10 Renter-Friendly Apartment Upgrades That Don’t Require Drilling
10 Renter-Friendly Apartment Upgrades That Don’t Require Drilling
You love your apartment.
Well… maybe 80% of it.
The other 20%?
Plain white walls. Not enough storage. An outdated kitchen backsplash. A lack of privacy. Maybe even floors you'd never choose yourself.
But when you're renting, changing those things isn't always simple.
You don't want to drill dozens of holes, start a renovation, or make changes that could create problems when you move out.
Fortunately, you don't need to.
Here are 10 renter-friendly apartment upgrades that can help make your space feel more personal, comfortable, and functional—without major construction.
1. Transform One Wall With Peel & Stick Wallpaper
Let's start with one of the easiest ways to create a noticeable change.
Peel and stick wallpaper can turn a plain wall into an accent wall without traditional wallpaper installation.
Try it:
- Behind your bed
- Behind the sofa
- In your home office
- In an entryway
- On one dining-area wall
You don't need to wallpaper the entire apartment.
Often, one wall is enough.
Neutral textures can add subtle depth, while botanical or geometric patterns can give a room more personality.
👉 SHOP Peel & Stick Wallpaper →
80% House Tip: Always test adhesive products on a small hidden area first. Wall texture, paint condition, humidity, installation time, and adhesive strength can affect removal.
2. Add Texture With Peel & Stick Wall Panels
Wallpaper changes color and pattern.
Wall panels can change texture.
Peel-and-stick wall panels or decorative 3D panels can help create a feature wall that feels more dimensional.
They can work particularly well behind a TV, bed, desk, or other focal point.
In a small apartment, consider using panels on a limited area instead of covering every wall.
The goal is to create interest—not make the room feel smaller.
👉 SHOP Peel & Stick Wall Panels →
Check the manufacturer's surface requirements and removal instructions carefully before installation, especially in a rental.
3. Give an Old Kitchen a New Backsplash
Sometimes your rental kitchen isn't actually bad.
It's just… dated.
And the backsplash may be one of the reasons.
A peel and stick backsplash can introduce a different pattern or finish without installing traditional tile.
Classic subway patterns can create a clean look.
Marble-inspired finishes can feel more polished.
Geometric patterns can add personality to a very simple kitchen.
👉 SHOP Peel & Stick Backsplash →
Pay particular attention to product instructions regarding heat, moisture, surface compatibility, and placement near stoves and sinks.
4. Add Storage Without Drilling Into the Wall
Small apartment?
Then every bit of space matters.
When your floor is already full, start looking at vertical space.
No-drill floating shelves can provide additional display or storage space on suitable surfaces without traditional drilled installation.
Use them for lightweight items in places such as:
The bathroom.
Beside your desk.
An entryway.
A small kitchen area.
Or an otherwise unused wall.
👉 SHOP No-Drill Floating Shelves →
Always follow the manufacturer's weight limits and surface requirements. Adhesive or no-drill systems aren't appropriate for every wall or every object.
5. Use Mirrors to Make a Small Apartment Feel More Open
Mirrors are one of the simplest decorating tools for a small space.
They reflect light and can create a greater sense of visual depth.
Try placing a mirror where it can reflect natural light from a window or brighten a darker part of the room.
You don't necessarily need one enormous, heavy mirror.
Lightweight decorative mirror pieces or peel-and-stick mirror options can create an interesting feature on appropriate surfaces.
👉 SHOP Peel & Stick Mirrors →
Use them strategically rather than covering every available wall.
Sometimes a small reflective feature is enough.
6. Change Your Sofa Without Buying a New One
Your sofa may be perfectly comfortable.
You just don't like looking at it anymore.
Before replacing an expensive piece of furniture, consider changing what you see.
A furniture cover or slipcover can give an older sofa or chair a different color, texture, or overall style.
Add a couple of decorative pillow covers and suddenly the same sofa can feel much more intentional.
This is especially useful when you're renting a furnished apartment and can't replace the existing furniture.
