7 Temporary Products Every Renter Should Know About

Rental kitchens are almost always bad news. Bland at best, and aggressively ugly in the worst-case scenarios. But you don’t have to just suck it up and live with your honey-hued cabinets and brick linoleum floors. There are ways to make changes without breaking the bank or undertaking a complete renovation (which your landlord probably wouldn’t approve of anyway).

Here are a few temporary products that can have a big impact and can also be completely undone when it’s time to move on (read: you’ll still get your security deposit back).

Peel-and-stick wallpaper is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to transform your kitchen. If you’re thinking of papering the entire space, opt for something subtle, like this trendy faux-shiplap wallpaper. For pops of color — on an accent wall, behind shelves, under the kitchen island, or even inside your junk drawer — why not go bold? We’re obsessed with this tropical print, which will also make it feel like you have actual plants in your kitchen. Of course, there are tons of great options out there.

• Devine Color Textured Shiplap Peel & Stick Wallpaper, $35 at Target
• Devine Tropical Wallpaper, $30 at Target
• Chasing Paper Speckled Marble Removable Wallpaper, $79 at West Elm

You can use wallpaper to create the backsplash of your dreams, or you can get peel-and-stick tiles specifically intended to stand up to heat and humidity in the kitchen. White geometric tiles are always smart.

• Hexago Self-Adhesive Decorative Mosaic Wall Tile Backsplash, $8 at Home Depot
• 10×10-Inch Peel and Stick Subway Tile, $8.50 at Wayfair
• Smart Tiles Metro Grigio Self-Adhesive Backsplash, $8 at Home Depot

When it comes to covering up your kitchen floors, removable floor tiles work just like removable backsplash tiles — easy on, easy off. We’re eyeing these ceramic-style decals. Associate Editor Meghan Splawn is using these in her kitchen, and we also like this faux-wood option which comes in planks for a more realistic effect.

• Mexican Cava Vinyl Tile Sticker Pack, $40 for 24-pack at Etsy
• Floor Pops Kikko Floor Decal, $12 for 10 12-inch square tiles at Amazon
• Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, $3 per square foot at Home Depot

Of course, there’s a simpler way to cover up floors so hideous you absolutely can’t stand to look at them: with a rug! To keep it in place, invest in double-sided rug tape.

Buy: Duck Brand Hold It Adhesive for Rugs, $13

Do you remember covering your textbooks in Con-Tact Paper? If you do, you’re just as old as we are! Either way, sticky paper is a great option for lining all sorts of things. This “marble” option could easily take your countertops from Formica to formidable, this “stainless steel” version is perfect for pretending you have a brand-new dishwasher, and this frosted window sticker gives you privacy from your neighbors while still letting in natural sunlight.

• Con-Tact Shelf Liner in Midnight Marble, $10 at Bed Bath & Beyond
• Appliance Art Stainless Dishwasher Cover, $60
• Rabbitgoo Privacy Window Film, $6

Want to hang curtains in your kitchen or dining room without putting a huge hole in your wall? Speedy Hang curtain brackets go in without a hassle — just two small nails — so your landlord never needs to know they were there.

Buy: Speedy Hang Curtain Bracket Starter Kit, $22

Command Hooks are good for so many things — hanging cleaning supplies, wrangling cords, making your trash can better, etc. You won’t go wrong with the basic ones, but it’s worth investing in some specialty ones as well.

• Command Spray Bottle Hangers, $9
• Command Sink Caddy, $9
• Command Broom & Mop Grippers, $12

Got any other renter-friendly products to suggest? Leave your ideas in the comments below!