As long as you’re renting an apartment, you’re never really going to feel like that space is yours. I’d wager most people would love a kitchen or bathroom upgrade, but it’s the last thing on your landlord’s mind. Here are some quick, easy upgrades you can do that won’t make you lose your security deposit.

1. Upgrade your shower head

Shower heads are relatively inexpensive and can make your bathroom look so much more elegant. Plus, taking a shower will feel so much more luxurious! You can probably get a rain fall shower head for under $30 and they’re very easy to install. The best part is when you leave you’ll just detach it if you want to bring it with you to the next apartment, otherwise you’re landlord will likely appreciate (or not even notice) the upgrade!

2. Add shelving

Adding simple shelving around your apartment can help clean up the clutter as well as add a nice aesthetic element to the room. If your walls are white and you want a pop of color paint the shelves in different colors complementing the room. As long as you don’t intend to put anything too heavy on them, you can just spackle the nail holes when you have to move out or ask the landlord if he would rather you leave the upgrade.

3. Add bathroom storage

I don’t know about you, but I can never seem to have enough bathroom storage. You can add shelving on the wall or get a free standing storage unit. Get a cheap one from IKEA and paint it to liven up your bathroom or replace the nobs with fun designs. I personally love the nobs you can get from Anthropologie, though they can be on the pricier end.

4. Add curtains or drapes

Rental apartments usually come with pretty drab blinds that barely even keep the light out anyway. Install a curtain rod and pick out curtains you love. Make sure to grab some nice curtain ties as well or DIY some specifically to match!

5. Paint

You’ll have to consult your landlord on this one, but many will let you paint the walls as long as you paint them back when you leave. We recommend choosing colors you can easily paint over, not like the black chalkboard wall my roommates and I painted in college. You can also grab some cute wall decals and use them around shelving or on smaller walls.

6. Use contact paper

I used to think contact paper was so 70s, but it really does brighten up the insides of shelves, drawers, and cabinets. There are so many options out there it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but anything is probably better than the plain white or wood background. You can also use contact paper to transform a plain wall or dress up a clunky filing cabinet.

How do you upgrade your rental apartment?