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May 27, 2023

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By Laura Fenton

When you rent your home it can feel like there's little you can do to make your space truly your own. However, there is actually quite a lot a renter can do—without losing your security deposit. We called on architects and interior designers to get their best tips for what to buy to strategically upgrade a rental. Their advice will help you make the most of what you’ve got (and P.S. it's also good for homeowners saving up for a big renovation later down the road).

"You want to highlight the strongest attributes that the rental offers and try to minimize the flaws," says Glenn Ban, an East Hampton, N.Y.-based interior designer who has brought his expertise to rental homes. One of his main tips is to work with what you have: "If you have a yellow-tiled retro bathroom, choose something that's similar in color for a shower curtain [and] find a piece of art that feels like it fits in the period." Avery Cox, an interior designer based in Austin, Texas, agrees: "Accept what it is," she says. When Cox lived in a rental with blue laminate countertops, she embraced the blue, painting the cabinets white and decorating the space with blue and white china. Both say to invest the most in furniture and accessories you can use in a future home. Here's the pros’ playbook for updating a rental.

$24+ at Ace Hardware

$25+ at Benjamin Moore

Your first move in a lackluster rental is to paint. Jordan Winston and Tate Casper of Oxford Design Studio in Tampa, Fla., recommend a full white-out for walls, trim, and everything else. "A can of ‘White Dove’ Benjamin Moore paint can go a long way to clean up the interior of an imperfect home as it blends architectural oddities and feels fresh and clean," says Winston.

$24 at The Home Depot

$24 at Lowe's

$29 at Lowe's

If you crave color but your landlord doesn't allow it, painting now and going back to white walls when you leave is also an option. You can also paint more than the walls: Kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities are great choices for paint, says Keyanna Bowen, host of the show "Rental Redo" on Discovery Plus and founder of the blog East + Lane. "The key to a good-quality paint job is the prep work," Bowen says. "It's imperative to use a good quality primer like Kilz before adding the top coat." When it comes time for the paint, Bowen likes to use one specifically formulated for cabinets and furniture, like Valspar Cabinet Paint (she's used this both in her own home and on "Rental Redo").

$6+ at Chasing Paper

"Wallpaper can instantly elevate a room, especially in small spaces where room definition is most important," says Shamika Lynch, the founder of Maximizing Tiny Interiors in Jersey City, N.J., who recommends the removable wallpapers from Chasing Paper. The peel-and-stick wallpaper is made of self-adhesive poly-woven fabric, designed for easy installation and removal that won't wreck your walls. She especially likes to use wallpaper in spots with maximum visual impact, like on a living room wall that faces the front door.

$50 at Society Social

Madeline Merin, an interior designer based in Brooklyn, N.Y., also appreciates the power of peel-and-stick wallpaper, noting that the options for temporary wallpaper have vastly improved and expanded in the last few years. For something with more visual interest than paint that's not quite as bold as a patterned paper, she says Society Social makes a great faux grasscloth that "is easy to install and remove without damaging your walls." This light gray option, for example, offers visual interest through texture while remaining subtle.

$438 at The Shade Store

$515 Save $77

There's no need to suffer through old aluminum mini blinds. Instead, the pros recommend opting for something that offers privacy and blocks light. If the windows in your home are not a standard size, Merin believes it's worth investing in custom shades, as she points out "a good night's sleep is priceless!" She recommends the Shade Store for its wide variety of customizable styles, including simple roman shades in linen, cotton, woven wood and more, as well as its quick turnaround time.

$748 at Lulu and Georgia

$89 at Amazon

$100 Save $11

$89 at The Home Depot

$127 Save $38

The experts we spoke to all espoused the power of a sisal, jute or other natural fiber rug to affordably conceal an ugly or outdated floor. "Buy the biggest one you can fit in a room and treat it like a wall-to-wall," Ban says. "It neutralizes the space." Both Ban and Merin appreciate the kind of rug made from rush squares sewn together, which can be added on or cut down to size, meaning you can tailor it to the specs of your next home. Ban loves a modern grid design from Lulu & Georgia, and this Unique Loom braided jute rug offers a similar look.

$11+ at Etsy

You don't have to live with unattractive kitchen or bathroom floors, says Bowen. "Peel-and-stick tile will become your best friend when you live in a rental," she says, "I’ve used Quadrostyle flooring and tile in my own rental and client projects. I love the variety of style and pattern options they have, and the quality and durability is top notch." Choose from neutral options like this wood-like geometric design or bold, colorful patterns.

$248 at The Home Depot

$35+ at Amazon

If you have basic handyman skills, Brooklyn, N.Y.-based architect Holly Mumford, founder of Hereabout Home, suggests removing dated bi-fold interior doors and replacing them with a basic door livened up with barn door-style hardware. "When we moved into our apartment, the louvered doors that separated our bedroom and living area were old and didn't function well, so I decided on a double barn door, which looked good both open and closed," she says.

