These days everyone is spending more and more time at home. So it makes sense that you want to create an environment that's comfortable and reflective of who you are. Now, you might think home projects are impossible to do in a renter-friendly way. After all in many rentals, you can't even put a nail in the wall. But the truth is, renting doesn't have to be restrictive. There are several renter-friendly DIY home projects that you can use to make your living space feel more like home. So, here are our favorite DIY projects that you can tackle without risking your security deposit.
Odds are if you're living in an apartment, you're working with limited kitchen space. To give yourself more working surfaces, you can create a DIY kitchen island out of an old cart or small shelf. Depending on how experienced you are with DIY home projects, you may choose to add wheels, new paint or stain, and possibly a hook to hang a towel from.
Changing up the wall color in your rental is a strategic way to make a big impact with little effort. If you're not allowed to paint where you live, try peel-and-stick wallpaper instead. This removable version of wallpaper adheres to the wall like a sticker. And when you're ready to move it peels right off without damaging the paint or leaving behind a sticky residue. With thousands of funky colors and patterns available, peel-and-stick wallpaper is an easy way to insert your personality into your home. And it's not just for the walls, either. If you want to make a difference in the kitchen, try covering your fridge in removable wallpaper.
Sometimes painting or wallpapering your walls is out of the question. But don't fret, you can still add color and personality to your living space by hanging tons of artwork. Not allowed to put holes in the wall? No problem. Just pick up a pack of renter-friendly command strips and start mapping out that gallery wall. If you want to be a DIY superstar, you can even create some of the art yourself.
Plants are more than just the latest home decor trend. Plants help elevate our moods and in some cases plants work to actively purify the air in your home. Put your DIY skills (and your plants) on display with a DIY ladder plant stand. Making your own ladder stand will take some minor woodworking skills, but the results are stunning. You can go a step further and use paint or twinkle lights to decorate the ladder.
Having alternatives to overhead lighting is essential in creating a calm environment. However, drilling lighting hardware into the walls is out of the question. But don't worry, that doesn't mean you can't have the bedside sconces you've always wanted. Using a combination of stick-on hooks, a plug-in bulb, and a small wire basket you can create chic and stylish sconces that don't require any power tools.
If you're looking for creative storage solutions for your small rental, then a simple DIY bag and jewelry rack is just what you need. Simply find a thin, flat plank of wood and paint or stain it. Then screw in several small hooks and you're done. Lean the finished board against your wall and display your most-used jewelry and accessories.
While I'm sure we'd all love to rip out part of the wall and install a custom built-in spice rack, that's just not a renter's reality. Luckily, there's an easy DIY alternative and all you need are a few magnets and a few lightweight containers. Glue magnets on the back of each container, fill with spices and label. Now you can store your spice rack on the fridge for easy access.
Time to flex those sewing skills. Take an inexpensive utility bucket and set a circular pillow on the bottom side of the basket. Now all you need to do is sew some fabric to cover the entire bucket. Now you've got extra storage and a place to put your feet up. That's a win-win.
