15 Ideas to Update Your Home's Rented Kitchen
You had no say in the design but you can still add personality and pizzaz to your rental kitchen with these fab tricks
So the kitchen in your apartment has builder’s-grade cabinets from the early 1990s, a crusty, worn-out floor and countertops you hate. Many of us recognise this discouraging description, but I promise it’s not hopeless. While it’s unlikely you can switch out cabinets, flooring, countertops, backsplash or appliances, there are easy and inexpensive ways to enhance other parts of your kitchen so you’ll hardly notice its downsides.
2. Display a collection
The space on top of cabinets is prime real estate that often goes to waste. Collections like Fiestaware pitchers, baskets, small sculptures, quirky objects or pottery will draw the eye up over less-than-dreamy cabinets.
The space on top of cabinets is prime real estate that often goes to waste. Collections like Fiestaware pitchers, baskets, small sculptures, quirky objects or pottery will draw the eye up over less-than-dreamy cabinets.
3. Set up a coffee (or tea) station
The point is to make your morning ritual easy and enjoyable. Put all of your supplies in one spot, including whatever vessels you’ll be imbibing your brew from; a few of your favourite mugs or teacups and saucers will sprinkle some of your style into the kitchen.
Keep sugar, honey, stirrers and any other fixings right next to your coffee pot, bean grinder, French press, espresso maker or other favourite coffee appliance.
Shop coffee and tea products
The point is to make your morning ritual easy and enjoyable. Put all of your supplies in one spot, including whatever vessels you’ll be imbibing your brew from; a few of your favourite mugs or teacups and saucers will sprinkle some of your style into the kitchen.
Keep sugar, honey, stirrers and any other fixings right next to your coffee pot, bean grinder, French press, espresso maker or other favourite coffee appliance.
Shop coffee and tea products
4. Bring in the green
Even just one plant can make a big difference in a kitchen. If you get some good natural light, grow small pots of your favourite herbs. A bonus is that they’ll add wonderful aromas.
Even just one plant can make a big difference in a kitchen. If you get some good natural light, grow small pots of your favourite herbs. A bonus is that they’ll add wonderful aromas.
5. Layer in a rug
You may not be able to change your flooring, but you can cover it up. Oriental rugs are a good choice because they’re durable, they don’t show dirt and they vacuum up beautifully. Stay away from light colours or thick pile when choosing a rug for the kitchen.
You may not be able to change your flooring, but you can cover it up. Oriental rugs are a good choice because they’re durable, they don’t show dirt and they vacuum up beautifully. Stay away from light colours or thick pile when choosing a rug for the kitchen.
6. Hang art
This is one of the easiest ways to bring in colour and personal style. The kitchen is always a great place to display children’s art.
This is one of the easiest ways to bring in colour and personal style. The kitchen is always a great place to display children’s art.
7. Swap out hardware
Before you start, get a large re-sealable bag. Be very careful to gather every handle, knob and screw so you can put them all back when you move out. Now you’re free to give your cabinets all new accessories, perhaps a new metal finish, green glass or vintage enamel knobs. This can truly give your kitchen a whole new attitude.
Before you start, get a large re-sealable bag. Be very careful to gather every handle, knob and screw so you can put them all back when you move out. Now you’re free to give your cabinets all new accessories, perhaps a new metal finish, green glass or vintage enamel knobs. This can truly give your kitchen a whole new attitude.
8. Dress your backsplash
If your tile bores you, removable decals are a great way to add style. They come in all sorts of patterns, shapes and characters these days. And I’m sorry, but this must be said: did that cat just get caught drinking a generous pour of Apothic Red or what? He looks so guilty.
If your tile bores you, removable decals are a great way to add style. They come in all sorts of patterns, shapes and characters these days. And I’m sorry, but this must be said: did that cat just get caught drinking a generous pour of Apothic Red or what? He looks so guilty.
9. Fashion a pot railing
These branches are an artful way to store cookware, utensils and other kitchen gear. Natural touches are always welcome in the kitchen.
These branches are an artful way to store cookware, utensils and other kitchen gear. Natural touches are always welcome in the kitchen.
