Worry-free ways to improve your apartment or rented home

Make your living room more liveable

Often the first room you walk into when you step through the door, the living room is a blank canvas that lets you be as creative as you want to be.

You don’t need to break the bank buying new furniture and wall art. You’d be amazed by how effective these simple changes can be to totally reshape and reimagine the living room to your taste:

A fresh coat of paint

Most landlords don’t mind you painting your unit a bright, neutral colour so long as you ask them beforehand (you may also have to paint it back to builder’s white when you move). Get the job done right the first time by hiring a local professional painter.

Soft furnishings

The right curtains, throws, area rugs and sofa cushions can make any living room look luxurious. If you’re limited in terms of your wall colour choices, we recommend going as bold as possible with floor-to-ceiling curtains and decorative tapestries. Save money and get creative by making your own soft furnishings or buying them secondhand on Kijiji.

Click here for more tips on how to spruce up your apartment on a budget.

Houseplants

Houseplants not only add vibrancy and style to your home, but they also benefit your health. Most common houseplants work hard to filter the air in your house and provide an extra dose of humidity that you might need in those dry winter months.

Did you know that many people are selling their houseplants, macrame hangers and pots on Kijiji?

Turn your bedroom into a retreat

Whether you’re renting a home in the suburbs or an apartment in a high-rise building, your bedroom is meant to be a place to relax from your busy day. Turn your bedroom into just that by adding small upgrades, such as:

• An electric fireplace
• Sheer floor-length curtains to soften the light from outside
• Scented candles
• Soft carpeting or a large area rug

Zen your bathroom with DIY

Unless you live in a modern building, your bathroom may be looking a little outdated. While your landlord might not renovate your bathroom just because you asked, there’s a lot you can do to make this room feel more stylish. Here are some ideas:

• Replace your showerhead and faucet (you might want to give your landlord a head’s up about this, but they probably won’t mind if you’re footing the bill).
• Give yourself more storage space with floating shelves. If you don’t want to make holes in the wall, consider a chic storage cart.

Give your kitchen some landlord-friendly TLC

Maybe a major kitchen renovation isn’t in the cards for you as a renter, but there are some light updates that you can do that don’t require your landlord’s approval:

String lighting

If you’re short on counter space, you can mount LED string lights underneath your kitchen cabinets and adhere them with hooks or velcro. Extra lighting makes your kitchen look roomier and more inviting.

Peel-and-stick backsplash

Depending on the age of your building, there’s a chance you don’t have any backsplash to speak of (or if you do, it might not be the prettiest thing to look at). Add your own personal touch while protecting your walls from grease and pasta stains with stick-on backsplash tiles. Why stop at your backsplash? You’ll find stick-on solutions for all your kitchen surfaces, such as faux marble countertop stickers and appliance stickers.

Kitchen Island

Add more storage and food preparation space with a roll-away kitchen island. You can find plenty online, build one yourself, or better yet, hire a local contractor to build you a beautiful customized island that perfectly suits your footprint.

Find local contractors on Kijiji.

Upgrade your rental with Kijiji