In the past few years, more attention than ever has been given to renter-friendly design. As house prices have drastically increased, many people have found themselves priced out of the housing market and settling in to the renter life. And while a new home can be an exciting blank canvas for self expression, rentals often come with a laundry list of stipulations that regulate what a tenant can and cannot do to personalize their space. Luckily, there are several things that can be done to make your new house feel like home, no matter how long you plan on living there.

Many of the shows on outlets such as HGTV show drastic changes made to rentals and claim they are “renter friendly”. And maybe they are in some situations. However, as a landlord myself, there are several things that I see happening on these shows that would result in a tenant not having their deposit returned. Most of the landlords I know expect, and even encourage, tenants to do a few things that make themselves feel more comfortable in their space. For example, I fully expect tenants to hang photos/art on the walls. Any landlord who thinks that they won’t have at least minimal repairs to make once a tenant leaves is, well, a bit crazy. Similarly, if you as a tenant expect to leave gaping holes in the walls, altered cabinetry, or painted floors, etc. and still receive your deposit back, well, you might also be a bit crazy.

The most important thing is to always read your lease to determine whether or not a modification can be completed. If there is any doubt, contact your landlord. If a modification is deemed to be an improvement and potentially even increase the value of the property, a landlord may reimburse you or deduct the cost from your rent, or at the very least agree to it. If you are concerned about having your deposit returned then an “ask for forgiveness, not permission” mentality is not the way to go here!

Below I have listed ways that I as a landlord would be totally fine with tenants updating the space while they are renting it and ways that I would NOT approve.

HANG ART WITH COMMAND STRIPS

There are several different options here. 3M makes command strips, hooks, and velcro for all kinds of different uses. Some are able to hold 16 lbs and some are more appropriate for things like posters. Occasionally removing these might result in damage but more often than not, you can remove a command strip and no one will ever know it was there.

ADD LIGHTING THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE HARDWIRING

There are plenty of lighting options that don’t require hardwiring. The most common option is a wall sconce with a cord. Simply hang the sconce and plug it in. This will leave holes in the wall but the holes are able to be patched.

Another option is installing LED light strips, puck lights, or bar lights under cabinets, in closets, or anywhere you want accent lighting where it is not currently provided. You can use command strips to attach them rather than the adhesive strips on the back in order to remove them when you move out. Some use a remote, an actual button, or can be motion activated. Seriously, there is an option for everyone!

The next is adding a hardwired fixture but using a puck light instead of actually wiring the fixture. If you missed it, click here for my Puck Light Sconce tutorial post. It’s super easy and doesn’t involve leaving messy cords showing.

CHANGE LIGHT FIXTURES

Swapping out light fixtures can be really easy and make a huge impact! It can also be really dangerous. This is a situation where it might be a good idea to call in a professional to make sure it’s done right if you don’t know what you’re doing. Also, if you mess up the wiring and burn the place down, you probably won’t get your deposit back. Here is a good video that gives a pretty simple overview of how to remove and replace various types of lights.

Another word of caution: installing a ceiling fan requires a different junction box than a standard overhead light due to the amount of movement experienced when a fan is on. Therefore, don’t remove an overhead light and replace with a ceiling fan unless you (or your electrician) are absolutely certain the junction box is correct!

REPLACE CABINET HARDWARE

Replacing cabinet hardware is incredibly easy and provides a big bang for your buck. You can buy packs of pulls/knobs often for less than $20! There are, however, a few things to consider. You will first want to measure the distance from the center of one screw hole to the center of the other. The actual length of the handle does not matter. If your current holes are 5” apart and you find the handle of your dreams but the measurement is 5.5”, too bad.

Credit: https://www.theknobshop.net/blog/how-to-measure-hole-centers-for-handle-pulls/

Remember to label and keep in order to replace when you move out!

What is NOT renter friendly? Replacing a single knob with a handle that requires 2 holes. If I leave you with a kitchen that has a single pull and I come back to find this, you most likely won’t receive your deposit.

CHANGE DOOR HARDWARE

Changing door knobs/levers is really easy. It can be a little tedious but makes a big difference in the appearance of a home. Here is a really good video on how to change door knobs. Door knobs are more expensive than cabinet hardware but you can find a wide range of styles and price points if you do a little looking online. Consider some of these options for a more updated look:

As with cabinet hardware, make sure you keep all components bagged and labeled to replace them when you move out.

