If you’re renting, you might think that you have to make do with the space that you’ve got. Most rental agreements frown upon major design upgrades to the home decor—which means that even if you absolutely hate the kitchen, there’s not too much you can do about it! But there still are plenty of easy, temporary fixes that can spruce up your rental space, without messing with your landlord’s policy.
Read on for some quick and cost-effective upgrades, all of them easy enough to reverse when you have to move out. We can (almost) guarantee that your landlord will love them too!
#1. Wallpaper the Backsplash!
Chipped or stained tiles ruining the look of the backsplash? Use peel-and-stick wallpaper for a quick upgrade. Choose from a wide variety of colours, textures and prints, and stick the wallpaper right over the tiles. If you tire of the look, all you have to do is peel off and replace it with another one.
Pro tip: Wallpaper works best on an even surface. If your tiles have grouted joints, you might need to fix a 4 mm ply on the backsplash before you wallpaper it.
#2. Put Down a Rug
Many rental apartments come with old-fashioned floor tiles that aren’t in the best shape. The quickest fix? Hide the cracks and stains by putting down an area rug! Pick one that vibes with your décor and is washable, as the kitchen is one place where you can always expect spills. Rugs in dark colours will not show up dirt or stains easily.
Pro tip: Rugs that are very lightweight often tend to be slippery underfoot. Ensure that you pick one that doesn’t move around easily or trip you up when you’re carrying hot and heavy dishes.
#3. Add a Chalkboard
A chalkboard is a fun addition to any kitchen, and doesn’t cost anything at all! The whole family can pitch in to chalk out menus, create doodle art or just leave to-do notes for each other. You can even paint an entire wall with chalkboard paint, if your landlord will not mind.
Pro tip: Every once in a while, wipe the chalkboard clean with a mixture of vinegar and water. This will remove all the chalk residue and get it looking as good as new.
#4. Play Around with Lights
Poor lighting is the reason why most rental kitchens look drab and worn out. Add LED strip lights below the upper level of cabinets, or install lights inside glass cabinets, and give your kitchen a whole new look.
Pro tip: White lighting is cool and bright, while yellow lights add warmth to your kitchen.
#5. Organise Kitchen Essentials
Lack of storage space can make cooking a difficult chore. Make the best use of floating shelves, spice racks, peg boards and ladle hangers to organise your kitchen essentials and free up counter space. Look for options that can be fixed on suction cups, without the need for drilling and nails. You can even use cutlery organisers and pot separators to make the pull-out storage drawers work smarter.
#6. Display Colourful Accents
Pick out the prettiest kitchen accents you can find, and put them up on display! Polka-dotted coffee mugs, lovely ceramic bowls and quirky oven mitts are a good start. Look for colourful pieces that appeal to your personality, but are functional too.
#7. Hang Up Wall Art
Add interest to a bare wall by hanging up your favourite piece of art. Whoever said artwork had to be confined to the living room alone! Pick out colours from the painting to use in the drapes and seating, and tie the colours together for a cohesive look. The best thing about investing in art pieces is that you can take them with you when you move out!
#8. Go Green
Plants are a great pick-me-up for even the saddest-looking rental kitchens. Whether you choose to grow herbs on the window sill, hang pots with cascading leaves from the ceiling or dot your worktop with pretty succulents—anything works just as well!
#9. Update Your Appliances
You can give a tired kitchen a facelift just by investing in some brand-new appliances. Get a lovely new toaster, a perky coffeemaker, or a pretty-looking waffle iron. Set them out on the counter, along with gorgeous tea towels and a vase with some greens.
#10. Switch Out the Handles
An easy way to give the cabinets an uplift is by switching out the hardware. Buy new handles, or get the drawer channels changed so that they glide smoothly. A small price to pay for a big impact!
Pro tip: You will not be able to easily swap out handles for knobs, and vice versa, as the fittings will leave holes or marks in the cabinet face. Even when shopping for handles, you should look for new options in the same size.
#11. Add Bright Curtains
You can disguise unsightly windows and add a pop of cheer by putting up colourful curtains. In this kitchen, the pretty red and white gingham curtains grab eyeballs and add life and interest, making you forget that the rest of the kitchen is so plain!
Need a hand with upgrading your rental home décor? We’ve got a lot more ideas where these came from—visit the nearest HomeLane Experience Centre for a free consult!
