The Ultimate Renter Friendly Kitchen Makeover

When we first moved into our North Carolina rental, I was most concerned about the kitchen. With its dated oak cabinets, mis-matched appliances, fluorescent lighting, and putrid yellowy-beige color, it was going to require some serious ingenuity to help it feel light, bright, fresh, and modern. I ultimately decided to really push the limits of what’s possible in a rental kitchen; and thanks to a slew of totally temporary upgrades, this room ended up being one of my very favorites in the entire house (and quite possibly, my best renter friendly kitchen makeover yet!) Let me give you the full reveal!

Our Rental Kitchen | Before & After

Below are pictures of our rental kitchen when we first moved into this home. Although its layout proved quite functional for our family, the aesthetics left much to be desired. Thanks to dated cabinets and appliances and a subtle yellow hue across the entire space, I really had my work cut out for me.

This is not our first go around with oak kitchen cabinets. And while I’ve struggled with them in the past, I really “embraced” them this time and worked hard to find a design scheme that worked with the honey brown color (rather than pretend it didn’t exist). See more: What Kitchen Color Schemes Work With Oak Cabinets?

Once I realized that a classic black-and-white scheme works quite nicely with oak, I wasted no time in implementing every renter-friendly DIY project I could think of. Here are some final shots of the space.

10 Ways to Make a Rental Kitchen Look Better

Rental kitchens can be some of easiest spaces to make over. With countertops, backsplashes, doors, cabinets, and walls, there are lots of available surfaces to cover, paint, wrap, and improve. On the other hand, you can also find yourself in a kitchen that is mostly “done,” just not in a style you love.

Wherever your rental kitchen falls on the spectrum of “100% builder basic” to “upgraded but not my style,” here are 10 different ways to infuse your own style and personal touch!

1. Paint the Walls

Unless your lease specifically states that you can’t, a fresh coat of paint is one of the most impactful options you have (just remember: you’ll likely have to paint it back).

While adding color will certainly give your kitchen a whole new look, don’t underestimate the value of shifting shades or undertones just slightly. I opted to paint our yellow-beige kitchen bright white (Simply White paint by Benjamin Moore) and the change was more dramatic than you’d expect.

2. Paint the Doors (and/or Trim)

If you’re not feeling up to painting your entire kitchen (there can be lots of cabinets and doors and appliances to paint around), consider painting just doors or trim.

Once my walls were bright white, the double-wide pantry doors felt incredibly stark. So I made the dramatic choice to paint them black, and it instantly transformed the entire kitchen. (I get SO many questions about these black pantry doors, so I dive into all the details here: Let’s Talk About My Black Pantry Doors!)

3. Swap Out the Countertop

Much of a kitchen’s overall color is provided (or not) via the countertops. As such, changing their color can have a dramatic impact in a space too.

Instead, I recommend replacing the countertop, but only when it’s affordable and feasible to do so (typically on islands, small bars, and peninsulas).

How do you know if you can safely remove a countertop? Most are held on by (only) screws from the lower cabinets and a bit of caulk. If you can remove the countertop without any damage (and you have somewhere safe to keep it until you move out), this is an update to consider!

The island in the middle of our kitchen was a simple and feasible countertop swap. Removing (and storing) the original formica in favor of a dark-stained butcher block countertop provided a contrasting focal feature with minimal effort.

4. Cover Cabinets

As a renter, I can attest that there are very few things more frustrating than having to live with a kitchen cabinet color you hate. While I’ve personally never been up for the effort involved in covering kitchen cabinet doors (I allllmost did it here but ran out of time before moving out), it is certainly an option worth considering, especially if you’re in your rental for a long time.

Be advised though: covering cabinet doors has some risks. Not only is the project incredibly tedious, but there is always the risk of peeling paint/veneer and leaving sticky residue behind.

But take heart: covering cabinet doors is not your only option!

If your kitchen has an island, bar, or a peninsula, the underside can be an optimal place for some sort of accent covering. Using removable wallpaper here is the quickest and easiest solution, but we chose to wrap ours in (real) shiplap using Command Strips.

No doubt, this renter-friendly hack had the most impactful change on this kitchen. The expanse of bright white slats significantly downplayed the oak color in the middle of the room while also adding a major brightness boost. (Spoiler: it also came down beautifully, making it THE BEST renter friendly upgrade in this entire kitchen!)

I often get asked about cabinet hardware. I’ve personally never added my own handles or knobs since that requires drilling into wood cabinet doors. If you’re given permission by a landlord/rental agency, this is another excellent option for a change.

5. Add a Backsplash

The backsplash is another area that is ideal for some sort of renter friendly upgrade since it’s compact (so you won’t need a lot of materials) but also visually prominent.

