Illustration for item titled Semi-Permanent Apartment Upgrades that you can make without losing your security depositPhoto: Rido (Shutterstock)

Renting an apartment comes without the obligation of a mortgage, but often without the luxury of customization. In general, the owner or landlord sets the rules as to what can and cannot be changed. Some stricter rules even prohibit holes in the walls for pictures.

But while you probably won’t be able to tear down walls or install a skylight, some minor tweaks can be made and easily returned to its original state when you exit. Here are some semi-permanent cosmetic changes you can make to make your home your own.

You can change your cabinet hardware

Replacing cabinet door knobs sounds like a tiny change, but it can certainly help transform a room. And replacing is easy as long as you have a screwdriver and tape measure.

cabinet Screw templates This makes it easier to measure and uses a series of pilot holes to replace the cabinet knobs even without a tape measure. Ask your landlord whether painting the cabinets is also allowed. With new buttons and a fresh coat of paint, your kitchen can look completely different.

You can upgrade your lights

Lighting can drastically change the look of a room, but you probably won’t be able to rewire your temporary home. The next best thing is wireless wall lightsThese are wall lights, similar to the ones you can see on either end of a hotel bed.

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Typically, you would have to run cables into the walls to install the floating light fixture. Instead, you can buy battery powered wall lights and mount the light on the wall. The added light can make the room look bigger without cluttering the floor plan, and if you plan to use the lights frequently, this is an option Plug-in wall lights instead.

You can paint your doors

Most of the apartments come with you Build quality Surfaces that are cookie cutters and generic. Landlords tend to want something cheap so they can buy in bulk or easily replace things when they get damaged. But to give the room your own flair, TikToker and craftsmen Brandon Gentry recommends painting all doors. For even more character, turn off the doorknobs to complement the color and add a little more to your style.

You can change your faucets

It’s a little more advanced so you might need a permit, but you can probably also swap out the faucets in your bathroom and kitchen. Before starting, make sure the faucet shutoff is in place, which is usually a Button under the sink.

Unless you swap out the sink (which you probably aren’t) you’ll need to find a new faucet that will fit the available sink opening, but there’s no shortage of options there. With thousands of exciting Shapes, colors and styles You will find the right look for every type of faucet. And if you’re intimidated by installing a new faucet (because it’s more like a involved process), just call a professional who can turn it off quickly if your landlord agrees. And they probably will because a nicer, newer bathroom and kitchen are better for them, too.