How to Resolve Your Rental Apartment’s Most Annoying Fixtures

UpdatedSep 29, 2021 7:00 AM EDT

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Unless you’ve hit the real-estate lottery—which, like the actual lottery, feels like a one-in-a-million prospect—there’s a fair chance your rental apartment has a few flaws. Granted, you may have a fantastic location, abundant natural light, and a reasonable monthly rent, but those cheap blinds or unsightly radiators might be entirely cramping your design style.

When you need a place to live, small design details aren’t a complete deal breaker. After all, you wouldn’t pass on a nearly perfect place simply because of a less-than-fabulous kitchen backsplash. A little creativity can transform a rental—even one you don’t plan to keep long—into your dream home. “So many people feel that since you’re living in a rental, things are temporary,” says Brady Tolbert, a creative director and prop stylist. “But so is bad breath. Just because it’s temporary doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fix it with a little mouthwash.”

These experts’ advice will help you overcome five common (and unfortunate) apartment features—all in ways that are entirely landlord-approved.

Put your layering skills to good use by adding a rug atop your all-encompassing carpet.

“Some people will say never to layer a rug over wall-to-wall carpet, but I’m a firm believer in putting a Band-Aid over something that doesn’t look as good as it could,” Tolbert says. “In this case, the rug is the Band-Aid.” Not only will it limit your contact with that questionable carpet, but it will also lend your space a cool, bohemian vibe.

But first, it’s important to give your carpet a thorough cleaning. “Don’t move in anywhere with wall-to-wall carpet without cleaning it first,” says Jade Joyner, cofounder and principal designer of Metal + Petal. “You just never know what’s been left behind.” You could invest in a great rug cleaner, but when in doubt, call in the professionals. Trust us—this is one investment that won’t leave you with buyer’s remorse.

Peel-and-stick decals are a wonderful solution for any unsightly surface. They’ll instantly refresh the look of your temporary space, and when you’re ready to try something new or move out altogether, you can peel them off and start fresh. “When I first moved in, my kitchen had less-than-desirable linoleum on the floors,” Tolbert says. “I gave it a new look using peel-and-stick tiles, which I simply laid over the existing floors. Once it was all said and done, it made such a big difference to the entire look of the kitchen.”

Whether you use peel-and-stick tiles for your backsplash or floors, this DIY is both time- and cost-efficient. Tolbert says the entire project took him about half a day and cost less than $50. Consider that a win-win.

You might not be able to remove the Murphy bed from your studio apartment or rip that built-in media center off the walls, but you can give your prefurnished elements a personal flair. While paint is a surefire way to refresh your space, your landlord might be less than thrilled with that design decision. Instead, opt for even more temporary fixes.

“If you can’t paint it, you can always swap out the hardware on any built-in units or cabinets,” Tolbert says. “It’s an affordable, easy fix that can give the entire piece a different look.”

Much like your kitchen backsplash or tiles, you can also remedy the design woe with some temporary wallpaper. “There are so many cool peel-and-stick options that are removable and can easily be added to built-in bookcases for a pop of personality,” Joyner says.

Fortunately, it’s possible to make your air conditioning unit look less harsh in your rental apartment. “Don’t underestimate the power of sheer panels,” says Tolbert. “If you have an unsightly air-conditioning unit, you can hang them on a double rod.”

Not only can you keep that unit out of sight—these light, airy panels will also let natural sunlight in. Once they’re hung, Tolbert suggests adding a decorative curtain to the top rod.

For most maximalists, very few design dilemmas compare to white walls you’re not allowed to paint over—but this is a wonderfully simple fix. “My dining room had white walls, and to add some interest, I decided to do a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall gallery wall,” Tolbert says. “It took a little time to sort out the measurements and how everything would fit, but it now creates such a dramatic statement.”

The good news is a gallery wall isn’t as challenging or permanent as you might think. Once you map out where everything should go, you can use adhesive strips to affix your frames to the walls. To make even more of a statement, mix and match the color of your frames.

See more small space ideas:IKEA’s New NYC Store Is Chock-Full of Small-Space Ideas11 Room Dividers Ideas That Are Perfect for Small Spaces8 Ways I Sneak Extra Storage Space Into My Tiny Studio

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