Peel and stick wallpaper (especially those that look like tile) will be your quickest and easiest option for a rental backsplash upgrade. It goes up and comes down pretty easily; it can safely be placed over dry wall, existing tile, laminate surfaces; and it’s usually water/steam/heat resistant. See More: How to Wallpaper a Backsplash

I’ve wallpapered many kitchen backsplashes; so this time around, I opted to use peel and stick subway tiles. If you’re considering a similar “tile like” product, be forewarned that most peel and stick tiles are not “removable.” As such, you’ll need to place them on top of painters tape, contact paper, etc (like I show in my full tutorial: How to Install a Peel & Stick Tile Backsplash In a Rental (Without Damage!))

This addition of shiny, very real-looking subway tile definitely made a dramatic difference in this kitchen, adding sophistication, gloss, and a “realness” that wallpaper doesn’t. But putting up AND taking down peel and stick backsplashes is NOT for the faint of heart. I plan to go into more detail in a future post, but generally speaking: I recommend sticking to wallpaper for your backsplash instead.

6. Line Drawers & Shelves with Pretty Papers

Another place you can add some color, pattern, or whimsy is inside your cabinets, drawers, and pantry. While these spots can’t necessarily be seen by the casual visitor, contact papers and liners go a long way in making your kitchen feel more colorful, complete, and clean!

Best of all: you won’t have to worry about damage or messes inside your cabinets and drawers. Just pull the papers out before you move!

7. Add Extra Functional Spaces

Rental kitchens are notorious for never having quite enough space or the “right” space for the things you have. So I encourage you to get creative about adding the function you need.

• Dishes don’t fit in the cabinets? Where else can you store them? (We put ours in the dining hutch in the neighboring dining room).
• Appliances don’t fit on the shelves? Can you re-purpose part of your pantry or a nearby closet? See More: How to Store Small Appliances Inside Kitchen Cabinets
• Kitchen doesn’t have a pantry? How can you re-imagine drawers or cabinets for better food storage? See More: How to Use Kitchen Cabinets as a Pantry

This small kitchen didn’t have near the counter space we needed for some of our small appliances, wine etc, but it did have an empty nook. Once we determined the specific functionality we were missing (i.e., counter space and extra storage), we shopped for the exact item to 1) fit in the open spot, and 2) hold the items we couldn’t store anywhere else.

In the end, a single purchase for this awkward space allowed us to dramatically increase the overall usability in our kitchen.

8. Get Organized

Without a doubt, excess clutter impacts the way our kitchen looks, but it also affects the way we operate and feel in the space too. Although it can be tempting to settle for imperfect solutions (because it’s a rental and you might not want to invest), I can’t overstate how invaluable it is to have your drawers, cabinets, pantry, and countertops tidy and organized.

One of my best trick for renters? Use clear/neutral bins that can easily match in home after home, as well as ones that are adjustable and/or modular. Resist the urge to buy themed or colored baskets, as well as ones that only fit a certain way.

9. Dress the Window

If your kitchen has a window, it’s the ideal place to add in a fun color, pattern, or texture. Don’t hesitate to remove blinds or shades and install something you like better.

Because of the…ummm…unique wooden “valance” above our kitchen cabinets, I opted to hang a basic tension rod with white cafe curtains to let in more natural light. Although I love a shade, I wanted to add some softer texture amidst all the sterile white and wood throughout the space.

10. Swap Out the Light Fixtures

Many people overlook the light fixtures in their rental kitchens, assuming they are too difficult or costly to change. But actually, quite the opposite is true (on both counts).

Swapping light fixtures is actually pretty easy (or an inexpensive house call for a handy man), and stylish fixtures are more affordable than ever. Check out my full rental lighting guide to determine if this is the right call in your kitchen.

Greg is very experienced changing light fixtures and I really didn’t want to live with the existing fluorescent lights. This classic-but-modern fixture ended up being an upgrade both in style and ambiance, since it gave off much better light.

BONUS: Accessorize!

Last but not least, don’t overlook the impact of some well-chosen decor and accessories. While you don’t typically want to clutter up your kitchen (since there is usually enough “stuff” lying around already), adding in colorful canisters, soap dispensers, dish towels, cutting boards, rugs, and artwork can be a great way to add in your own personality. This is especially true if your kitchen has a lot of already-done areas that you can’t quite change!

By adding in the blue canisters, blue cutting board, blue soap dispenser labels, and blue pots, I created connection with the adjoining dining room without making blue a prominent statement color.

Admittedly, I still can’t believe the total transformation we were able to achieve in this renter friendly kitchen makeover. No doubt, the projects featured in this space took some effort (specifically, the painting and the tile). But at the end of the day, this work resulted in a space that I truly loved to be in (which is good because I probably spent most of my days standing right at that kitchen island!)

If you find yourself in an ugly rental kitchen (or one that just isn’t your taste), I hope the ideas and projects I’ve shared here give you the inspiration and motivation to make it your own. You too might be surprised what small changes can ultimately accomplish!