Those that rent do not have many of the worries and concerns that homeowners have, but they also do not have complete freedom. Renting comes with a price that goes far beyond financial cost, and that price is the inability to change anything, especially in an old apartment. Owners do not want permanent or even semi-permanent changes, and they usually do not update anything. What was built twenty plus years prior is supposed to last indefinitely – at least that is what many landlords think. Slumlords are even worse. They do not update or repair anything unless they absolutely have to.
Instead of living with ugly flooring, counters and outdated, unsightly surroundings, use these easy ways to update an old apartment. It is possible to temporarily change the look of a rented home without changing the structure or spending a lot of money. You do not have to live with sterile walls, ugly stained carpets and damaged countertops any longer.
Hide Ugly Apartment Countertops Under Granite or Bamboo
An old apartment is likely outfitted with old countertops, and they are not always in good condition let alone stylish. When looking for easy ways to update an old apartment kitchen without spending much money or making unapproved alterations, consider covering the existing countertops.
Buy large bamboo or granite cutting boards, and cover up the ugly areas in stylish new ways. They will be very useful, and they will update the counters while hiding mars, burns, worn areas and other flaws.
Cover Ugly Carpets with Room-Size Area Rugs
When apartment floors are covered in ugly carpeting because of worn areas, a hideous color or permanent stains, cover the carpets. You do not have to look at them. Buy room-size area rugs, and place them in the most appropriate locations.
In an apartment living room, update the carpeting by creating a central area for conversation. Arrange the furniture around the area rug, and buy coordinating runners to fill in around the perimeter. Cover it up in the most tasteful ways possible. The rugs can always be used in another home.
In apartment bedrooms, the bed will cover most of the horizontal square footage. Use washable runners and matching rugs of the appropriate size to hide the ugly carpeting beneath. The article entitled Ways to Hide Ugly Carpeting that a Landlord Will Not Replace provides a number of excellent ideas.
How to Add Lots of Color to Neutral Apartment Walls
When walls must be void of all color and painting is not allowed, hang extra-large stretched canvases in colors of your choice. If desired, cover an entire apartment wall with a grid of painted canvases. This is especially eye-catching in a room with contemporary style.
The apartment landlord will not have a right to complain since the color will not affect the walls. It is not permanent. Canvases are easily removed. Use narrow gauge hooks to hold the canvases, and fill in the tiny holes before moving out.
Temporarily Update Apartment Light Fixtures
When looking for ways to update an old apartment, take a look at the lighting. Are the fixtures old and ugly? Apartments are not usually equipped with stylish lights. The lights simply serve a purpose, and they are usually the cheapest of the cheap.
Update old apartment lights with new glass globes. Save the old ones to prevent complaints and extra charges. Simply reinstall the old globes and covers just before moving out of the apartment. They might be useful in the next home – even if it is also a rented apartment.