Copy These Easy Apartment Kitchen Ideas for Renters
Transforming a rental apartment kitchen into a stylish and functional space can seem like a daunting task, but with a bit of creativity and the right approach, it’s entirely achievable.
You found the perfect apartment to rent but something about the kitchen just feels drab. These kitchen design ideas will help to bring a little extra life into the space without breaking the bank.
With a mixture of minimalist design principles and sustainable home decor ideas, you can have the space of your dreams on a budget.
Let’s dive into some kitchen inspiration ideas to create a space you love to cook in and host in even if it’s in a tiny apartment!
This post is all about small apartment kitchen decor ideas for renters.
Minimalist design principles when decorating your rental apartment kitchen
The goal is for your space to look and feel uniquely your own while also remaining functional. To achieve this try to keep these minimalist design tips in mind when doing your rental kitchen makeover:
- Don’t feel like you have to buy everything on this list. Just use it as inspiration!
- Use what you already own and can repurpose to update your kitchen
- Sometimes less is more when it comes to design (especially with small spaces like apartment kitchens!). Choose a color scheme (or overall style ex. Rustic, boho, modern) and stick to it!
- Only buy things you really love! You don’t want your kitchen to be overwhelmed with clutter that you may not use
- Prioritize buying secondhand (ex. Thrift store, yard sale, from friends etc.). This will save you money and you will be able to find unique pieces that not everyone has from big box stores!
- Keep your personal sense of style in mind so your space looks cohesive with the rest of your apartment and so you don’t end up trashing kitchen decor in a few months!
Let’s dive into some easy ideas to make your kitchen area fit your own unique style!
The Best DIY Apartment Kitchen Ideas For Renters
1. Peel and stick tiles and removable wallpaper for temporary kitchen backsplash
A bit of wall coverage can go a long way in terms of changing the feel of your space! Even just choosing one wall to add a pop of color or a fun pattern can brighten up your space.
Pro tip: Make sure you clean the walls and let them dry an hour before applying your temporary wallpaper so that they stick properly and lay flat.
2. Install under-cabinet lighting to brighten your space
Light can really do so much for the look of a space.
If you don’t have a lot of natural light in your kitchen, install battery-operated lightning underneath your cabinets for late-night baking sessions or to refrain from relying on harsh overhead lights.
3. Add cozy ambient lighting to your kitchen counters
We normally think of lamps in the bedroom but why not add a mini lamp to your kitchen counter tops.
You can stack it on top of cookbooks or simply in a corner of your kitchen counter. Try to use soft lightbulbs for calming light.
4. Change the kitchen cabinet hardware for an easy rental kitchen makeover
Take off outdated kitchen cabinet knobs and swap them out with ones that match your new kitchen decor.
Anything from chunky crystals of thin gold shapes are trending right now but find what works best for you!
You can even check out antique stores to find unique pieces for a more eclectic look. Just be sure to put the old hardware in a bag in a kitchen cabinet so when you move out you know exactly where everything is!
5. Bring in furniture like bookshelves or dressers for extra kitchen storage
Make your apartment kitchen feel homey by bringing in some furniture like dressers, baker’s racks, bookshelves, or benches.
Not only do these offer great storage space for your kitchen but you can also add kitchen decor on top like a lamp, cookbook or kitchen tray with your favorite trinkets. A budget-friendly option is to repurpose unused furniture from other areas of your home!
If you would like to learn about small kitchen organization tips and the best space-saving apartment kitchen ideas check out the post below! We go into full detail on how to organize a small apartment kitchen before you start decorating it.
{RECOMMENDED POST: Learn 31 Best Ways To Organize Your Small Kitchen (Clutter Free Heart Of The Home)}
6. Give your apartment kitchen countertop a makeover with a decorative tray
Mix utility with simple decor using a decorative kitchen tray. I love using large wooden lazy susans as they are a helpful storage area for things like spices, oils and spurs for cooking but you can add in fun decor elements as well for a balanced look.
Seasonal decor for the next holiday, a candle or dried flowers are perfect additions to a useful and decorative kitchen counter tray.
