Live in an ugly apartment or spend money on decorating an apartment that you do not own? It's every renter's dilemma; the options are spending out of your own pocket to paint and fix-up a rented apartment or wake up to an un-appealingly decorated personal space every day.
hallway
Make your rented home a beautifully decorated, happy space! 

Well, we say that there is another option! If you are renting, try these simple to do, easy on the pocket but completely "wow" ideas for a space that is tastefully decorated and super personal, even the landlord will be amazed with the transformation!

Open Kitchen Shelves

Apart from bathrooms, the kitchen can be the most challenging space in a rented apartment. A kitchen needs to be an easy, functional area, have adequate storage and look good at the same time. This can be a tall ask in a rented space but opening up your kitchen and adding a feeling of depth to a small space is achievable with a simple improvements like taking off kitchen cabinet doors or re-painting walls and back-splash areas. Open shelves will make your kitchen look bigger, adding depth, and are a great way to add a personal touch without spending money on a costly remodel. Paint the interior of the cabinets a striking color or use contrasting wall paper to make the open cabinets even more attractive.
Kitchen
Open kitchen shelves used to display yellow dishes
Image - Theinspiredroom.net
kitchen shelves
Black and white wallpaper used behind open kitchen shelves
Image - Brewsterwallcovering.com

Bathroom Re-Vamp

The generic, commonplace white bathroom commonly found in rented apartments can be a complete put off, and tiles are both expensive and time consuming to change. Change things in your bathroom by bringing some of your favorite possessions into the bathroom, a small console in a pretty powder blue color or a tribal rug from the craft bazaar are bound to uplift the look of a small white, boring bathroom.
bathroom shelf
Add a few interesting pieces, like this powder blue console table, to make a plain white bathroom attractive
Image - Centsationalgirl.com
floor rug
Use a small colorful rug
Image - Ccnapc.org

Buy Online + DIY

Troll and research re-selling websites online for finds that you can re-purpose, update or transform with a DIY project. A lot of the stuff offered for sale will need a little work but you'll usually get it for a fraction of the cost of a new purchase. You should end up saving a lot of money on otherwise expensive purchases, like furniture or even household electronics, money which you can then use creatively to make those same, second hand purchases look amazing!
woman reading
Look for deals on household items online
Image - Americasrevival.com

Out Dated Do Over

Sometimes a rented apartment is so out dated, in every way, that every makeover that you may think of or attempt fails to meet expectations. When you don't have a choice in the matter opt to enhance the current look itself! Go for a vintage inspired feel in the decor like this colorful bathroom that would have otherwise been very expensive to remodel but because the bold blue color and artwork enhances the vintage looking taps, wall tiles and other bath fittings it seems like a conscious choice.
bathtub in bathroom
Make an out-dated, vintage bathroom look like a conscious decor choice
Image - Bathroomist.com

Invest In What You Own

None of us want to spend on something we do not own, least of all a rented apartment with an 11 month lease about to expire soon. What we still do want is a beautiful apartment! The best way to reconcile the difference is to invest in furniture and fixtures that you can take with you when you move. Ask your landlord for permission to swap out taps and light fixtures, or replace a door, on the condition that you will refit the originals when you leave, or alternatively offer to split the cost or pay a little more rent for small but required updates in your rented accommodation.
tap
Before - The ugly, old tap
Image - Jennaburger.com
sink
After - The new faucet makes a difference to the look of the bathroom counter
Image - Jennaburger.com

Get creative with your rented apartment and if you find other non-renovation ways to make a rental look like your own do share them with us!