Here’s the more common and practical way to transform an empty wall with pot railings. This will take a slight amount of repair work if your landlord wants them taken down when you move.
10. Squeeze in extra shelves
Industrial metal shelving on casters can serve as extra storage space, storage for cookbooks and small appliances, a place to display mixing bowls… Some require only 60 centimetres of width, so if you have a gap and need more storage, consider this option.
Industrial metal shelving on casters can serve as extra storage space, storage for cookbooks and small appliances, a place to display mixing bowls… Some require only 60 centimetres of width, so if you have a gap and need more storage, consider this option.
11. Remove your cabinet doors
This is one we put some time into thinking about. Consider: Are your DIY skills good enough to properly remove the doors and put them back on? Do you have room to store them safely? Will you want to look at all of the things you store inside? (You don’t have to remove all the doors, of course – just one or two can open up the room and add interest.) Are you willing to put in some effort to make the interiors of the cabinets and the outside edges ready for display with a fresh coat of paint?
If you answered yes to all these questions, then go for it. Then arrange your favourite pieces in pleasing compositions, display your favourite cookbooks – and know you’ll be making the room feel more open and airy.
Shop Houzz for hardware
This is one we put some time into thinking about. Consider: Are your DIY skills good enough to properly remove the doors and put them back on? Do you have room to store them safely? Will you want to look at all of the things you store inside? (You don’t have to remove all the doors, of course – just one or two can open up the room and add interest.) Are you willing to put in some effort to make the interiors of the cabinets and the outside edges ready for display with a fresh coat of paint?
If you answered yes to all these questions, then go for it. Then arrange your favourite pieces in pleasing compositions, display your favourite cookbooks – and know you’ll be making the room feel more open and airy.
Shop Houzz for hardware
12. Invest in great stools
If you have a breakfast bar or high-top table, investing in stools you love makes sense. You and your friends will spend time there eating, visiting and working if you have comfortable seating. Plus, when you move you can take them with you.
If you have a breakfast bar or high-top table, investing in stools you love makes sense. You and your friends will spend time there eating, visiting and working if you have comfortable seating. Plus, when you move you can take them with you.
13. Corral countertop items
I’m a big advocate of neat countertops, but this can be tough when space is limited and you want your cooking necessities close at hand. Try keeping like things together – for example, place sauces, spices and oils atop a butcher’s block cutting board like you see here, or group bar supplies together on a tray.
I’m a big advocate of neat countertops, but this can be tough when space is limited and you want your cooking necessities close at hand. Try keeping like things together – for example, place sauces, spices and oils atop a butcher’s block cutting board like you see here, or group bar supplies together on a tray.
14. Leave a cute kettle out on the stove
Whether it’s a playful design such as the Alessi Bird Whistle Kettle, or a sunny yellow beauty like this one – kettles were simply not made to be stashed away.
Whether it’s a playful design such as the Alessi Bird Whistle Kettle, or a sunny yellow beauty like this one – kettles were simply not made to be stashed away.
15. Treat yourself to a really great dish towel
It sounds silly, but a new dish towel makes me excited about my kitchen again. My latest is a yellow one with a pattern of fried eggs all over it. This one minor yet very useful purchase makes me smile every time I see it.
TELL US
Have you used any temporary tricks to trick-out your kitchen? Share your photos with us in the Comments below.
MORE
10 Ways to Personalise Your Rented Home’s Kitchen
10 Reversible Ideas for Your Rented Home’s Bathroom
It sounds silly, but a new dish towel makes me excited about my kitchen again. My latest is a yellow one with a pattern of fried eggs all over it. This one minor yet very useful purchase makes me smile every time I see it.
TELL US
Have you used any temporary tricks to trick-out your kitchen? Share your photos with us in the Comments below.
MORE
10 Ways to Personalise Your Rented Home’s Kitchen
10 Reversible Ideas for Your Rented Home’s Bathroom
This one is so easy – I have a friend who fashioned some curtains out of two darling dish towels hung from fishing wire. Retractable rods are inexpensive and will give you a more permanent look. If you’re not much of a seamstress, you can buy ready-made curtains for a song. The fabric will add colour and texture that will perk up the room.