1. A curtain of fairy lights so magical, you’ll swear you’re living in Narnia — not a rental! — every time you turn it on. Whether you hang it in a window or use it for something a little less conventional (pro tip: it makes a great “no-headboard headboard” for your bed!), this 150-light curtain adds a splash of sparkle to any room.
2. The cutest dang storage basket you’ve ever seen, because when your storage solutions are also squee-worthy — well, that’s the best of both worlds, isn’t it? Woven from water hyacinth reeds, this cat-shaped basket is purrrrr-fect for stashing blankets, toys (for both human children and fur babies alike!), and other odds and ends while also giving you something unfathomably sweet to look at, too.
3. A triptych of modern, geometric wall art that’ll help your space feel way more lived-in and loved than, y’know, a sea of bare, white walls will. These three coordinating pieces hang together beautifully or split ‘em up and add a splash of color to different walls. Either way, it’ll make your maybe-just-for-now place feel a lot more like a home, you know?
4. A boucle storage ottoman with a playful, cloud-like silhouette, because if your rental is strapped for storage, every little bit helps. Open up this piece to hide whatever you want to get out of sight, then close it up, and bam — suddenly, it’s extra seating. Add to that a whimsical look and super cozy texture, and, well… it’s pretty much the whole proverbial enchilada, is it not?
5. A full-length mirror with an elegant, arched frame to help open up even the smallest, most cramped of rented rooms. Whether wall-hung or propped up on the floor (with or without the included stand!), this piece’s unique shape even lets you fake a window easily if your place doesn’t have many of them.
Mary/Wayfair
Promising review: “Love the size of the mirror! I’m 5’6″ and I have it leaning on my living room wall in my studio apartment and it’s still taller than me. It opens up the space a lot! It is nice and sturdy as well. Great quality. I compared the dimensions and price with other stores and this one was bigger, cost less, and had the best reviews!!” —Cassia LeBron-Williams
Price: $72.99+ (originally $78.99; available in four sizes and three colors)
6. Or, a round wall mirror, if it makes you feel nervous to have a big ol’ mirror just sitting on your floor where it could fall over and shatter at any time. (Hi there, fellow accident-prone friends!) Adding depth thanks to the reflection and brightness thanks to its ability to bounce light around, this sleek, streamlined pick is the ultimate shortcut to a no-reno, renter-friendly living room makeover.
Tiffany/Wayfair
Promising review: “I was on the hunt for a mirror just like this for our new home. I ordered two for a couple of spaces (one ending up in our living room). I love the size and how easy it was to hang. Adds such sophistication to any room and is a great price.” —Kelly
Price: $89.98 (originally $140; available in two colors)
7. A pair of velvet geometric-patterned throw pillow covers with metallic accents, so you can add that certain je ne sais quoi to your home with very little effort. Both super soft and super ~aesthetic~, these covers will turn your couch into the pinnacle of lounging sophistication.
Wayfair, Kehinde/Wayfair
Note that the covers don’t come with pillow inserts, but you can grab a couple of those here if you need to.
Promising review: “Beautiful! I’ve already gotten compliments for them. They look exactly like the picture and the material is super nice. Looks high quality and chic.” —Shalini
Price: $18.99+ (originally $22.99+, available in two sizes and 15 colors)
8. A pair of wireless LED puck lights, aka the perfect renter-friendly solution to the dangers of stumbling around in the dark. These lil’ guys are motion-activated, rechargeable, and — key point! — mounted with good ol’ Command Strips, letting you put ‘em where you need ‘em, and then take ‘em down again without damaging the walls whenever you’re finally ready to move out.
Wayfair
Promising review: “This is awesome, so far one charge has been working for three to four months for my small walk-in closet. And the charge time is so fast, maybe an hour. One light is bright enough for my small walk-in. And the motion sensor is pretty good. I wish the motion sensor interval was a bit longer (it’s 30 seconds) or at least have options, but it probably contributes to the lights’ affordability, small size, and long lasting charge. Thinking about buying more for my other closets!” —Chea
Price: $35.99+ for a set of two (available in two colors)
9. A couple of rolls of peel-and-stick board and batten wallpaper reviewers say is so convincing, it looks like the real thing. Rentals aren’t exactly known for their wild wall treatments, but this stuff’ll transform your plainest wall into the attention-getting accent wall you’ve always wanted — and let you return things to their natural state without needing to repaint everything when it’s time to move on.
10. Or a set of peel-and-stick floor tiles because turning your rental’s tired old floors into something you actually like looking at doesn’t have to mean losing your security deposit when you move out.
Wayfair
These pretty tiles can pep up everything from your actual floors to, say, the front of your kitchen island or the risers on your stairs. All you have to do is measure them out, cut ‘em down to size, and then peel the backing off and stick them down.
