My DIY Pinterest board is pretty much exploding at the seams. I collect DIY project ideas like they’re stamps. But when you’re a renter, you need to pick and choose your DIYs very carefully, because many projects won’t work with the restrictions of your lease. I've rounded up my 10 favorite no-fuss DIY projects for renters and I promise, your security deposit will be safe with all of them.
1: Monogram Doormat
This is a super easy project that will help set the stage for the design in your home. It’s a great way to stand out, especially if you live in a larger apartment building with identical front doors. Go with black if you want a more neutral look, or amp it up by using a brightly colored paint for your initial.
Make It: Monogram Doormat
2: Fabric Backsplash
When it comes to rental kitchens, you’re often limited with changes you can make. But this is an awesome DIY project that will allow you to completely alter the look of your space without doing any damage to the walls. Measure your space, choose a fabric you love and follow this DIY to create a showstopping backsplash. When it’s time to move out, simply take it down.
Make It: Fabric Backsplash
3: Radiator Cover/Shelf
If you live in a rental with a radiator, consider this project that helps you cover up the radiator while also adding some additional shelving. Even if you don’t have room for shelves, a cover can serve double duty by hiding the radiator and providing some additional space to store books, plants or artwork.
Make It: Radiator Cover
4: Wallpapered Fridge
Bethany Nauert
Sometimes an out-of-date refrigerator can really be an eyesore in a rental kitchen. Replacing the fridge is not an option for most, but all hope is not lost. You can jazz up your refrigerator by covering it with removable wallpaper.
This project is actually a lot easier than you think, and it can really add an element of fun to a tired space. This wallpaper is easy to remove, so when it’s time to move out you simply peel it off and go.
Make It: Wallpaper Your Fridge
5: Custom Pipe Shelving
Renters are often stuck with little-to-no storage. Built-in shelving is a luxury that homeowners get to enjoy, but your options are much more limited in an apartment. Here’s a nice in-between solution that will still provide you with additional storage but won’t do too much damage to your walls: custom pipe shelving.
While this project will require you to make some holes in the walls, they're very easy to fill-in with spackle before you move out.
Make It: Pipe Shelving
6: Slatted Door Storage
Jamie Dorobek, C.R.A.F.T
Here’s a fun solution that makes use of those bi-fold doors that so many of us find in rental homes. It’s a storage system that makes use of many standard organizing pieces (like a magnetic knife strip) but allows you to mount them on a slatted door. You can really get creative and set this up in a way that works best for you and your baking needs.
Make It: Slatted Door Storage
7: Stovetop Cutting Board/Counter
Sara Swezy, Studio Style Blog
For anyone in a tiny kitchen, you know all about the lack of counter space. It’s something that so many renters struggle with. Adding a cart as a "faux" kitchen island is a great solution, but sometimes you don’t even have room for that. Here’s an ingenious project that helps you create a good chunk of additional counter space using only the surface area on top of your stove. You can choose to create this cutting board out of material similar to your countertops, or go for some contrast and choose something that stands out a bit. When you need to use your stovetop, simply pop it off and store it until you're done.
Make It: Stovetop Cutting Board
8: Towel Ladder
Sarah Hebenstreit / Modern Kids Co.
Towels are chunky and unwieldy, and sometimes you might find that you barely have room for them in a tiny bathroom. Towel racks are great, but you might just have one and need some additional space for keeping bath and hand towels handy. This pipe towel ladder DIY could be the answer to all of your tiny bathroom towel storage needs. The great thing is, you can make it exactly as wide and as high as you have space for.
Make It: Copper Pipe Ladder
9: Pendant Light
While lighting can sometimes be a bit trickier for a renter, you can actually switch things up in your apartment without doing any real damage or putting your security deposit in jeopardy.
The key to switching out lights is making sure you have some space to store the original ones. You also want to avoid making any additional holes in the ceiling and only using whatever holes or openings are already there. If you can meet those criteria, I say switch out your lighting! This DIY pendant is an inexpensive way to quickly up your lighting game and completely change the look of your space.
Make It: Pendant Light
10: Slipcovered Ottoman Storage
Jonathan Rachman
Not to sound like a broken record with this whole storage issue, but it really is the #1 challenge of most renters. Which is why I absolutely love this ingenious project.
You can take a simple utility bucket and turn it into a gorgeous, upholstered ottoman. No one will even know that there is storage inside this gem (or a bucket for that matter!).
