Renter Friendly Upgrades

[@Nick_Lewis]

Some of these are a bit more work, but your home is soooo worth it! ❤I think my personal fave is the stick on wall mouldings I found - genius!! What's yours?

[@Nick_Lewis]

@@Unknown_Artist2.7182 Love that!

[@cheripowers9924]

Love the idea of self stick wallpaper and tiles. We are landlords and can I recommend to renters: when you go to hang your pictures, please use the 3M removable wall hangers or really small nails. Most renters are just too busy packing and moving and end up running out of time and don't fill in the holes.

[@ZZ_The_Boxing_Cat]

I don't know how, but missed this great video. Anyway, they make foam faux molding, some are peel and stick. I have giant ugly mirror and was looking for something for the edges- was thinking about using the foam molding.

[@willatag5854]

Window treatment! I needed it for my toddler bedroom because it helps her with sleeping especially in the summer time.

[@ViktoriaSvensson68]

@@Nick_Lewis Thank you for this video! I have a few ideas now for my rental! 😁 I have one, bad problem though, My kitchen and bathroom both have the horrible white ceramic tile countertops! 🤧 I thought about the Peel and Stick stuff but what I have seen on KZbin is that the grout lines appear through the peel & stick wallpaper, the peel and stick tiles also end up with their own lines. Any advice on this? I thought about using a liner of some sort on top the ceramic tiles and then adding the peel & stick on top of that - somehow.. LOL

[@bricksloth6920]

These are also good tricks for the terminally indecisive and people who get bored with their decor a lot

[@Nick_Lewis]

That's true. Exactly what I am like with wallpaper which is awful to remove.

[@dyanalayng5507]

💕terminally indecisive 💖

[@gladtobefreeagain7375]

I still suffer from wallpaper removal syndrome from renovating a 1990s home. DIY videos advising flippers to just paint over it are triggers. Great ideas that can really save future $$'s.

[@SwtLvlyLucy169]

Is this about me?

[@elysia5379]

@@gladtobefreeagain7375 I hear you. I had to remove several layers of painted over 1970s chipboard wallpaper in every room in my last house. I'm never wallpapering anything after that.

[@EmpressLishy]

We had a landlord once who said if we improved upon anything, within reason of course, we could save the receipts and just take the total off of that month's rent. We upgraded the bathroom and ultimately didn't pay for it. It was a pretty cool deal.

[@kbailey3238]

My friends auntie and uncle had the same deal with their landlord. They transformed that house and made it so beautiful!

[@emg.721]

I wish my landlord would get on board for this. I'm renting an upstairs apartment in a gorgeous old house with so much character, but some things really need a face lift. I know for a fact that with the upgrades I have planned that I will be leaving the place more beautiful then when I moved in but she's so skeptical everytime I run paint colors by her, and she won't let me replace the light fixtures (I needed permission because i dont have acess to the breaker, and my dad is an electrician, so it woulda been so smooth) those cursed boob lights will haunt me..

[@nuthinbutlove]

Wonderful!

[@karinscott4455]

I'm a landlady and if a renter asked to install wall moulding (even permanently), I'd be thrilled and say go for it and here's a discount! I'm starting to fall in love with those. So elegant.

[@dianethulin1700]

I’ve been painting rentals for years. A couple of tricks to it. One time my landlords were superstitious so I used colors that brought good luck. They were thrilled! The biggest thing to do is to paint the molding white. Then it’s easy to roll out the walls after you leave for the next tenants When you shove that old faucet away don’t forget to label the box! “Facet kitchen”, “Switchplate front closet”. Trust me on this!

[@zakosist]

What colors bring "good luck" and what eventually brings "bad luck" according to the superstition? I never heard of that

[@jessielynchanparaiso8882]

@@zakosist try to read move your stuff change your life ! By Karen Carter. But at the end of the day you need to work hard to get what you want.

[@chris...9497]

I've been renting for over 50 years, and I advise talks with the landlord/management company any time you want to make physical changes to your rental. Just make sure you get any approvals in writing! People forget, property agents change, buildings get sold, so having it in writing protects you from liability, lawsuits, and even eviction. If you want new wall color, talk to the landlord. Yes, the best time to negotiate is before signing the lease, but most municipalities have rules/regulations/laws requiring periodic repainting: every 3-5 years of tenancy and also between tenants. The argument can be made that the apartment will have to be repainted anyway if you've hit that required repaint point; the argument can also be made that the apartment gets repainted anyway when you leave. Take along paint samples and get approval in writing. Sometimes you can sell the idea by savings: 1. You pay for the paint, landlord provides the painters 2. Landlord pays/reimburses for the paint, you provide the labor It NEVER hurts to ask; just be pleasant and emphasize any advantage repainting provides the landlord. Wall color can also be changed by use of solid-color removable wallpaper. Most people think of patterned paper or murals, but peel-and-stick wallpaper also comes in block color. Some are also PAINTABLE; just double check the fine print. You can put up wallpaper, then paint, then trim (trimming AFTER painting reduces bleed and accidentally painting walls or molding by allowing the excess wallpaper to mask adjacent surfaces). Get a permanent marker, some tape, and some sandwich ziploc bags. As you take switch plates or other fixtures off the wall, mark the wall-facing side with identifying info, then tape any screws/nuts/washers to the item before storing in the ziploc. And by the way: you can always take the removed switch/outlet plate and cover it with matching wallpaper, whether solid color or patterned, before returning it to place. My final tip if you undertake painting your rental: olive oil. Sophia Loren's greatest beauty secret was daily topical applications of olive oil, which she swore fights wrinkles and stretch marks (it works!). Olive oil is also well-known as a hair conditioner, usually worked in warm to the hair and scalp, then wrapped in a hot moist towel (before shampooing out). Before opening the paint can, work some olive oil into your hair and lightly apply to any exposed skin. Your choice to put a scarf over your hair, but unnecessary. The oil will keep paint from adhering; it washes off afterwards and meanwhile your hair and skin get a spa-level moisturization.

