C.J. Braden • 5 Minute Read
DIY Apartment Renovations and Rental Upgrade Ideas
Living in an apartment or rental house doesn’t need to be restrictive. In fact, you can adapt your environment pretty much however you like. Did you know that many rental properties will allow you to make changes if you gain an approval from the owner first? With approval, my husband and I completed some upgrades to the rental we lived in when we first moved in together to make it feel more “home-y”. Our landlords were always happy with the results.
In this post, we take a look at some apartment renovations you can do with your eyes closed. You can also do some of these renovations in a rental home. Check them out below.
Black and White Bathroom Idea
1- Swap Out Your Old Toilet Seat
If the seat on your throne is looking a little out of date, why not swap it out for something new?
It’s dead easy. All you need to do is unscrew the fittings at the back and then fit the new seat (which should come with fittings of its own). If you want to encourage toilet seat closing in your home (and who doesn’t?) then get a soft-close product. These close slowly, without the user having to guide them gently down to the bowl.
My husband and I ordered a black toilet seat online to accent our most recent black and white bathroom mini update. It was a perfect addition to our decor.
Boho Bedroom Idea
2- Make Some Throw Pillows
Making throw pillows is another super simple thing that people do to spruce up their apartments.
All you really need to do is make the outer case. Start with an old washed pillow case. Then find random bits of fabric around your home and stitch them on. Viola! If you aren’t feeling crafty, there are plenty of beautiful throw pillows available online and in stores like T.J. Maxx. Recently, I’ve been loving adding some macrame pillow styles to my decor.
Adding Cabinet Strip Lights Adds Ambiance
3- Use LED Strip Lights In The Kitchen
When you’re chopping, you need to be able to see what you’re doing. If you can’t, then you’re at risk of cutting yourself.
The easiest solution? Attach LED strip lighting underneath your cabinets and then get your electrician to connect it to a motion sensor. This way, whenever it detects any movement below, it’ll switch on so that you can see what you’re doing.
If you are loving this article, we know you’ll love this one too: Five Cute Guest Bathroom Decor Ideas
Modern Lighted Kitchen Island
4- Hang Bulbs In Dark Corners
No apartment should have dark recesses where nobody ever goes. After all, you want to make the most of your space.
If you notice a corner that looks a little bare, fill it with light. Hanging bulbs is one of the easiest and simplest ways to do this. Adding lots of recessed retrofit downlights also add tons of light. We have many of them in our kitchen and they are awesome at brightening up the entire room and it’s surrounding area.
White Farmhouse Style Bathroom Shelf
5- Buy A New Toilet Paper Rack
If your old toilet paper rack leaves something to be desired, then why not replace it? Don’t let it bring down your entire bathroom – that’s not what you want. If you want to be really fancy, you can make your own. Choose a nice piece of wood and create the stand yourself.
We love having double toilet paper holder that has a shelf as well. It gives everyone a clever place to lay their phone.
Adding an accent wall adds lots of design to your home
6-Paint One Of Your Walls A Different Color
Sick of seeing nothing but white emulsion in all directions? If so, you might want to try painting one of your walls a different color. This way, you can make your apartment look more chic, interesting and upmarket.
We also like adding wall treatments like shiplap and tile. You can also add peel and stick wallpaper, which adds lots of temporary style to apartments and home rentals. We have experimented with temporary wallpaper and while it can take a while to add, it can be worth it in the right space.
Want to see one of our shiplap accent walls being added AND learn how to do it? Watch the video below OR on our YouTube channel “Carolyn Braden”:
Vertical Wood Strips Accent Wall
7- Add Some Planters
A lack of greenery in your home can leave you feeling blue. Fortunately, it’s an easy problem to solve. Just grab some plants that require minimal sunlight but still look great.
If you have skylights, place plants underneath these. If not, then position them close to the window so they have access to light for a portion of the day.
When it comes to indoor plants, don’t be afraid to go big. If you don’t have a green thumb, check out this awesome 10 minute DIY faux plant chandelier project we created.
Black and white marble bathroom idea
8- Swap Out Your Old Shower Head
Lastly, if your showerhead is looking a little grimey, then replace it. Most units simply unscrew if you apply enough force and have standard attachments.
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.