by Taliah Karim 
When you rent instead of own your home or apartment, you might assume that what you see is what you get. While it’s true that you likely won’t be able to make any major changes to the existing fixtures or layout, there are plenty of ways to personalize a rental and make it feel like your own.
Here are some go to upgrades that’ll make a statement in a rental or small space:
Update the hardware
If your kitchen or bathroom has outdated hardware, instantly add character to a rental by swapping them out for modern knobs and pulls. Make sure you keep a bag of the old hardware so you can switch it back before moving out.
Removable Wallpaper or Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
So many rentals have beige or yellow-white walls. A fresh coat of paint will give your space a clean backdrop. Also depending on how big your walls are and how much you want to cover, wallpaper is also an option. It’s vibrant patterns will add character and a fun element to your space.
Peel and Stick Backsplash
Backsplashes are really a focal point of any kitchen or bathroom. If you’re not in love with your rental backsplash, you can purchase some peel and stick tiles and easily cover up the outdated tiles. The moisture-resistant sheets can be cut to fit using scissors or a utility knife, then applied over paint, ceramic tiles, mirrors, or wallpaper. If you need to remove the sheets, warm them with a blow dryer to soften the adhesive backing then peel them off. A nonabrasive cleanser removes any leftover glue.
Swap the Lighting
Sure you could add another table lamp, but you can easily swap the fixtures for something more aesthetically pleasing. If you don’t know how to change the lighting yourself, you can hire an electrician to swap them for you. Lighting is key to elevating any space and it will drastically transform your rental.