[@ThisIsKassia]

I am for sure using the olive oil hack!

[@His_ChristieRose]

Golden advice

[@marygallagher7392]

Your olive oil suggestion absolutely works. Been doing this for years. So nice to not have to scrub and scrub to get off paint on skin and nails. But a little bit goes a long way!

[@4mpersan]

Safety warning - do not change out electrical fittings for lighting if you do not know what you are doing. Most multi-family buildings technically require permits to change fixtures due to the risk, so if the place burns down because of your light, you (and the rest of the building) won't be covered under your insurance.

[@cvonsutphen]

I have lived in my "Forever/Age in Place" home for eight years. My style has definitely evolved during my time here. I listened to the house and my own internal voice while curating my style. I enjoy the *renter friendly* concepts and ideas. There are times the money isn't in the budget for a total reno and a few hacks and swaps can get you through in order to create a cohesive space.

[@TheItGirl113]

Yess same mindset here! I'm a first time home buyer so I don't have the budget to do anything crazy but still wanna be able to work towards a beautiful space and renter friendly hack are so helpful!

[@BrookeSimmons]

Great ideas here! Definitely get permission in writing, and I strongly suggest getting a written agreement that your landlord cannot raise the rent for you specifically because of any changes you make at your own expense (including your own time/labour). I have had friends who got permission to paint and change out hardware like taps and lights, and then the next year the landlord raised the rent because the decoration standard was much higher! Ridiculous and wrong, but plenty of landlords will try it.

[@kimropp3696]

I've seen this rent increase happen, too. The landlord also then owned the improvements, which meant they could come and take the nice new fixtures at any time and replace them with downgraded ones.

[@kagitsune]

@@kimropp3696 Yikes. This is somehow both unsurprising and disappointing to how low some of these landlords will go.

[@digthewarmth]

That's really awful that those landlords do any of this.

[@charmsz566]

I did permanent (nailed+caulked) molding in my rental 😬😬 the work it took to hang up justified any security deposit deductions for me lol. Luckily NYC landlords don’t care, my super said they would love it, and now my apartment is seriously upgraded! Turns out it matches other apartments in the building that have molding from years ago!

[@shiplesp]

For those who are comfortable with DIY, a tip from my college days. You can put up "wallpaper" using some cotton fabric and liquid starch. It stays up well but comes off very easily and a quick wash removes any residue. Whether this is less expensive than the wallpaper probably depends on your access to reasonably priced fabrics. But it does open up a different source for patterns. I'm sure there are still KZbin tutorials out there for the details.

[@lesleythompson6801]

Great tip, thanks!! 😍

[@ExLibris-Alys]

I’m intrigued, how do you go about it, just soak and press?

[@shiplesp]

@@ExLibris-Alys Spray on the walls and press. I forget the dilution of the starch I used, but I am sure there is a KZbin tutorial if you search.

[@ExLibris-Alys]

@@shiplesp Thank you 😊

[@HeronCoyote1234]

Re art, I’ve purchased posters and prints of subjects that move me (like John Singer Sargent’s “Lady Agnew of Lochnaw”, Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”, or Louis Comfort Tiffany’s “Magnolias and Irises”. The prints’ cost is minimal ($18 to $50), so I spend on customer frames and finishes. They honestly look like works of expensive art in my home. When I was first married (aka poor), I would select greeting cards and small frames, and hang those (sometimes themed groups) for artwork.

[@ilovebobsdonuts]

I've commented before on your videos, saying which things I'm bookmarking for later as renter-friendly. I love your focus on this. I wouldn't be surprised if most of your following is renters! We love this, Nick.

[@Nick_Lewis]

The apartment I'm in now is the only one I've ever owned. I rented for 15 years and learned a few tricks. :)

[@dianethulin1700]

I love Bobs Donuts too! Now the lines are crazy-sheesh!

[@biblioholic7139]

Swapping metals makes a big difference. I replaced almost all the door knobs in my house and it looked so good I decided to replace the basic floor vents in the bedrooms and toilet flush handle too. Curtain rods next maybe.