7. Roll in a kitchen cart or kitchen island for extra kitchen counter space and as a prep station
Depending on your kitchen design layout you may be able to fit a temporary kitchen island into your space.
A rolling island is perfect for extra kitchen storage and as an extra prep area to make your favorite recipes.
You can also stick one on the end of your kitchen counter to make the most of the extra floor space in the center of your kitchen. That way you have plenty of space to serve food at your next dinner party!
8. Add in some kitchen curtains or blinds
Kitchen curtains on small windows or large can really transform a space and are a perfectly temporary option.
Wispy curtains can bring a relaxing vibe to your kitchen and can offer a bit of shade if you have lots of natural light.
Be mindful of not overdoing patterns and colors if you plan to have kitchen curtains, a rug and a table cloth. Find a good balance between large spaces of fabric so your kitchen decor doesn’t feel too busy!
9. Add a rug or mat to make things cozy
If you don’t love the flooring in your rental apartment just throw a rug over it!
Rugs are a great way to not only cover ugly flooring but make a space feel more cozy. I suggest choosing an accent rug with a slight pattern since it will hide spills better.
10. Temporary floor tiles to cover outdated apartment kitchen floors
If you really can’t stand your kitchen floor, consider opting for temporary kitchen floor tiles. These are the perfect solution if a simple rug just isn’t covering enough floor space.
11. Unique wall art for personality to expand your small kitchen
This is similar to the idea above but if you are not a fan of your rental kitchen apartments walls you can add a few wall art prints to cover them up a bit.
You can also DIY your own and pair them with thrifted picture frames! Be sure that the frames are light so you can use removable hooks that won’t damage your walls.
12. Place large house plants in your kitchen
A combination of plants can really transform a space and bring a little extra life into it. Whether you want large house plants that will sit on the floor or smaller house plants to put on your kitchen counter tops-there are tons of ways to style plants in your kitchen!
13. Add a butcher block cover to your apartment’s kitchen sink for extra space
Butcher blocks are a great way to cover the top of your sink or stove to give you more space to prep food on.
If your apartment’s kitchen is outdated it can also cover up less than ideal kitchen appliances. Depending on the size of your cooking area this can make your apartment kitchen feel much bigger!
14. Colorful and unique dishware if you have open shelves
Display your collection of unique plates, favorite mugs, and glasses in your open kitchen cabinet display or you can simply take the cabinet doors off the hinges for this open shelving look as well.
You don’t have to take all of the doors off your cabinets, maybe just a few to display your favorite dishware and vases.
{RECOMMENDED POST: 7 Sustainable Home Decor Ideas Guaranteed To Make Your Home The Coziest Oasis}
15. Deep clean and declutter
Nothing will uplift a space like a good deep clean and decluttering session. This is the easiest way to get an apartment kitchen makeover for cheap!
It is best to start with this step before adding anything new to the space so that you can see what you are working with. The kitchen can get so dirty because of high foot traffic and cooking spills. You may be surprised at just how much better your space looks after a deep scrub.
Sneaky places to clean in your apartment kitchen for a big impact:
- Clean your walls with a mixture of gentle soap, warm water and a soft sponge
- Declutter and reorganize your kitchen. Here’s a helpful guide for that!
- The exterior of your kitchen cabinets
- Scrub and sanitize your kitchen floors
If you focus on cleaning these 4 areas of your kitchen your space will immediately look refreshed.
By keeping these these temporary and removable apartment decor ideas in mind, you can make your rental kitchen feel more like home without risking your security deposit! I hope these popular upgrades help you to design the kitchen of your dreams!
Have any other creative small apartment kitchen ideas for renters? Let us know in the comments below! I’m sure others in the community would love to learn from you as well!
Be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you would like sustainability and wellness tips sent directly to your inbox!
Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best apartment kitchen ideas for renters.
Other posts you may like:
11 Genius Zero Waste Kitchen Organization Tips For A Peaceful Home
4 Surprising Foods You Can Regrow From Kitchen Scraps
7 Amazing Zero Waste Kitchen Must Haves For A Plastic Free Home
If you would like to save this post of simple tips for apartment kitchen decor for later-Pin it!
One Comment
Comments are closed.