There are two types of renters.
The first type leaves everything untouched once they move in, just making do for a year. When moving out, they might not even know how many electrical outlets are on the walls. The second group wants to renovate but dares not, fearing deductions from their security deposit. As a result, they spend the whole year living in a space styled to the landlord’s taste.
Actually, these two situations don’t have to be mutually exclusive. There are three core rules for rental home upgrades: no drilling, no altering the landlord’s belongings, and all changes fully reversible. Stick to these three rules, and you can customize the space freely.
Below are 9 practical hacks, covering purchasing tips and removal steps, all explained in one guide.
01 Drill-free curtain rod. Measure the inner width of your window frame, then pick a tension rod that is 2–3 cm longer. Twist to secure it firmly by friction. It works perfectly for regular blackout curtains (under 1.5 kg). Avoid heavy thick velvet curtains, as they tend to slip. To remove it, twist in the opposite direction. No marks will be left on the wall. Priced around $8, this is the most cost-effective upgrade for rental apartments.
02 Hanging artwork with removable adhesive strips. Skip nails and ordinary double-sided tape. Use pull-tab removable mounting strips. Wipe the wall with an alcohol pad and let it fully dry before application. Never exceed the labeled weight limit. When removing, hold the pull tab and pull down slowly for 30 seconds; the adhesive will peel off in one piece, greatly lowering the risk of peeling paint. If you’re still worried, simply lean the artwork against a cabinet, which also looks lovely.
03 Peel-and-stick wallpaper to cover blemishes. Yellowed walls, cracked tiles or chipped cabinet doors? Use removable PVC peel-and-stick wallpaper. One roll costs roughly $3–4 and covers about 5–6 square meters. Always choose versions marked “removable”. Avoid cheap heavy-duty adhesive types, which may tear wall paint when peeled and cost you your deposit. For the area behind your kitchen stove, use high-temperature resistant oil-proof stickers. Just wipe clean after months of cooking.
04 Floor-to-ceiling storage rack. No drilling required. It stays stable by pressing firmly between the floor and ceiling. Tuck it beside the fridge, above the washing machine or in narrow entryway gaps, turning a single layer into three. It supports up to 30 kg. This rack is a rental space-saving hack. Measure your ceiling height before buying; most models adjust from 1.8m to 2.7m.
05 Under-bed storage bins with wheels. Go for slim models under 15 cm tall, otherwise they won’t slide under the bed. Store seasonal quilts, suitcases and rarely worn shoes inside. One bin costs around $3, and two bins can free up half of your closet space.
06 Add lighting without new wiring. Do not replace the landlord’s ceiling light. Instead, get a floor lamp or clip-on lamp that simply plugs in. Since the lamp is portable, you can move it beside the sofa for reading whenever you want. Pick warm white lights of 10–15 watts — bright yet gentle. Pack it away when moving out, and the room stays unchanged.
07 Install an aerator on your faucet. It only costs a couple of dollars. Screw it onto the tap, turning the solid stream into a soft mist that prevents splashing and saves water. Keep the original faucet part safe, and swap it back before moving out. Add a hanging dish rack for the kitchen with no-drill hooks on tile walls, so dishes don’t pile up in the sink.
08 Two simple bathroom upgrades. Swap your shower head for a pressure-boosting model, around $6. You can install it by hand in two minutes. Slide a narrow gap storage rack between the toilet and wall for toilet paper and cleaning supplies, at about $2. These are daily-use spots most people compromise on, and these small tweaks will improve your routine every day.
09 Bag and label all original removed parts. Light bulbs, shower heads, faucet aerators, original hangers — pack every removed item into a bag and mark it “Reinstall before move-out”. Take photos of the apartment’s original condition and save them on your phone. Restore everything according to the photos after a year, so you won’t have to argue with the landlord over your deposit.
All these upgrades cost roughly $40 in total. No holes, no nails at all.
Many renters hesitate to modify their space because of hassle and disputes over deposits. But if you follow these three rules: no drilling, no modifying existing fixtures, full reversibility — you are just renting a place for a year while making daily life more comfortable.
A rental home should never mean settling for less. Out of 365 days a year, you wake up in this bed more than 200 days.
The apartment belongs to someone else, but your quality of life is yours. Never mix the two.