[@fianorian]

Lol. You have been reading my mind. I rent and recently switched out the old, tired, peeling chrome handles on the kitchen cabinets for some more modern black ones. The landlord said he was fine with me papering or painting the walls, so that was my first big change. Of course, he said he would also be fine with me changing the carpets, (it saves him having to do it) but I would have to replace like with like. As the current carpet has already been down about twenty years, it's obviously a much better quality than I could afford, however. Fortunately, it is a plain, solid colour, so my solution was to buy the biggest inexpensive rug I could find and sit that on top. I am currently painting a large piece of artwork for the room. Frankly, even when I used to own my home, I would rather hang an amatuer piece of my own art, than a generic piece that can be found in every other household on the street.

[@abrielsteadman5783]

Definitely speak with your landlord about any updates you make (faucets, knobs, lighting as mentioned.) We move frequently for work and have had multiple landlords who have bought them from us to pitch higher rental prices for future renters, which helped us out since oftentimes the metals don’t work well in new spaces. Win win!

[@avb5294]

OMG! Nick, luv ya!💕 I moved into my apartment 18 mo ago. First things I changed were kitchen faucet, curtains on all windows (imagine having 48" tall by 15' wide vertical blinds 🤦🏻‍♀️ on all windows); gross plastic shower heads, and boob lights! Everyone kept telling me not to spend money. My apartment is my sanctuary. Also, I work from home. I refuse to look at ugliness day in day out! Just painted my bedroom, working on office color, loving room, hallway and entryway are next. Feels good to have someone on my side! Love your videos!! P.S. why coffee tables are so hard to figure out?!

[@dianeguy7452]

I live in an apartment complex. It’s new and very nice. The one thing we were explicitly told was not to change the light fixtures. If there’s a fire in our place they will blame it on that and that’s a huge problem. If I was renting in a private house I’d do it though. We’ve painted and added a ton of our own personality and we enjoy the result. I agree there’s a lot you can do it is after all your place. But unfortunately for us the lighting was off limits. Looove your channel so glad I found you

[@FriendlyFare]

Under Ontario Law, Fixtures such as Lighting, Faucets and Drapery Hardware are not considered chattels (chattels being anything that is not affixed to the unit, i.e: if you imagine your rental unit is a shoebox and you turn it upside-down, anything that falls out would be a chattel; that which is screwed-in, affixed or otherwise attached, is not), and as such become the property of the landlord when installed in the unit, unless you have a clause specifying otherwise in your lease. I would exercise caution when installing fixtures in a rental unit without prior agreement, so that the landlord does not claim them as affixed to the property. As with anything in life, communication is key :)!

[@Nick_Lewis]

I’ve never heard of that! Thanks for that

[@ThisIsKassia]

That's crazy. Also, if you swap them back to original when you leave, do they really have a leg to stand on?

[@FriendlyFare]

@@ThisIsKassia It's just a heads up to be aware of the laws in your jurisdiction. I worked as a law clerk and real estate law secretary when I was younger, but now I am a business and culinary consultant and the Ontario laws haven't changed. I always advise my clients to include a clause or appendix in the lease allowing the the removal of tenant installed fixtures & restoration of originals or equivalent upon termination of tenancy. ...But you are right that most folks aren't assholes and would be fine with tenants changing the fixtures back without an issue. But I am aware of more than one case where the landlord claimed possession of any fixture installed. It's just prudent to be aware and to avoid this pitfall by timely communication. ... and this may not even be relevant to your jurisdiction at all! It's just a caution to all of us Ontarians who enjoy Nick's channel :D!

[@nataliebutler]

It's similar in the UK. I can't remember exactly how it's worded, but anything 'integrated' could be considered part of the property, for example if you plant a garden technically you have to leave all the plants there when you move.

[@anonknitter]

Same in the US. Also the landlord could get in trouble if they for example show the unit with the tenant's fixtures to a potential new tenant, then the new tenant moves in and they're all different than the ones the landlord showed. Same when you buy a house--if you want to keep your faucets you better put that in the contract!

[@dawnsstar5918]

My very first rented apartment, mid 80's, was a one bedroom, very small kitchen, breakfast nook , a decent living room, with a fireplace and bathroom......covered in 1970 wood paneling !! Back then, I adored the Victorian look, and really got into interior decor, and being that the landlord wasn't on premises......I decided to paint that paneling a shocking pink and a lacey light green/cream border. Forget the feeling of a bigger space..... the whole thing buzzed, and I loved it !!....lol. When I moved out, I had let him keep the security.

[@TheSpiralLab]

I lived in two apartment complexes after my divorce and in both places, it was their policy that they painted every unit when one tenant moved out before it was occupied by the next tenant, so they didn’t mind at all if we painted because they were painting over it no matter what.

[@emilyambler5821]

Our paint was 15 years old when we moved in!! That’s crazy

[@ThePrincessSJL]

Another tip for window coverings: Privacy film is fantastic especially for awkward windows where a blind or curtain doesn’t make sense. Get the kind that attaches via static cling (ie a spray water bottle and something to smooth it out). There are patterned ones for the adventurous but also simple frosted or etched glass look options. Sold at Home Depot and Lowes. Brand examples: DC Fix and Artscape. Simply spray it with water and peel off. I used this in a rental for a window within a door and two small slim windows - they faced an opposite unit and backed out to a fire escape. Also covered the inside glass of an IKEA Billy bookcase. Very easy to use - no skills needed (just measuring, spraying water, and smoothing out air bubbles) and affordable.

