Renting shouldn’t mean living in beige.
Hi, I’m Tess
I’ve rented seven apartments in nine years. Beige walls, builder grade cabinets, and a bathroom floor I would rather not describe.
For a long time I told myself it wasn’t worth the effort. It’s temporary. It’s not mine. I’ll decorate properly when I own a place.
Then I got tired of waiting.
Renter Upgrades started as a running list of what actually worked. The peel and stick backsplash that survived two summers. The shelving that needed zero holes. The rug that covered a truly regrettable floor. Every idea here comes off cleanly when the lease ends, which means no awkward conversations and no lost deposits.
What you’ll find here
Ideas you can install in an afternoon. Most projects here take under an hour, and none of them require a drill, a landlord’s permission, or a contractor.
Room by room guides. Kitchens, bathrooms, walls and floors, storage, and full room refreshes. Whatever space is bothering you most, start there.
Small space solutions. Studios, one bedrooms, and apartments where the kitchen counter is the size of a cutting board.
Honest notes on what holds up. Which removable wallpaper actually removes. Which command strips fail in a humid bathroom. The unglamorous details that save you money and drywall.
Budget friendly picks. Because spending a fortune on a place you’ll leave in eighteen months defeats the point.
The rule around here
If it can’t come down without a fight, it doesn’t belong on this site.
Everything you see is reversible, removable, and deposit safe. Make it yours, then take it with you.
Say hello
Got a rental problem you can’t solve, or a trick that worked for you? I’d love to hear it. Reach me on the contact page.
Renter Upgrades uses affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read the full affiliate disclosure here.