Renting a place has its advantages and disadvantages, but so as owning a house. Making an ideal setting for your living situation all boils down to your ability to work around what you have, so don't fret!
Here are 10 of the most common renting struggles and how you can turn them around according to Apartment Therapy:
#1 You can't put your own mark on your space.
While some landlords allow their renters to change the paint, most of them don't. If that is out of the question, you can still inject your person style to the space by covering up what you don't like and adding lots of things that you do. You can place standalone shelving or accessories to hide an area or spot that doesn't quite fit your taste.
#2 Rental kitchens just suck. Period.
While not all, almost every rental can't boast their kitchen - it's either outdated or too small. If that's the case, invest on big trays and utensil holders to solve the problem with lack of space. To enhance the look of the kitchen, you can put up decors and invest on stylish kitchenware and decors.
#3 Rental bathrooms suck, too.
You don't need to break the bank to enhance the look of your rental bathroom. Some of the cheap and effective ways to cover up the ugly situation are adding storage, dressing up the windows, use waterproof tile stickers, change the lighting, and invest on lux towels.
# Mail is a pain.
The last thing you want is not receiving that very important letter from an application because somebody stole your mail box or some other renter accidentally took your package. To solve this, ask your landlord if it's possible to get an in-home delivery, or you could get a P.O. Box, or ask a friendly neighbor to receive mails for you.
#5 White walls are boring
Most rental places are painted in white, and if you love colors but getting new paint is out of the question, you can always go for colorful accessories to make the space look more exciting.
#6 Rental appliances are a grab bag, and sometimes, they are terrible.
You can't expect landlords to change the appliances every time a new model comes out, so it's a higher probability that you will be left with an ugly avocado fridge. There are several temporary remedies to this, and one of the most effective ones is going for peel-and-stick makeovers. This would also work for other appliances and even ugly walls.
#7 There's never enough lighting (and fixtures are often ugly).
If the overhead fixture is not enough for what you need, you can always go for floor or table lamps to supplement the lack of light. These accessory lightings are better for ambience, anyway.
#8 Outdoor space is minimal.
The lack of space shouldn't stop you from enjoying dining outdoors or growing a garden. Just look for plants that could thrive in small spaces or without much sunlight (if that's the case). Look for pieces that could be functional with the space available so you can turn the small area into a lush retreat.
#9 There's never enough storage.
Rentals are notorious for having limited space; so don't even think about getting a pantry or a walk-in closet. To address the lack of storage, you can get temporary wardrobes, bookshelves, or garment racks to organize your stuff.
#10 You may be blessed with wall-to-wall carpeting.
While it's good to have carpeted floors, it's not the same case if they are outdated, dirty, or just don't fit with the look you are trying to create for your space. Some solutions you can do are getting them cleaned (if they are that filthy, then hire a professional), get area rugs, or try to keep the focus off the floor by creating interesting focal points across the room.