[@svietka202]

I absolutely agree with everything you said but I also have a small tip for the renters: When you give notice to the landlord that you will be leaving which is usually at least a whole month and sometimes even more, show it to the landlord. More often than not, changes you have made added value to his property which will make it much easier for him to rent it out after you and actually raise the rent. From my experience as an interior designer Who was hired many times by long term renters, It’s a win-win situation for everybody

[@VivaStefania]

These are my favorite kinds of videos, anything diy and rental friendly. Thank you

[@theyoftheravens]

DIY Dalia might be up your alley, her videos are great!

[@selinaburford6771]

There are so many peel and stick options for everything from wall paper, moldings, wood slates, etc. I think renters can make such a difference in how their spaces look without it being permanent.

[@teresaarnone558]

Problem is, you HAVE to research them. So many DO leave a ton of residue and is VERY hard to get off. Trust me I've used a few. I now put painters tape down first or even paintertape and either foam board or like a poster board. I've seen some use cling wrap, but I haven't. Goo gone helps but some of the products on the market, are real crap. You must RESEARCH, ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT PROPER REMOVAL & FOLLOW THE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS.

[@AvecPoesie]

​@@teresaarnone558I am glad I read your comment...

[@janeg7057]

We own some older apartments. We allow our tenant to decorate as they like. But they need to put a thing back the way they found if. We do paint after every tenant. So as long as it’s not black we can paint over it! some of our elderly ladies love to do curtains. The longer a tenant stay the more likely we are to love their upgrades! Stick on is so great for kids rooms

[@TheDancingBell]

Just a tip also that I've recently learned, stick on wall paper can also be used to stick on to countertops as well, I did it in my bathroom. It's awesome

[@sheila3936]

My first apartment had a concrete balcony that was stained and random spray paint splotches making it super dingy. I added outdoor flooring tiles and it made such a difference. Then took the tiles to the next place.

[@susanma4899]

In the last apt where I lived, it stated on the lease that we weren't allowed to put nails in the walls. For a couple weeks I was *trying* to obey that rule, but as I was unpacking and decorating I noticed that there were some holes already in the walls! At least I could stick a nail in an existing hole! After that, I decided, screw it. This is my home and I cannot live without pictures on the walls. After I moved out I went around and patched all the nail holes. Of course I didn't drill into the walls, didn't mount my TV on the wall or anything like that. I lived there for 3 years. Also those stupid command hooks are so insanely expensive imo.

[@kagitsune]

My favorite channel for renter friendly upgrades is Engineer Your Space! She's been making videos for about a decade and she has some awesome ideas!

[@itslex]

Hey Nick, love you and your channel so much! Not sure if you’ll see this, but I’m wondering if you’d consider doing a video on how to choose and invest in quality furniture as a renter. For me and many of my friends, we’re finally in a place in life where we can afford to create a space we love with pieces that will stand the test of time, but home ownership is still a ways away for us. It can be harrowing to spend thousands on the perfect couch, knowing that one day we’re definitely going to have to move out and that perfect couch may or may not work for the next space we move into. Any tips on how to make smart choices when designing for both today’s space and tomorrow’s would be so very helpful!

[@artflorez1568]

Years ago when I rented, I asked the landlady if it was okay for me to change out a couple of things like a light fixture and a faucet, along with painting. She liked everything I did so much that she paid me for it and I left it when I moved.

[@fshbulb1]

I wish this was how landlords acted in Australia. In most places you're lucky if you can use actual picture hooks, let alone swap things in and out. Most real estate agents conduct inspections every few months and they'd crack the shits if you suddenly had different lighting fixtures or curtains. At least in my experience.

[@inspiredby624]

Wait, so they regularly inspect your apartments?? Doesn't that violate some kind of privacy law?

[@alexa5927]

@@inspiredby624 as privacy laws go, at least here in the US, a landlord cannot enter your apartment without prior notice - or make a valid attempt to contact you in the event of an emergency - but it sounds as though it’s a standard thing to inspect rentals regularly in Australia. If that’s the case, it would be stipulated in the letting agreement that inspections happen periodically.

[@Pope_Khajiit]

Every rental agreement I had featured clauses instructing that picture hooks couldn't be installed. I did so anyway and never heard a word of complaint from the REA or landlord. Even if the owner kicked up a fuss, the small holes left behind are easy to fix with a bit of putty (or blu-tak!) and color matched paint to blend.

[@lesleythompson6801]

In California, at least, whatever improvements you make become the landlord's property. Years ago, I bought a shower fixture with the detachable hose for my rental house. Somehow I mentioned it while the owner was there and he said, "Let me put that in for you!" So cheery and nice... He took away the original shower head. 🤬 I just bought a cheap one like the original when I moved out and traded it out. 😄

[@lorrem2539]

My daughter liked adding those stick on “decals” that looked like a chandelier or bird cage. No holes or or whole wall of stick on wallpaper and removed easily. True story, her landlord tried to charge her for a cobweb in a corner and a bug that was in the light!!!

