5 Weekend Home Projects That Cost Less Than $100 Each (They’ll Make a Huge Difference!)
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Your rental deserves a little TLC — within reason, of course. After all, even though you want to feel relaxed and comfortable, your space is likely temporary (unless you’ve found a dream renting situation, in which case, congrats!). So the amount of time and money you want to pour into fixing up the place is far from infinite.
That’s why these five affordable and relatively quick DIY projects (seriously, you can accomplish them within the space of a weekend or less) might be the answer to your renter’s design woes, whether you want to personalize your space or just hide something unsightly.
First things first, make sure you get the all-clear from your landlord. Then prep your to-do list and get ready to start crossing things off with these projects that make a big difference for $100 or less.
Add window clings.
Apartments are notorious for ill-placed windows. Whether yours is staring into a neighbor’s bedroom, a claustrophobic airshaft, or a brick wall, replacing that view with something more aesthetically pleasing can make a big difference in your space. This bathroom makeover from Rachel Reinhart (@ourlittletosahouse) showcases a genius swap for just $19.
Rachel replaced the plastic venetian blinds in her space with a tinted window cling that offers privacy and looks just like stained glass. “The design has both visual and tactile patterning that keep the look classic, rather than cheap,” Rachel said. Plus, the cling still lets in enough natural light to keep the space feeling bright. When you’re ready to move out? Just peel it off. While the exact cover Rachel used is no longer available, this Moroccan lattice frosted glass cover and this rainbow stained glass alternative both offer a similar look.
You can even cover an entire glass door using this trick; Katie Nielsen (@thingsbykt) was tired of looking into the adjacent apartment building through the glass door leading out to her balcony. When hanging a curtain didn’t match her apartment’s vintage vibe, she found a $17 peel-and-stick glass door decal from Amazon that totally transformed the entryway. “I followed what others said to do in the reviews, wetting the window first with Windex and pushing the Windex and air bubbles out with a squeegee as I applied it, and it was surprisingly easy,” Katie said.
Hang sconces (and easily disguise wires).
Adding a wired sconce is a renter-friendly way to warm up a room (no electrical work required!). If only you didn’t have to contend with unsightly cords snaking down your wall. But Charlotte Hohorst found an easy way to disguise this in her Los Angeles apartment: She covered the wires in painter’s tape and then painted the entire room (tape included) a “fearless” shade of navy blue that made the cords completely disappear into the walls. Best of all, the whole project will only set you back the cost of paint, tape, and whatever sconces you choose.
Consider picture frame molding.
Details like molding are hard to come by in rentals, so why not add your own? It’s easier than it sounds. Renter Chloe Griffin (@chloejjari) did just that when she added picture frame molding to her dining room. Chloe trimmed a basic set of panel molding ($8 for a piece running 8 linear feet) to fit the look she had in mind. She used a miter box, a hand saw, double-sided scrapbook tape, and white spray paint to finish the job, for a total of about $100.
She added triangle-shaped appliques in the corners of each frame to give the design a little extra flair. While Chloe says this project did require a decent amount of measuring and sawing, you can also buy pre-cut peel-and-stick wall molding on Amazon for about $50 for a 50×24-inch panel.
Reface your vanity.
Whether your vanity is in rough shape, plain old ugly, or just not to your taste, you’re not necessarily stuck with it for the duration of your lease. You may not be able to replace it, but this clever upgrade from DIYer Katie Nielsen (@annex.apartment) shows how you can completely transform the look.
Katie used removable vinyl contact paper, paintable textured wallpaper, PVC trim, a saw and miter box, black paint, and new decorative knobs to reface her vanity. (You can find all of these supplies for under $80 total on Amazon.) First, she covered the sides with black vinyl contact paper. Then she unscrewed the old knob, removed the doors, and used more contact paper to cover each panel. Next she layered the paintable wall paper on top of the door panels, and framed each one with PVC trim, before painting the entire front of each door black. She attached her new knobs, put her door frames back on, and revealed a brand-new-looking statement piece.
Her entire bathroom makeover, which also involved wall paint, a new rug, wall shelves, over-the-door storage, a reframed medicine cabinet, new light fixtures, and a grout pen to spruce up the tiles, rang in for less than $300.
Drench your walls with color.
A vibrant hue or two can go a long way in revitalizing a space (once you’ve got your landlord’s permission, of course). Ali Bryde (@mustardseedbeginnings) gave a dated half-bathroom a new look by painting the space from head to toe (even the mirror frame!) in Benjamin Moore’s Bourbon Street, a rich mauve. “I chose to saturate the color everywhere — including the ceiling,” Ali said. “It was such a simple yet impactful change with only paint.” Even better: The project cost her only about $60.
Illustrator Gica Tam wanted to add a post-modern vibe to her kitchen, but found wall decals to be too expensive. Instead, Gica purchased three rolls of peel-and-stick wallpaper in light green, lavender, and gray-blue (for less than $30 total) and created custom DIY decals. “I didn’t have a plan and just went with organic shapes that could flow nicely in the space,” Gica said. “I do suggest taking a photo of your space and sketching out a plan when you can.”