$15 at The Container Store

Ban likes to add simple, Shaker-inspired storage to rentals with a wooden peg rail as a designed element to make your space look more polished (while adding storage). For a custom look, he suggests having one run the full length of your wall. Ban notes that Shaker Workshops will create peg rail to exactly the size you need for your wall. "They can also paint it to the same color as the wall, which is nice," he says.

$356 at Mitzi

$356 at 2Modern

$319 at Visual Comfort

$319 at Perigold

$383 Save $64

Upgrading your lighting can make a rental feel more like home. "A wall sconce can define the space and make it feel purposeful," says Lynch, who recommends the plug-in wall sconces from Mitzi, which don't require you to drill holes in your wall Bowen is especially fond of the company's Willa model, noting that she's used it next to beds. "Adding sconces to your bedside not only adds function but can make your bedroom look and feel more elevated." If your tastes skew more traditional, Merin recommends Visual Comfort's plug-in brass sconces.

$598 at Lulu and Georgia

$155+ at Etsy

Winston and Casper recommend swapping in a rattan or other woven-style lampshades for an outdated overhead light, noting rentals often have small lights that are "under-scaled." Lynch seconds the idea of a natural fiber statement light and also notes it can be paired with a light kit in a spot with no existing fixture. This pendant is a great option if you can replace an entire light fixture, though this rattan shade from Etsy is a good pick if you’re covering an existing one.

$35+ at HAY

$35+ at Design Within Reach

Bowen suggests a sculptural rice paper globe, which can be used with a cord kit or affixed to an existing light. "This design can work with virtually any style and make a space feel modern and sophisticated" she notes.

$180 at Finish Design Shop

$225 Save $45

$225 at 2modern

Another way to improve lighting in a space with no existing hardwired fixture are rechargeable lamps, says interior designer Richard Mishaan of Richard Mishaan Design in New York City. "Setting the table and using two of these rechargeable lamps will warm things up," he says of these &Tradition lamps. And since they don't require a cord, you can place them anywhere. "They are good to use indoors and out, so the versatility will allow for lots of use, if you ever move."

$20 at Rejuvenation

$16+ at Rejuvenation

New knobs and drawer pulls can freshen up an outdated kitchen, but since the costs can add up quickly, Bowen suggests saving your landlord's originals when you switch them out and taking your nice knobs with you when you go. Of the many hardware options available, Rejuvenation came up again and again as a high-quality and design-forward source for hardware. Bowen likes the brand's Ball Cabinet Knobs, while the founders of Oxford Design Studio love the Mission Bin Pulls.

$35+ at Food52

$129 at Shopbop

Another trick to up the ante in the kitchen is to style your countertops, says Ban. In the past he has used serving trays, cutting boards and decorative canisters to corral and contain the usual kitchen clutter. Spending a little extra on something eye-catching will distract from less lovely elements of the kitchen, he says. We’re fans of these containers from Dansk for food storage since they have airtight lids with sleek wooden handles that won't be an eyesore on your kitchen counter. Similarly, this soft and sculptural tray will act as a chic catchall.

$423 at Bloomingdale's

$423 at Nordstrom

In the bedroom, you can use paint and lighting to makeover your space, but don't forget your bedding itself, says Mishaan. "I find that a set of beautiful linens can define the style of a room. Suddenly you’re not noticing the elements of the room that are not quite what you would have chosen for your own space," he says, noting that he's a particular fan of Matouk's scalloped collection.

$264 at Weezie

The same tactic of a textile diversion applies in the bathroom. Start with a deep cleaning then, "provide plenty of fluffy towels in different sizes, including bath towels, hand towels and washcloths," says Melanie Gowen of Melanie Gowen Design, who's based in Nantucket, Mass., and Washington, D.C. She likes the colorfully trimmed towels from Weezie for an easy bathroom upgrade.

$79 at Amazon

$69 at Amazon

$69 at Wayfair

"Upgrading towel bars and toilet paper holders can add a touch of luxury to a rental property's bathroom," says Gowen. She advises that you choose bars and holders that fit with the style of the bathroom. This chrome towel bar from Signature Hardware offers a classic look, for example, while an angular version is a bit more modern.

$13+ at Etsy

$75+ at Framebridge

Oversized art can uplift an entire room—and you can bring it with you when you move. Cox recommends vintage posters, maps and educational charts as a budget option for large-scale art. You can hang them affordably with magnetic picture frames, but if it's a piece you know you’ll love for years, she suggests custom framing by mail through Framebridge.

$449 at cb2

$112 at Wayfair

$133 Save $21

Bookcases can be tricky because high-quality hardwood gets pricey and the more affordable wall-mounted options can wreak havoc on rental walls. Merin says she found the perfect solution in CB2's Stairway Bookcase, which attaches to the wall with just minimal hardware. "This bookcase works well with both traditional and contemporary decor," she says. "They come in two sizes: pick the tallest size your ceilings can accommodate." For a lower-price option, this Wayfair bookshelf offers a similar look.

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