[@d_dpo]

I've done some of these and they do really add quality to your life. Coming back to a space that you made your own really helps calm the mind, instead of a place filled with cheap crap. I've changed the faucets, put in my own light fixtures and curtains. It really added to the look of the space. I also spoke to the landlord and painted my walls white. It was a hideous dark pink all over before that. Really good tips. I'll look into the paintings idea now. Thank you for this video

[@kclark7067]

Years ago we were renting a townhouse, and we asked the owner about painting all the spaces except a room that had been wallpapered. He was not only agreeable, but he let us pic the color. He purchased the paint and came over to help us paint!

[@marylut6077]

In US, if you convince your landlord to upgrade door knobs to disability-friendly lever style handles your landlord can write it off taxes as business - can’t hurt to ask.

[@DeborahOamen]

Perfect timing!!! I've been living in a rental for a year now and I really want to add personality into my space. Thank you.

[@LaHermitess]

Don't know what landlords you deal with but I envy you. Having been in Toronto rental spaces since the early 1970s and never having had a landlord in any apartment building paint, provide window treatments of any kind, or update hardware since their buildings went up. I have always had to strip the rooms of old nicotine stained wallpaper, tear up and dispose of the previous tenant's ancient wall to wall carpeting (and dissolved underpadding) myself, as well as replace missing light switches, outlet covers, and overhead light shades when taking over a new unit. I live just outside the Yorkville area so not noticeably transient, rooming house kinds of buildings, and I pay a mid-average rent for my unit, but no amount of negotiating gets tenants here any materials, labour or upgrades unless something is totally broken and your unit is either flooding or on fire. I guess that is actually a good thing as they don't pay much attention to what anyone does until you are ready to move out. I am curious about about stick on tiles for my tiny bathroom and kitchen floors however. Not my favourite choice aesthetically but apparently readily available and budget friendly. Do they come up easily when its time to move out as my 1" blue and white tiled and grouted bathroom floor is a lost cause, and my kitchen tiles are permanently stained after over 50 years of use. As a female senior with some mobility issues I am seeking easy and doable improvements. Any suggestions or info for me???

[@abigail1023]

I wish the internet had existed when I was renting. My apartment would have looked a lot better!😄 But a lot of these ideas can be used by homeowners as well. I like the molding with the mounting tape!

[@muzclnotes]

Some landlords will also give rent credit for upgrades (if discussed prior). Always save receipts! And then that money you're investing in their property, will be discounted from your rent that month.

[@angellynn7701]

Perfect timing, I am about to work on the dining room!. edit - when I rented, my lndlords always seemed happy to let me paint as long as it wasnt a dark color. Cant hurt to ask!

[@Nick_Lewis]

Oh awesome!

[@kathyb2201]

Love the wall and art ideas, but I would use caution about renters diy plumbing and lighting projects. I was a landlord in BC for 20 years and that was not something I would allow for safety and liability reasons. I did let my tenants paint though, in fact I would buy the paint for them in a colour they chose. Bottom line, definitely find out where your landlord stands before starting a project.

[@debblouin]

You could also take 1/4” sheets of 4x8 mdf or plywood cut them to 3x7 paint and apply molding and install them as you would wall hangings. Great thing is that you can hang artwork on the panels lessening the need to putty holes.

[@elenacuevas6266]

Renter tip if you decide to paint the wall get it in writing that they are ok with it. My last apartment complex changed management and they ended up not ok with it after I was given the green light

[@dianaanca7079]

OMG! Nick! Please do a video on window treatments. I have this huge super wide window which is very very very hard to shop for. I also want my curtains to let a lot of natural light through but I want privacy at night. Could you explain curtains, what types of curtains are for, how to match them, where to find great curtains (specially for japandi). Thanks so much for you videos, they are amazing!

[@lynda.grace.14]

Great suggestions. There are also peel and stick treatments which can be used on gross old laminate countertops. Of course, you can't set a hot pot down on it, but that can work. Turning the lights down low helps, too. And one of my friends put a row of tea lights along a shelf to create the warmth of a fireplace feeling in her home. You could use fairy lights as well; however, she wanted actual fire. And since there wasn't another sitting room she didn't have to worry about leaving the flame unattended.

[@user-jv1cl2fs6m]

I have some fabulous decorative window films! Helps bring color in adds much needed privacy and keeps my place much cooler in the summer! Easy on easy off.

[@mayav7751]

Moving into new rental next week! They don’t have curtains or even curtain rails, but whole house does have electric blinds on the exterior so we are planning to not have any curtains and just put milky foil on the windows at street level for privacy. Think this is great as I like a minimal look and find curtains often look fussy

[@DawnDavidson]

There are some really great vinyl clings for windows that let light through, but create privacy. I like the ones that have patters that diffuse the light in rainbow-y ways. :)

[@virvegeorgeson1176]

I installed click flooring in a light brown wood print in the tiny kitchen of a rental overtop a horrid 70s orange, gold and mustard sheet vinyl printed to look like 12" x 12" tiles. The click flooring was removed when I moved out and I gave it to my sister for her den. Another effective decor change I made was to wall paper the side of the refrigerator black with silver nature motifs so that it would be the first thing you saw as you entered the 1 bedroom apartment. The refrigerator was at one end of the tiny kitchen that opened into the entry hall. The other end of the L shape kitchen opened into the dining living room.