👉 SHOP Furniture Covers & Slipcovers →
A makeover doesn't always mean buying something new.
Sometimes it simply means changing what you already have.
7. Get More Privacy Without Replacing the Windows
Living close to neighbors can make natural light feel like a trade-off.
Open the blinds and get sunlight.
But everyone outside can potentially see in.
Depending on your window type and needs, privacy window film can provide another option.
Frosted and decorative films can reduce visibility through compatible glass while allowing varying amounts of light through, depending on the product.
They can be particularly useful for bathrooms, street-facing windows, glass doors, and other areas where you want additional privacy.
👉 SHOP Window Films & Privacy Films →
Check whether the film is compatible with your specific glass and follow the manufacturer's installation and removal instructions.
8. Create Another “Room” Without Building One
Studio apartments present a familiar problem:
Your bedroom is your living room.
And your living room is sometimes your office.
A portable room divider can help create visual boundaries without constructing a permanent wall.
Place one beside the bed to create a sleeping zone.
Use one behind your desk to separate work from relaxation.
Or hide storage you'd rather not see from the sofa.
And when you want the room open again?
Move it.
👉 SHOP Portable Room Dividers →
That's the advantage of flexible apartment upgrades:
Your space can change when your needs change.
9. Change the Floor Without Replacing the Floor
Floors have an enormous influence on how a room feels.
Unfortunately, renters usually can't just replace them.
Two possible approaches are removable flooring products and rugs, depending on your lease and existing surface.
Peel-and-stick floor tiles can provide a more dramatic visual change where the product and existing floor are compatible.
A washable rug is even simpler.
It can add warmth, texture, and color while also helping visually define different areas.
👉 SHOP Peel & Stick Floor Tiles →
👉 SHOP Lightweight & Washable Rugs →
For adhesive flooring, always verify surface compatibility and removal requirements first. Existing flooring can react differently to adhesives.
10. Make Your Storage Move With You
Sometimes the best renter-friendly upgrade isn't attached to the apartment at all.
It's something you can take with you.
Rolling storage carts are a great example.
Use one beside your desk for office supplies.
Move it into the bathroom for toiletries.
Use it in the kitchen for pantry items.
Or turn it into a mobile coffee station.
When your needs change, simply move it somewhere else.
👉 SHOP Rolling Storage Carts →
Modular cubes and foldable storage ottomans can offer similar flexibility.
In a rental, that's valuable because your storage isn't permanently tied to this apartment.
It can move to the next one with you.
Before You Upgrade Anything, Remember One Rule
There's an important difference between “no drill” and “no risk of damage.”
Adhesives can behave differently depending on paint condition, wall texture, flooring, cabinet finishes, moisture, heat, installation duration, and other factors.
Before applying anything:
Check your lease.
Read the manufacturer's instructions.
Check surface compatibility.
Test a small hidden area first.
Take photos of the original condition.
And if you're uncertain about a significant change, ask your landlord or property manager.
A renter-friendly makeover should make your apartment easier to enjoy—not make move-out more stressful.
You Don't Need a Renovation to Make a Rental Feel Like Yours
Maybe your apartment isn't perfect.
That's okay.
Change the wall you don't like.
Give the kitchen a little personality.
Create more privacy.
Find somewhere for the clutter.
Cover the sofa you wish were a different color.
Add a rug that makes the room feel warmer.
None of these changes needs to completely transform your home.
Sometimes a few small upgrades are enough to make you enjoy the space much more.
And that's what 80% House is about.
Your home gives you the first 80%. Make the remaining 20% yours.
Start small. Keep it flexible. Make your home work better for the life you're living now.
Explore Renter-Friendly Home Upgrades
👉 SHOP Peel & Stick Wallpaper →
👉 SHOP No-Drill Floating Shelves →
👉 SHOP Window Films & Privacy Films →
👉 SHOP Portable Room Dividers →
No major renovation. No need to redesign everything. Just easier ways to make your space feel more like home.