Promising review: “This made our bathroom look completely different! Updated in a very easy and affordable way.” —Megan
Price: $19.90 per box of 10 tiles
11. OR some on-trend, vertical peel-and-stick backsplash tiles, so you don’t have to keep grimacing at that… uh… well-loved (and probably kinda water stained) wall behind your kitchen faucet every time you do the dishes.
12. A rice paper room divider screen with a gorgeous plum blossom print that looks way more expensive than it actually is. Whether you use it to split up your space or place it along the wall for some visual impact, this four-panel, solid wood-framed screen adds a ton of pizzazz with almost no effort.
13. A colorful and compact writing desk that’ll perk up your home office in even the blandest of rentals. The X-shaped frame gives the piece a striking silhouette, while the two drawers provide space for pens, pencils, notepads, and other office must-haves. Bonus: This piece also works beautifully as a console table or vanity for maximum flexibility.
Nina/Wayfair, Tamora/Wayfair
Promising review: “This is a nice sturdy desk that fits perfectly in between my windows. I used the ‘see it in my room’ virtual feature for this desk and loved it. It was fairly simple to put together, and it did not take very long. The two drawers are small but sufficient for the size of the desk. The color is fun! It brings a nice spot of color to this room.” —Nina
Price: $176.99+ (originally $528; available in eight colors)
14. A hip yet space-efficient dining table perfect for smaller living situations (and let’s face it, most of us are absolutely in smaller living situations during our renting years). With tapered legs made of solid wood and a circular top with a lacquered finish, this four-seater packs a ton of style into a small package.
15. And some velvet-upholstered dining chairs to add a splash of color to any dining setup. With a simple, streamlined silhouette, they’ll go with just about anything — but the velvet upholstery and the bright colors make them beautiful accent pieces, too.
Bailey/Wayfair
Promising review: “These chairs work perfectly with our round dining table. We love the gold color. Plus, the seat is supportive and curves very comfortably. What an excellent deal for two dining chairs. Highly recommend!” —Melanie
Price: $159+ for two (originally $350; available in six colors)
16. A classically chic kitchen prep table, because it’s a simple, renter-friendly way to beef up your storage space and counter space simultaneously. This piece has two open shelves perfect for stashing your most-used pieces of cookware and other supplies, a drawer at the front, and a towel rack on the side. And it looks as beautiful as it is useful, too!
Lynda/Wayfair
I have a smaller version of this prep table in my own kitchen, and the difference it has made in my culinary landscape is palpable. I keep the pots, pans, and cutting boards I use the most on the shelves and pot holders and trivets in the drawer – and having the extra surface available for food prep and ingredient stashing while I’m working is just *chef’s kiss*. Literally.
Promising review: “This was just what I needed to fill a bit of empty space in my tiny apartment kitchen, at the same time adding much-needed storage for some bulky items. I’m using the drawer for placemats and kitchen towels. As a bonus I hadn’t been expecting, the surface will provide me with the largest workspace I could have imagined! Though solid and sturdily made, I had no trouble putting this unit together.” —Lynda
Price: $138.99+ (originally $173.99; available in four colors; also available in a 23-inch size)
17. And a sturdy, expandable shelf organizer rack, so you can make the most of your I-sure-as-heck-didn’t-design-this-kitchen situation, no matter how weird it might be. We’ve all lived in at least one place with a shortage of storage space bordering on extreme, right? Well, popping this lil’ guy on any shelf or counter doubles the surface area without expanding the footprint.
Brandon/Wayfair, Daniel/Wayfair
These shelf organizers can adjusted to be longer or shorter, depending on the space you need them to fit; they’re also stackable, so if you have a lot of vertical space, these picks can help utilize it to its full potential.
Promising review: “Versatile, sturdy, and easy to assemble! Great space saver and really gets the most out of my wide shelves.” —Brandon
Price: $37.99
18. A couple of thermal blackout curtain panels that’ll actually, y’know, darken the room (and help it stay a comfortable temperature, to boot!). These classic panels have grommets at the top, so you won’t need to faff about with curtain rings; you can hang ‘em right on the rod. Easy, chic, and so useful, y’all.
19. A set of three hanging baskets as functional as they are gorgeous. The baskets can be hung together as one piece or split up into three separate organizers, each of which can hold eight pounds. The set even includes an over-the-door hook for easy hanging. A space saver, an easy organizer, and a super cute décor piece, all in one go? Yes, please.
Jodi/Wayfair
Promising review: “Love it! Super durable and versatile. I’ve had it in three different apartments now and it’s been helpful and cute in each one. Note that the pockets aren’t huge/don’t morph very much, so you can only fit so much in them.” —Ric
Price: $32.99+ (originally $35.99+; available in two colors)
20. A chunky knit throw blanket, because nothing makes a house feel like a home more than having something cozy just waiting for you to snuggle up with as soon as you walk in the door. Double-knitted for durability, this pick won’t pull or suffer loose threads — and it gives it A+ aesthetics and breathable comfiness, too.
