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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1
Peel-and-stick backsplash over ugly tile
Degrease first or it lifts within a month. Comes off with a hair dryer at move-out.
2
Swap the cabinet hardware, bag the originals
Same screw spacing (measure twice) means zero new holes. Originals go back on during the last week.
3
Replace the showerhead, keep the old one under the sink
4
Command strips under 5 lb, monkey hooks above
A monkey hook leaves one pinhole you can fill with a dab of spackle. (rental-friendly)
5
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.
6
Smart bulbs instead of rewiring a dimmer switch
7
New toilet seat
Twenty dollars, ten minutes, and you stop thinking about the old one. Goes in a labeled bag in the closet.
8
No-drill curtain rod brackets that tap into the window trim
9
Faucet aerator swap for the sad kitchen stream
10
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.
11
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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