Give Your Rental Apartment in NYC The Much-Needed Upgrade Within A Budget

One of the biggest challenges that aspiring New Yorkers face today is transforming their boring rentals into an aesthetic apartment that vibes with our personalities and is totally Instagram-worthy. However, due to the intense competition in the market, landlords are often unconcerned with beautifying their properties, and do little beyond whitewashing the walls. For those looking for artsy homes, this comes as a disappointment.

The real challenge poses itself when it comes to making upgrades that are easily reversible at the end of the lease.  For this reason, it is recommended that you double-check with your landlord to understand to what extent you can make changes to the apartment.

Although there are several reversible décor tricks that you could use to personalize your apartment, here are five ways that will help you make a major transformation from boring to beautiful – and that too on a budget.

1. Fluorescent lighting is hardly ever considered comfortable, and homely is probably the last word that one would use to describe it. Overcome this problem by placing lamps to brighten the space. Go for some mood lighting for a more elegant look. You could even have LED strips under cabinets or along the skirting of walls.
2. While kitchens are traditionally known to have been furnished by tiles, consider using backsplash stickers to modernize older apartments. A wide variety of such stickers are available at stores all over New York – glass, subway-style, mosaic. These stickers are sort that you can peel off so they’re convenient for both your budget and your lease!
3. In the busy and urban life in New York, it is only natural to come home to some warmth and softness. Add this touch of homeliness by decorating your windows through Roman shades or curtains. Doing so not only blocks out undesired light but also helps dull the city noise. For a more regal look, go for ceiling to floor curtains with a plush look. Not only will this soften the space, but it will also make the ceiling appear higher. If your rental agreement does not allow you to drill into walls, make use of decorative adhesive hooks that can withstand weights up to five pounds.
4. One of the most uncomplicated and economical ways to change the outlook of your apartment is to change the hardware. Opt for stylish cabinet pulls to modernize the apartment. Swap older light switch backplates with newer ones to brighten up the space. Another trick is to change the shower-head. Though it might not seem like a significant change in terms of design, it gives you the chance to install a handheld faucet. This comes with several advantages such as making shower cleaning easier, and watering plants and washing pets an effortless task.
5. For apartments with displeasing flooring, try installing laminate floors or vinyl upon the existing flooring of the apartment. Laminate floors can easily be removed as they don’t stick to the floor below. Vinyl is an even cheaper option that is easier to install and customize as it can be cut to fit around the edges with hot glue. Come move-out day, the hot glue can be scraped off the floor. Apart from that, peel-off tiles can also work to revamp your apartment. If you’re looking for a quicker and easier fix, however, you could simply put a rug to decorate the space the way you want.