Apartment living can save you a lot of money instead of having to pay for the maintenance and expense of owning a home.  Unfortunately, many feel like they have to give up on any creativity or originality in their home exchange.  That’s not the case, though!  Instead of thinking you have to accept whatever your apartment came with, consider some of these changes anyone can make. 

Curtains and Curtain Rods

If your apartment has terrible slatted blinds or curtains that are hideous to you: you can replace those!  Ensure that you keep the original curtains and rods in storage so that you can put them back before you move out.  Otherwise, you can put up any window covering you’d like!  Some apartment complexes have rules, like an HOA would, about what colors you can use and what patterns, but generally, it’s up to you!

This also pertains to curtain rods in your bathroom.  As long as you know what you’re doing and you don’t damage the wall itself, you can put up any curtain rods you like.  Using a rounded curtain rod allows for more room in your shower and can make a more pleasant shower.

Bathroom Fixtures and Faucets

If your showerhead doesn’t give you enough pressure, or your sink’s faucet is ugly, you can update them!  The important thing here, again, is to ensure you keep a hold on the original hardware so that you can put it back in place when you move out.  Luckily this ensures you can have whatever style you’d like.  If you still have water pressure issues after this, you may want to talk to your landlord to see if there’s a problem further back in the system.

Doorknobs and Handles

Are you tired of the brassy gold doorknobs most apartments in Portland, Oregon, have?  If so, this is another change you can make!  Store the old doorknobs, and replace them with something a little more stylish.  You can make your unique taste shine through with glass doorknobs or porcelain-painted wooden ones!  Have fun with it and try to make your home show your personality as much as you can.

Installing a Security System

Your apartment should be as safe as possible.  Installing a security system can help with this feeling of safety and is something that you can do.  Some are more invasive, and you may have to work out whether they’re allowed with your landlord, but most can be set up without much trouble.

Temporary Wallpaper

Temporary wallpaper allows you to do what all renters want to: change your walls.  This will enable you to change the entire look of a room without worrying about ruining walls or paying for the damage.  Research thoroughly before you settle on a temporary wallpaper company and then apply it using all of their instructions verbatim.   As long as you do what they tell you to and follow through with removing them carefully when your lease is up, you won’t have to worry about any extra charges or losing your deposit.