Apartment Quick Fixes That Don't Require Landlords

By Jessi Stickel on June 2, 2016

Renting and living in an apartment during your college career can be difficult, and you may run into several issues with the physical aspects of your apartment. Whether it is ugly flooring or small damages, you want your apartment to look its absolute best in your own style.

Some of these fixes to your apartment may require a landlord; however, some you can do on your own!

KITCHEN:

http://www.plebio.com

Don’t like your tile/flooring?

Apartments can have some interesting flooring, which may not be in your style; this can include patterned, wildly colored, or damaged tile and/or carpet. Instead of nagging at your landlord to replace it, add a rug to offset the unattractive flooring. This can also help add your own personal style to your kitchen.

Drawers and cabinets too plain?

Many apartments come with plain white or wooden kitchen cabinets, and many landlords prohibit painting the furniture, although there is a way around this problem. Instead of decorating the outside of your drawers and cabinets, line the insides with colorful liner, for that extra pop of color in your kitchen.

Not enough lighting in your kitchen?

There is not always the best lighting in kitchens, and you definitely need light when you are cooking and baking those delicious college kid meals. However, it is not so easy to install additional lighting when there are limitations for renters. This is where clip lights come in handy, as they can easily be moved around.

BATHROOM:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com

Not enough water pressure in the shower?

Having a grimy showerhead can cause low water pressure and your shower to look nasty. If you have the extra money, you can replace the entire showerhead with a brand new one. If not, you can easily remove grime by filling a plastic bag with vinegar, tying it on to the showerhead and letting it soak for at least 15 minutes.

Minimum or no shelving in shower?

Not all showers have built-in shelving to hold your shampoo, conditioner or body wash, but it is fairly easy to add shelving yourself. You can buy the hanging or stick-on baskets to hold all your shower essentials, or if you want to go the cheap route, use a thick curtain rod across the wall of your shower to set or hang items.

Have plenty of bathroom storage, but it is not so easy on the eyes?

If you can get permission from your landlord, painting your bathroom cabinets can transform the look of your whole bathroom. However, if you cannot get permission, you can change little things, such as the door handles, and line the insides.

Sink and shower drains taking longer than usual to drain?

Buying solution like Drano can fix this problem in no time. Just poor it down the drain and let it sit overnight. You can also use a plunger or drain snake, if that fails.

BEDROOM/LIVING ROOM:

http://24yes.net

Unattractive nail holes from last renter?

College students love to hang posters and tapestries to decorate their bedroom and living room walls, but this leaves the next renter with a bunch of ‘eyesores’ on the wall. To correct this problem the right way, buy spackle and go over the holes. For an easier fix, use a bar of soap to rub over them until they are filled.

Hole or mark on living room or bedroom wall?

If you know your landlord will take forever to fix the damage or will refuse to do it, you can easily cover a mark or small hole in a wall with a poster, picture or tapestry. This can also add some style and color to your apartment.

Rip or stain in the carpet that the landlord will not fix or replace?

Another way to cover damages or stains on your apartment flooring is to cover it with a rug or mat.

Coffee tables or end tables beat up or unflattering?

Some apartments that come with furniture can be in pretty bad shape, cheap looking or unattractive. A simple fix to this is to cover them with tablecloths to match your apartment’s style. You can also paint them, with permission of course.

Black marking on the walls that just won’t come off?

If your apartment came with tons of those annoying black marks on the walls, the Magic Eraser will be your best friend! Use the Magic Eraser on your black marks; it will take off almost any mark on your walls without removing the paint.

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