[@pell222]

My favorite thing I did in my rental was starched fabric walls. Super custom, nontoxic, extremely forgiving (just wet and reposition), didn't damage the wall at all when I took it down despite using unwashed dark dyed cotton and I can put it on a new wall or use the fabric for something else. Like custom wallpaper but more options, more durable, more forgiving, more reusable

[@marylut6077]

Love your presentation style, love that sitting in your LR seems like you are chatting just with me, your wood kitchen cabs are gor-geeee-usssss, clever picture molding tip and even though I own I may try the budget friendly panel tip in back entry, friend’s landlord was painting anyway as she was moving in and agreed to paint walls popular neutrals - Accessible Beige in BRs and Repose Gray elsewhere.

[@Cross-xm2fr]

when I was a renter I thought I would do all sorts of things when I became an owner. Instead I am my own strictest landlord.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

Keep in mind, guys, peel and stick wallpaper cannot be used on every type of wall. If it doesn't have a semi-gloss or gloss paint, it will rip and destroy the paintjob under the wallpaper when you pull it up. If you're willing to repaint afterwards though, go ahead. Something I've heard of using is clothe starch and fabric as an alternative wallpaper. Sadly, there isn't a lot of videos showing it and I've only found a handful of articles. This also being said, there is a small but still-there possibility of white residue from the starch being left on the wall after it's pulled up. For those with white walls (which, most of the videos I've found are from such people), you won't have to worry about this, but for the rest of us, it could spell disaster. You can wash it away easily if you have a glossy paint on the walls but if it's a matte/flat paint, water being used to wash the residue away will also wash the paint off. So, I'd recommend maybe trying a corner of the room that's not immediately noticeable to see what happens. Not sure just any type of fabric can be used either, so do some research on the best kinds. There's a few videos as well that explain how to line up patterns to ensure everything looks seamless, if you want a patterned print on the wall instead of a solid color.

[@alastairdallas]

If landlords are okay with wall moldings, they should prefer nails to tape. They want the moldings to be attached so that they won't be taken by the renter. And, obviously, painting a new color on temporary molding will leave the old color under the "temporary" molding. I'm speaking as landlord of a very creative nephew renter. If I approve moldings, we're putting them on to stay.

[@dianethulin1700]

And you would hope in terms of a picture railing nobody would think they could put weight bearing items not knowing it was just taped onto the wall

[@christinacrowder9557]

Love you Nick, but have to heartily disagree re stick-on wallpaper. Yes. it is great for renters, full stop. For homeowners, traditional wallpaper that you install yourself or have installed is EASY to remove with proper wall prep (i.e. one coat of wallpaper size-not hard) . While it is correct that your grandmother's paper was a nightmare to take down, today's papers are a lot a lot *alot* easier to work with. "Non-Woven" papers allow you to put the paste on the wall where you are hanging, and that makes putting up a feature wall a breeze, and totally approachable for the kind of DIY homeowner that would tackle a project like making the picture frames. Here's some real drawbacks of stick on "paper": - imperfect seams. most say you should overlap seams by 1/16" - this means your seams won't match no way, no how. (by design) - you need 2 people to install (e.g. costs twice as much for a pro to do it) - it stretches if you look at it funny -- it's a piece of plastic after all, so it stretches every time you try to reposition and even when pulling the backing - more reasons seams won't match - you can barely cut it around obstacles, so use on a feature wall w/no doors, windows, built ins only. - not as cheap as you might think. It is often sold in 15' lengths, which, if you have 8' ceilings means you only get 1 full strip out of it, and you either have to splice in the middle of your wall with your next roll. trad wallpaper comes in 33' rolls, which will reliably get you three strips on the wall plus extra for over/under windows and doors. - bubbles ..... bubbles ..... bubbles.... pretty much every youtube video mentions how hard it is to get the bubbles out. It's almost impossible, and another factor that makes this kind of "good enough" ok for a renter but not something desirable for a homeowner when the alternative (non-woven paper) is right there for you, basically at the same price point. Milton and King is a really great newish company with fabulous, modern patterns. This blog post explains the pros and cons of tradtional (non-woven) vs. removable (peel and stick) www.miltonandking.com/blog/traditional-wallpaper-vs-removable-wallpaper/

[@colinmcknight6145]

If you are swapping out light fixtures, please make sure that you know what you are doing before taking this project on. One of my tenants did this without my knowledge, and after she moved out, I discovered that she had replaced the original in a way that created a fire hazard. I found it out totally by chance. Scary stuff.

[@TheHappyWhisk]

I never thought about the removable wood on the wall, I really love that idea.

[@melissablackwood]

When I was a renter, there was never enough closet space, so no idea where I would've stored the landlord's faucets, light fixtures, and window treatments, LOL. Also, I love the look of wall moldings, but dread the thought of all those additional surfaces to dust.

[@Pope_Khajiit]

If only there was a rental friendly way to remove/hide popcorn ceilings!

