Guides · Interior
Renter-friendly upgrades you can undo when you move out
You can change how a rental looks and feels without losing your deposit. The trick is choosing upgrades that come off cleanly: removable wallpaper, plug-in lights, new cabinet knobs with the originals kept safe, and soft things like curtains and rugs.
- Time
- An hour each
- Skill
- None needed
- Undo
- At move-out
Read your lease first. Even "removable" products can lift paint on some walls. Get written permission for anything you're unsure about, take dated photos of the place before you start, and test adhesives in a hidden spot.
Upgrades
- Peel-and-stick wallpaperOne accent wall changes a room most. Works best on smooth, clean, fully cured paint; test a piece first and follow the removal instructions.
- Plug-in wall sconcesLight without wiring: they plug into an outlet. Hang them on hooks or a single small screw if your lease allows, and tidy the cord with a cord cover.
- Cord coversHide sconce and lamp cords along the wall.
- New cabinet knobs and pullsMeasure the hole spacing on the old pulls so the new ones fit the same holes. Bag and label the originals.
- Tension rods or no-drill curtain bracketsCurtains hung high and wide make windows look bigger. Tension rods fit inside the window frame.
- Area rug and rug padCovers a tired floor and defines the seating area. The pad stops slipping.
- Adhesive hooks and stripsFor light frames, keys and towels. Stay within the weight on the pack and remove them the way it says.
- A new shower headUsually unscrews by hand or with a wrench. Keep the old one to put back.
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Order that gives the most change
- Light. Swap harsh overhead light for lamps and plug-in sconces with warm bulbs.
- Textiles. Curtains, a rug and cushions change the colour of a room with no tools.
- One feature wall in removable wallpaper, behind the bed or sofa.
- Small hardware: knobs, pulls and the shower head, with the originals stored.
At move-out
- Put the originals back and peel off wallpaper and hooks slowly, following each product's removal instructions.
- Fill any small holes. See how to patch drywall.
- Compare with your move-in photos before the inspection.
Leave these to the landlord
- Changing hardwired light fixtures, outlets or switches.
- Painting, unless you have permission in writing.
- Anything involving pipes beyond a shower head.
Related: How to make over a small balcony without drilling · How to hang heavy shelves · The starter tool kit.
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