kitchen, or maybe none at all? Home Depot offers some peel and stick decorative wall backsplash that can be removed using a hair dryer. It may be a more pricey solution in your rental, but the end result is beautiful. It’s easy to install and easy to remove. Time to spruce up your kitchen!
(Home Depot has many more products for your home project needs from flooring to window coverings).
Source: command.com
7. Temporary Wall Hanging
I’m sure you’ve heard of Command Wall Hooks, but have you heard of Command Damage-Free Hanging strips? They are perfect for rentals because you can affix them to whatever you are hanging then attach them to the wall. And, when you’re ready to move out and take down the decor, the strips peel right off the wall. No holes. No damage. They are very easy to use. It’s the perfect hack to make a rental feel like home.
(command.com has a large variety of hanging product options that will help you hang things in your home damage free).
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5 Creative Ways To Use Removable Wallpaper
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