rental fixes that look permanent (and come out clean)

Everything here survived a landlord inspection and got a full deposit back. Tool list at the bottom.

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Peel-and-stick backsplash over ugly tile

Degrease first or it lifts within a month. Comes off with a hair dryer at move-out.

Swap the cabinet hardware, bag the originals

Same screw spacing (measure twice) means zero new holes. Originals go back on during the last week.

Replace the showerhead, keep the old one under the sink

Command strips under 5 lb, monkey hooks above

A monkey hook leaves one pinhole you can fill with a dab of spackle. (rental-friendly)

Removable wallpaper on ONE wall only

A whole room peels at the seams and ends up worse than paint. One accent wall, seams overlapped properly.

Smart bulbs instead of rewiring a dimmer switch

New toilet seat

Twenty dollars, ten minutes, and you stop thinking about the old one. Goes in a labeled bag in the closet.

No-drill curtain rod brackets that tap into the window trim

Faucet aerator swap for the sad kitchen stream

Fill nail holes as you go, not at move-out

Spackle, wait, sand, then touch-up paint. Ask maintenance for the exact can, they usually have it.

The toolbox for all of the above

Drill, level, painter's tape, spackle knife, adjustable wrench. Under $100 total and it moves with you.

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