Home Improvement Ideas For Rentals With A Strict Lease

If you love DIY projects, you are likely flooded with creative ideas as soon as you move into a new rental. Unfortunately, many rental properties have strict rules that prohibit many home improvement projects. Some leases are so strict, you can’t hammer a single nail or apply a drop of paint to the walls. While this might limit your creativity, there are still several ways you can improve your new rental, even if the lease has restrictions.

If you have a rental with a strict lease, consider using removable wallpaper to transform boring walls. You can purchase a large throw rug to cover floors, and use tension rods to hang curtains. Showcase lightweight artwork using various non-permanent hanging methods, and buy a large bookshelf to display works you may otherwise hang. Swap out old shower nozzles and replace ugly lights with removable light fixtures.

Strict leases are quite common, especially in newer buildings. Understandably, a landlord wants to keep a home in pristine condition and prevent large holes and permanent damage. Even with rules that prohibit painting and other major home improvement projects, there are still many ways you can change the look of a sterile rental. Keep reading to discover all the best ways to transform a rental property with a strict lease.

Top DIY Improvements For Rentals With A Strict Lease

1. Removable Wallpaper

Leases might seem more restrictive than ever, but non-permanent decor has come a long way as well. Removable wallpaper is a fantastic product for those with a strict lease who want to add color and design to a rental. 

There are all sorts of adhesive wallpapers you can choose from. With it, you can cover ugly countertops, create an accent wall, or brighten a dull bathroom or hallway. When purchasing removable wallpaper, remember to read reviews. Some are better than others. You want to purchase a brand that peels off easily, without removing paint from the wall. This will make the move-out process easier.

2. Curtains With Tension Rods

Some apartments don’t allow you to drill holes, and they don’t come with curtains. If you find yourself in a unit with depressing Venetian blinds, consider using tension rods to add curtains. There are many types of curtains available on the market.

Some curtains offer protection from the sun, while others provide privacy, but allow natural light to flow in. Many window frames have a gap that provides enough space to add a tension rod. Ensure you measure this space and buy the correct sized tension rods. When you move, simply remove the tension rods and curtains. This DIY project is cost-effective, leaves no trace, and can completely transform a room.

3. Peel-Off Backsplash

Another non-permanent decor option is a peel-on and peel-off backsplash. You’ll be amazed at how genuine some pick-and-peel backsplashes appear. If your kitchen could use a bit of personality, a backsplash is a great option.

Just as in the case with removable wallpaper, do your research before choosing the best brand of non-permanent backsplash for your apartment.

4. Lightweight Artwork

Just because you can’t drill holes in your walls, doesn’t mean you can’t still hang artwork. The key is finding art and frames that are lightweight. You can easily and safely hang lightweight art using either adhesive hooks or hanging strips. 

These hanging methods involve adhesives rather than nails, which means even those with strict leases can hang art. This way of hanging pictures becomes more challenging the heavier the artwork is, so lighter is always better.

5. Install A New Shower Head

A bad shower head can make for a very unsatisfactory experience. Whether water comes out in a trickle or in a high-pressure jet, the wrong shower head can make a showering experience more traumatizing than cleansing. 

Even if you have a strict lease, there’s a good chance you can swap out an old shower head for a more suitable option. If you are worried your landlord won’t approve of the change, simply save the old shower head and put it back on before you move out. This works well in any rental that has a screw-on shower head.

6. Polish And Clean Old Hardware To Give It A New Shine

If you’ve moved into an older rental, consider showcasing focal points that already exist. If there are brass knobs, crown molding, or other ornate features, then give them a thorough cleaning. 

Sometimes older units look drab because they have layers of dirt or tarnish. Try buffing and polishing the metal fixtures and detailing intricate molding. You’ll be surprised how much this can liven up a previously dull space.

7. New Light Fixtures

If your rental comes with standard-issue light fixtures, see if you can store these boring fixtures away while you live there. Swap them out for statement pieces and light fixtures that help highlight your style. Light fixtures can improve lighting in a room and also add a strong design presence. Best of all, you can usually find interesting fixtures for less than $50.

8. Use Rugs To Cover Ugly Floors

If you hate the floors in your rental unit, you may feel an urge to replace them with something more stylish. While this kind of renovation is usually forbidden, there is no reason why you can’t cover them with tasteful rugs.

Rugs can completely hide ugly floors and help achieve any color scheme and design aesthetic you’re after. They are also easier on your feet. Rugs can also help preserve the floors, which helps ensure you will get your entire security deposit back when you move out.

9. Touch-Up Painting And Caulking

Your lease might outlaw painting walls, but some touch-up painting and basic home improvements could still be done. Speak to your landlord and confirm that touch-up painting and re-caulking are allowed. A new paint job and fresh caulk can make any room look cleaner and more stylish.

10. Hanging Wall Organizers

If your lease forbids installing shelves, consider buying a hanging wall organizer instead. You can hang these shelves by hooking them onto the top of doors to provide shelving without drilling a single hole.

They are great at providing additional storage space and are simple to install. While they are primarily used in closets, you can use them creatively to provide shelving anywhere in the rental where there’s a door or exposed beam.

11. Use Bookcases To Display Artwork And Essentials

A bookcase or two are great ways to provide shelving in a rental unit where you can’t drill holes. While the primary use of a bookcase is to store books, there are many other ways you can use it. 

You can display heavier artwork, mementos, and even electronics. Bookcases provide a stylish and practical home for objects that you may otherwise place on the floor or keep stored away.

12. Privacy Window Film

If you can’t install curtains in a rental unit, you can use adhesive window film to provide privacy in your home. Window film is a great way to prevent your neighbors from seeing into your home, while still allowing plenty of natural light into the room. 

You can find window film with designs and colors to bring vibrance into the room, and it may even help make the space feel warmer and more stylish.

13. Speak To Your Landlord About DIY Home Improvements 

Just because you have a strict lease, it doesn't necessarily mean your landlord wants to prevent you from improving the rental. In many cases, landlords simply want to prevent tenants from damaging the unit, but are open to the idea of home improvements.

If you have home improvement ideas, reach out to the landlord. There’s a chance that he or she may approve your ideas and might even help finance these projects, especially if they make the unit better. Ensure you get these approvals in writing so you won’t be charged for damages when you move out.

Summing Up Ways To Improve A Home With A Strict Lease

When you move into a home with a strict lease, you may feel like there’s no way for you to express your interior design sensibilities. While leases may feel limiting, there are many ways you can improve a rental unit. 

You can use removable wallpaper and backsplashes to add color to plain walls, and hang lightweight artwork with adhesives. Use tension rods to hang curtains, or use window film to add privacy and color to exposed windows. Use hanging wall organizers or bookscases to create temporary shelving, and add rugs to cover ugly floors.

Related Guides:

• Are You Allowed To Plant A Garden At A Rental Property?
• Eight Questions To Ask Before You Sign A Lease
• How Much Can A Landlord Charge For A Hole In The Wall?