Home Decorating Amazon Has a Hidden Storefront That Solves Common Rental Problems With Clever Hacks Say goodbye to boring walls, bad lighting, and overflowing kitchen cabinets. By Lily Gray Lily Gray Lily Gray has been a writer with Dotdash Meredith since 2020. She is a home e-commerce writer for Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, and Southern Living. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 7, 2022 04:25PM EST Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: amazon.com Whether you're stepping out on your own for the first time or moving to a new city, there are several ways to make your new apartment feel like home (think trendy furniture and a full gallery wall). However, there are limitations when it comes to renting, since you don't own your space. Your walls, flooring, appliances, and fixtures are all things you likely can't change, but there are a few clever workarounds to make your rental more inviting. 11 Home Essentials Our Shopping Editors Wish They'd Had in Their First Apartment Amazon has a hidden shoppers guide that's filled with rental hacks for typical small space problems. Along with the usual problems like limited storage space in your kitchen or entryway, the retailer also offers solutions for dark lighting, boring wall colors, and lack of outdoor space. Each hack is affordable and won't take a dent in your security deposit after you move out. Keep reading to shop our six favorite Amazon rental hacks below. Hack 1: Use Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper Most lease agreements have a clause discouraging renters from painting the walls. And since most apartments are painted with lackluster white or cream colors, adding personality to your walls can be tricky. The solution? Add peel-and-stick wallpaper. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is affordable, easy to install, and most importantly, seamless to remove, leaving behind the same wall before you move out. There's a variety of patterns to choose from on Amazon like floral, geometric, plaid, and abstract to really let your aesthetic shine through. NuWallpaper Mirei Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper amazon.com $23 per roll (was $50 per roll), amazon.com RoomMates Tropical Palm Leaf Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper amazon.com $25 per roll (was $37 per roll), amazon.com NuWallpaper Farmhouse Plaid Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper amazon.com $23 per roll (was $50 per roll), amazon.com Hack 2: Create a Dining Nook If your apartment features a tight kitchen and a small living space, it's difficult to incorporate a space for dining. Instead of eating on your couch every day, you can easily create a dining space from an unused corner of your living room. Amazon suggests creating a little nook with benches, a small round or square table, and small dining chairs. Buy two to four benches so you can create seating for up to four people—you get bonus points if you can find benches with storage for serveware, throws, or your extensive vinyl collection. Songmics Storage Ottoman Bench amazon.com $60, amazon.com GreenForest Dining Table amazon.com $160, amazon.com CangLong Mid-Century Modern Set of Four Dining Chairs amazon.com $203, amazon.com Hack 3: Set Up a Faux Entryway Drop Zone Unless your apartment expands across an entire floor, chances are, you don't have a proper entryway. Entering the main space of your home right when you open the door negates storage opportunities for bags, shoes, jackets, and mail. However, you can easily add a few hooks, floating shelves, and a stylish shoe rack to store your essentials by the door without causing clutter or taking up too much space. Amazon Basics Wall-Mounted Farmhouse Coat Rack amazon.com $21, amazon.com Sauder North Avenue Storage Bench amazon.com $127, amazon.com Bayka Floating Shelves amazon.com $21 with coupon (was $30), amazon.com Hack 4: No Outdoor Space? Add Indoor Plants If your apartment has limited or no outdoor space, a vegetable garden might be out of your reach, but you can still exercise your green thumb with indoor plants. Dress up empty corners with a large statement plant, like a fern, snake plant, or peace lily. If you have large windows, consider hanging planters that not only provide a space for your plants to thrive, but also add dimension to your home. And if you love to cook, the AeroGarden grow kit comes with herb seeds and a grow light. Umbra Triflora Hanging Planter amazon.com $55, amazon.com AeroGarden Harvest Indoor Garden with LED Grow Light amazon.com $105 (was $150), amazon.com EdenProducts Mid-Century Modern Large Planter with Stand amazon.com $70 with coupon ($80), amazon.com Hack 5: Add Lighting With Plug-In Pendants and Sconces Whether it's ineffective track lights, harsh canned lighting, or a lack of windows, apartments rarely have good lighting. While you likely can't replace these fixtures, you can easily add light to dark spots with plug-in pendant lights, sconces, and floor lamps. They're easy to install, painless to remove, and provide the extra light you need for your bedroom, workspace, or living room. Trlife Plug In Wall Sconces amazon.com $59, amazon.com Dewenwils Plug In Pendant Light amazon.com $30 (was $32), amazon.com Rivet Mid Century Modern Plug In Sconce amazon.com $34, amazon.com Hack 6: Increase Limited Kitchen Storage It's no secret that most apartments have limited kitchen space with just a few cabinets and drawers. In order to maximize this space, invest in food storage containers and organization racks for your must-have kitchen items. Shop hanging organizers for your pantry items, airtight food containers, and adjustable racks to hold your cutting boards, pans, and bakeware. YouCopia Bakeware Storemore Adjustable Rack amazon.com $20, amazon.com Chef's Path Airtight 24-Pack Food Storage Container Set amazon.com $54 with coupon (was $80), amazon.com Home-Complete Door Hanging Organization Rack amazon.com $63 (was $90), amazon.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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