Rental Kitchen Updates for Parents on a Budget

Something about a year-long quarantine...in a small apartment...with a baby...can make anyone a little sick of their home. Are you with me?

My one-bedroom started to feel like a prison some days, and with so much time spent in my tiny kitchen, it needed a serious facelift. 

There's only so much we can do in a rented apartment while on a budget, so creativity and savvy shopping are a must to make things work.

Check out these simple, budget-friendly ways my kitchen went from drab to fab!

1. Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

First, my non-existent "backsplash" needed some updating. 

Not being allowed to make any permanent changes, Peel-and-Stick wallpaper was the way to go! I found this textured brick pattern at Target, but there are so many to choose from!

Must have tools for this job: 

• Peel and Stick Wallpaper

• Cricut Scraper (or any scraper)

• Exacto Knife

• Ruler

Let's be honest here...this is a time-consuming job, but these tools do make it so much easier. The scraper is perfect for getting rid of air bubbles in the wallpaper. Smooth it out as you go to avoid an excess of air pockets. 

A few things about the brick pattern...

To not waste paper, I did not line up every brick sheet perfectly. I knew many seams would be covered by the sheer number of things lining my tiny counter space. However, being the kitchen's focal point, I made sure to line up everything perfectly above the stove. A ruler was the key here. 

Looking for a wallpaper that involves a lot less math?? Subway tiles would certainly have been simpler. 

I have to say though, I LOVE the look of white bricks, especially against light brown rental cabinetry. 

2. Ribbons

I found these adorable canisters (Homegoods) and knew they'd be PERFECT for holding both my regular and decaf coffee grinds (of course the decaf would be in the smaller one...is decaf ever even necessary?). 

I needed a solution for coving the word "sugar."  So what started out as a simple fix quickly became one of my favorite, easy upgrades in my kitchen.  

BEFORE

AFTER

I highly recommend a wide, thicker ribbon, but of course, any will do! Tie a bow or simply adhere it to the canister with a bit of hot glue. This takes mere minutes, but this tip adds so much to your decor!

3. Stove Shelf

The final touch was adding a little shelf on top of my stove. 

All it really does is cover the gap between the top of the stove and the wall, but what a difference! It gave me a place to display a few knickknacks that brought a little more life to my rental kitchen. 

The fake flowers are my favorite for a pop of color against the white "backsplash." 

This shelf is magnetic and available on Amazon. It takes SECONDS to set up and adds so much to an otherwise boring space. 

Pretty, right?! I love tiny touches like this that allow for homey details even in an apartment.

Have fun renovating your rental kitchen without messing with your security deposit! It's definitely worth the effort to make your place feel a bit warmer. Let me know how your updates turned out in the comment section. I can't wait to see your designs!