[@candacen7779]

Regarding art that may be a little pricey, if you're interested in a piece at a gallery or can contact an artist directly, don't be afraid to ask if you can do a payment plan. I know it sounds odd, but quite a few galleries do this. (Mine included. I'm a gallery director. *wink*) And if the artist's work isn't in a gallery (e.g., they share their work via their own website, Instagram, Etsy, etc.), many artists love to sell art to buyers directly. So if you see a work that you'd love to have and you can't pay for it all at once, try to get in touch with the artist (via email, social media, etc.) and ask them if they'd consider selling it under a payment plan.

[@Mona-yb2in]

Oh!!! This was awesome. I knew of some of these tricks, but the wall paneling genius. Thank you!!! Hoping there will be part 2 and 3. Or... an apartment series?

[@GoettingRx]

Nick, your timing is perfect. My daughter is moving to an apartment and these tips are very helpful. (Last week, we were at IKEA getting her some things for the apartment, and I laughed when I saw the light-up head you had mentioned. Love your reviews!)

[@tanyabyron3593]

Landlords want you to paint it back when you leave. I painted my bedroom a beautiful mauve color and loved it, but we had to prime and paint on the way out and it was a pain. I’m doing peel and stick wall paper and decals this time. 😊

[@HeronCoyote1234]

I’m moving from the house that I own to an apartment (don’t ask). I tried removable stick on tiles (two brands from two different retailers) in my current bathroom. After a few days, I went to remove them, even heating up the backing with my hairdryer. Um, the paint and some of the plaster came off as well. This is why I tested before moving in. Oh well.

[@sp-bl1sl]

Thank you for talking about faucets. All faucets are NOT the same. My father always bought the cheapest faucet he could find. The first time he came out of the bathroom at my house after I had renovated he looked like he had seen God. He asked, "Where did you get that faucet?" Needless to say, my parents now have good faucets.

[@InternerVodkaAunt]

A good option for personalised Art is to use posters in frames. I used 1930 travel posters in an inexpensive Ribba frame, which went well with my Art Deco/Nomad style. The cost for each was only about $80, and I got the posters sent from the US to Australia.

[@lazygardens]

When I was a landlord, my leases said tenant could paint (provided it was done in a workman like manner, masking and such), BUT landlord had the option to require tenant to repaint back to the original color at the end of the lease. Very few tenants took advantage of this offer.

[@tinywalnut6337]

I had an agreement with my landlord that i could paint the main long wall (light matte green over gloss navy blue). She was so reasonable about it and i wonder if they was part of her reasoning--that I'd be more likely to stay long-term. I've now been here over 3 years and i hadn't planned on staying nearly that long. I love it here and it's feeling more and more like a nest since i started watching your channel.

[@AMK650]

Maybe you could also bargain with your landlord about the paint. You could offer to paint it back to the original color or a color the landlord likes when you move out. That is the standard whrere I live. You can paint the wall however you like but you have to paint them back to white when you move out. This leaves a blank slate for the next renter. Exceptions are made wenn the next renter wants to keep it.

[@candiceanderson3933]

I have moved often. Anything with adhesive is the worst to remove. I would rather fill 100 nail holes than try to scrape mounting tape off the wall. It is so destructive. Even command strips can fail to come off cleanly. Those plastic hooks with foam tape on the back are the absolute worst. There is NO way I would ever place mounting tape on a painted wall.

[@candiceanderson3933]

Just want to add that there are many attractive options for hooks out there. The cheapo plastic ones are inexcusable, unless they are inside a cabinet in the garage or something.

[@krrush1]

Great ideas!! I would be careful with that clear double-sided mounting tape on drywall, though! It does come off but with drywall it always takes the paint off along with a layer or two of drywall lol works great on all other surfaces tho!

[@ellenotella]

This video came at the perfect time! I was just looking into stuff like this during the week!

[@morganellabean]

It shocks me how many people have issues with their landlords not allowing reasonable modifications to a unit, especially things like hanging pictures and painting, which can both be easily undone. I've lived in almost 20 different rental units and never not been allowed to use nails and screws to mount things to the wall. Only two places didn't allow me to paint but peel and stick wallpaper would have been a great alternative. I also usually switch out my bathroom and kitchen faucets and shower head, especially if what comes with the unit is cheap and/or dated. It's definitely worth having the conversation with your landlord. I think these days a lot of them realize that people want to make their space actually feel like home.

[@projectqueen610]

My landlord wanted me to leave all of my improvements...I even added a little manle...all pre-aproved. My landlord loved that I dressed up the apartment.

[@jessakent2049]

You can also get white peel-and-stick wallpaper, paint it while it's down, then put up the now-painted wallpaper.

[@grat2010]

I'm fortunate enough to own but still love these ideas bc I have commitment issues with my decor.

[@mac4022]

I hate everyone on the internet - just feel like everyone’s personality is fake and it’s hard to watch videos even if it’s good information. You stand out - your advice is amazing and really help and your personality is great too!

[@tinahamilton1056]

You have a beautiful kitchen. Wish I could see more of it.