TENSION RODS FOR CURTAINS

If you have rented a place that does not allow you to make holes in the walls but want to hang curtains, consider using tension rods. Most of us have used tension rods for shower curtains but now there are a variety of tension rods that look less, well, shower curtain-y. Check out some of these options:

REMOVABLE WALLPAPER

If you’ve read this blog before you have read about peel and stick wallpaper. I’m obviously a wallpaper convert, especially when it comes to the removable variety. It can make such a huge impact on a space. In rare circumstances, removing peel and stick wallpaper can damage walls. Therefore, be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before applying. *Note: peel and stick decals have a higher rate of damaging walls when removed. If you decide to attach decals to your walls, expect to have some drywall repairs to make when vacating a rental.

PAINTABLE PEEL AND STICK WALLPAPER

If you aren’t allowed to paint the walls of your rental then this may be the best option of all! You hang the peel and stick wallpaper and then paint over it! When you move out, you remove the wallpaper and your walls are magically back to how they were when you moved in. How great is that?! *Note: overlap your wallpaper ever so slightly before painting to ensure that no paint seeps through the gaps and onto the wall.

PEEL AND STICK BACKSPLASH

Yes, it’s the same concept as peel and stick wallpaper but looks like tile. Backsplash tile can be a bit fiddly to install due to the confined space, outlets, and small cuts but because a backsplash typically doesn’t cover as much space, you don’t need quite as much and can save some money while making a huge impact. *Note: there are adhesive tile sheets that require grout. THESE ARE NOT RENTER FRIENDLY! IF YOU ARE ORDERING ONLINE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT ORDERING PEEL AND STICK TILES THAT REQUIRE GROUT!

herringbone peel and stick backsplash.jpg

PEEL AND STICK FLOOR TILES

So obviously peel and stick wallpaper is a good choice as well as peel and stick backsplash tiles. BUT, what if you could apply that concept to your floors? Well, you can! Welcome to the world of peel and stick floor tiles! These are essentially large stickers that can be attached to a tile or laminate floor and removed when you get sick of them or move.

*An important note about peel and stick floor tiles! IF YOU HAVE TO GLUE IT DOWN OR GROUT BETWEEN TILES, IT IS NOT RENTER FRIENDLY!! Both grout and glue are a royal pain in the butt to remove and you will curse the day you were born if you choose to go this route. And you are 99.9% sure to not get your deposit back if you try to remove those tiles and leave that mess.

You can purchase a similar hexagon peel and stick floor tile here.

CHANGE FAUCETS

Changing faucets is actually quite easy. It can be a slightly more expensive temporary upgrade but makes a big impact. A few things to consider: 1) Does the current faucet have a single handle or 2 handles? 2) The “spread” of the faucet. Bathroom faucets come in 4” or 8” wide spreads. Just like with cabinet hardware, you will want to know this measurement before purchasing a new faucet. 3) You will need to turn off the water at the valve under the sink before replacing the faucet. After turning the water off under the sink, turn the water on to see if it has actually shut off. In older homes or homes with older plumbing, it is common for the rubber washer inside this valve to wear out so be prepared to either learn how to replace this valve or call a plumber. Ask me how I know…

REMOVE CABINET DOORS FOR AN OPEN SHELVING FEEL

If you are an organized person or have dishware you want to show off and like the idea of open shelving, an alternative would be removing the cabinet doors. Sometimes this can look really nice and sometimes it looks like, well, you took the doors off of a cabinet. However this is a really simple process and is literally free. You will want to make sure you label the doors and where they go so that you can replace them before you move out. For a little added extra, you can add peel and stick wallpaper inside the cabinet for interest.

TEMPORARY DECKING TILES

These temporary decking tiles interlock and can be placed over any flat surface. Got an old patio or porch that isn’t overly appealing? Cover it with temporary decking tiles! They make a great alternative to a permanent deck and can be taken with you when you leave.

Do you like to make big changes to your rental? Have you tried any of these tips? Which of these would you want to try in the future? Have any other renter friendly design tips to share? Let us know in the comments!

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