[@RED-cy7ig]

The last house I rented had food stained cloth vertical blinds. I had never seen cloth vertical blinds before. Hopefully, never again. My husband took down the blinds and put them back up when we left.

[@hesterwright3674]

Had the last tenants been throwing food around the room wtf 😄😄

[@Vitagirl]

I have never gotten my deposit back nor did I ever expect to and every space I have ever left is pretty much the same as I left it with the exception of my first couple of cookie cutter apartments!! I always spoke to my landlords and some of them even paid for my upgrades!! As a designer/ artist or creative of any kind as long as you respect the space and work with your landlord it usually works in their favor! Thankfully I own now!! Love this segment

[@Mapleaple]

It's common use to put small holes into walls and is protected for renters. They cannot take from your deposit for putting up pictures because that's what 100% of normal people will do it.

[@FaithKristina]

Thank you so much for this video!! Just signed another year lease at our apartment and I’m so ready to make this space feel better and more like us with some of your tips!!

[@DJDJ-ek9tu]

you might check on what state you live in. In Kansas if you install lighting without written permission from the own it becomes theirs….

[@teresaarnone558]

I did bead board and molding in my hall and bathroom, painted it what I wanted an dthen just put it up with a ton of command strips. It works AMAZINGLY. Also I did by peel and stick backsplash with painters tape underneath so when I removed it, there was no left over adhesive. My last rental did not have cabinet pulls on the kitchen cabinets, so I bought the long ones that kind of hang over into the back of the cabinet...if that makes sense...and yes used command strips 🤣. But hey, it ALL WORKED, and I'm hard on stuff. Sticker border I've had good luck with, still use command strips. I'm just too scared I can't lose my deposit so I just have to do what I can. But these are all great hacks. Nano tape is great if you know how to remove it properly and most people don't. WASHI tape is a GREAT alternative to break up spaces and tensions rods with curtains!!! It's a must!!!

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

YAAAY IT’S MY BOY 👏🏾❤️👏🏾

[@Nick_Lewis]

Hey Tiffany!

[@tiffanycurtis4794]

@@Nick_Lewis hey Nick keep up the hustle with this amazing channel my friend you deserve it 👏🏾😄👏🏾

[@Luxuberrys]

Great video! Another tip would be to raise your curtains. Instead of using 84” windows. I use 96” curtains that make my apartment look like it has higher ceilings.

[@YILDIZ-READINGS-5D]

I got to say, I love your channel and the way to bring all your videos together. Big hands up for top quality content!❤

[@carolefreeman2544]

What window coverings do you suggest for Patio Doors off the kitchen? Great video Nick 👍🏼

[@kericue2065]

The last place I rented I could take down the window shades so I kept them rolled up and put curtains. However when we moved the mini blinds cracked , they were so old. Nonetheless the landlord charged me to replace them. I had to pay almost $500. So if you take anything down please wrap it well and keep it safe. And get it in writing that you are removing said items and will put them back when you leave.

[@AbdulMunimKazia]

Brilliant tips for home owners too, to make easy changes to their home without committing to a big change! Unfortunately, the rental situation where I live is quite bad, landlords don't generally allow painting, and most apartments even come with shitty furniture which you cannot move or store anywhere! And it's really not a renters market, so it's either this or buy your own house! The first time I ever bought any piece of furniture was when I bought my own house!

[@annieo54]

In my opinion it would be safer to tack the light weight moulding than use that gorilla tape. I had a picture secured with the tape and decided to move it, the picture came off, but so did several layers of paint leaving a huge divit..I managed to fill it and paint it over successfully, but in the future I’d rather pull out panel nails and touch up..

[@tanyabyron3593]

Most landlords want you to “paint it back” so not very practical if you aren’t staying a long time

[@laceyroyce6550]

Moving into my first solo apartment this week! You're timing could not be better.

[@KB-gd3gg]

Thanks for this Nick! Recently discovered you on KZbin. I just moved to Vancouver and the rental situation here is dismal. I pay over $2000 a month and had to sign an addendum forbidding house plants and hanging items on walls.

[@sandysmom100]

This is great timing. Long story but we've had all our family room furniture destroyed by some uncaring family members that were staying with us for a long time .I picked up 2 mcm end tables for a paltry price of 44.00 each they're in pretty good shape for the price. I love our vintage / antique place near us .I keep checking for more furniture peices as I need them .im thinking about possibly making my own curtains don't know yet .We've been here 14 years as renters. We love our neighbors and our landlord is so nice. But he won't even let us paint my daughters room purple her fave color. I'm looking into art and making some of my own as well for a pop of color .I'm so indecisive .I'm curating collections on charish , etsy ect ...Nick do you think mcm tables would mix with some antiques of we decide to go thst way ? I also saw a beautful mcm sectional style couch on etsy , totally redone but 6000 .00 ugh 😑 😫. IDK .I was thinking going old hollywood too .I just don't know .

[@torylee5279]

Perfectly put together video. Clear, informative, and to the point. Thank you for sharing!

[@spenym14]

I’m moving in a new apartment in July, can’t wait to take some of your tips from this video and all your videos to decorate the space

[@kyliecallaway5273]

I just changed out the boob lights in our living room and kitchen! Such a difference!!