21. A three-shade tree floor lamp, in the event that your rental’s overheads leave a little something to be desired. Each of the shades swings on its own arm, so you can position them however you like — and the switch is three-way, so you can adjust how many of them are lit at any time. Heck yes, flexible lighting solutions!
Wayfair, Atha/Wayfair
True story: One of my apartments had wiring so bizarre that the light switch for the overhead light in my bedroom also controlled not just the outlets on one of my bedroom walls, but also the outlets on the living room wall on the other side. My solution for the six years (six! years!) I lived there was to take the bulb out of my overhead, leave the switch on at all times so the outlets always worked, and rely entirely on multi-headed lamps like this one for illumination in my room. Never underestimate the worth of a good floor lamp in weird rental situations.
Promising review: “Really love how these look in our living room — easy to move the individual lights to a position you like and gives you the ability to turn the lights off one at a time if you wanted. Overall, very pleased!” —Megan
Price: $219+ (originally $230.05+; available in two colors)
22. An eye-catching area rug with an abstract, geometric design that’ll dress up even the most scuffed of floors. Combining a bold look with easy care, it’ll pull together your space in all kinds of ways — even if the space isn’t exactly “yours,” technically speaking.
Eric/Wayfair
Promising review: “The color of this rug really is vibrant. Not too bright of a white, but turns the whole area into an elegant spot. Really love the feel of this rug. Can vacuum it easily without worrying about destroying it. Really fast delivery especially nice since I needed it quickly. Goes with everything and I’m very pleased.” —Lisa
Price: $21.99+ (originally $55+; available in 13 shapes and sizes and 11 colors)
23. A gorgeously boho duvet cover, because sometimes, just changing up your bedding can transform your entire space — ideal for those times when your lease limits what you can actually do to the place. This tufted, geometric cover packs tons of texture for visual interest, along with a bunch of colorways to choose from that’ll work with almost any palette.
Anonymous/Wayfair
For the curious, the duvet cover is made of microfiber. It also comes with one or two pillowcases, depending on the duvet size.
Promising review: “Arrived super prompt — easy to wash and insert duvet! It’s super cozy, and the design in minimal but nice. My only complaint is it’s so cozy I’ve been having a hard time getting out of bed in the morning!” —Dani
Price: $47.99+ (available in sizes twin–king and 27 colors and patterns)
24. A convertible chair as perfect for reading as it is for napping. By day, it’s a unique-looking place to perch with strong lines and a comfortable pillow — but by night, it unfolds into a twin-sized bed. No guest room? No problem!
25. A handy wall organizer to create a drop zone by your front door — and give your rental a super cute entryway setup at the same time. This pick includes five hooks for keys and other hanging items and two wire baskets for mail, masks, and other can’t-leave-home-without-’em items, all wrapped up in a delightful, vintage-chic package. Ugh. So cute.
26. A multi-tiered plant stand, so your green babies can have somewhere comfortable to grow. The four display spots on this bamboo rack are set at different heights for some instant kapow (vertical space is a glorious thing!) — and since it’s still compact in size, it’ll work great in any living room, balcony or even bedroom.
Tori/Wayfair
Promising review: “Very simple stand FOR THE WIN. I looked at much more expensive four-tier stands on this site and elsewhere and was just unhappy with their price tags. This one looked simple and elegant at a fraction of the cost, so I decided to take the gamble and make the purchase. Happy I did! Very easy to assemble, very sturdy and looks as I’d hoped. Happy the trays have lips to avoid dirt/water spillover. The wood looks elegant. Trays are plastic but that doesn’t take away from the piece. Happy with this purchase!” —Tori
Price: $38.99 (originally $47.99)
27. Or a faux ficus tree that’ll bring a little greenery into your rental without you needing to worry about whether or not you’ll be able to keep it alive. This 6-foot-tall pick even comes with its own little rattan basket, so it’s ready to brighten up your home right out of the box.
Erica/Wayfair
Promising review: “This tree is great!! The trunk looks (is) so real and the leaves and branches are pretty realistic. The basket is adorable and the tree is pretty sturdy. Our 18-month-old loves to play hide-and-seek behind it, so we know it can take a little bit of pushing and pulling!” —Nolan
Price: $125
28. A playful floral shower curtain to brighten up your bathroom, no matter how blah it might have been when you moved in. Do you need a decorative shower curtain? Not really. Does having one make your bathroom a significantly nicer place to be? Absolutely. Go ahead. Get yourself a fun shower curtain. It’s an easy way to make a rented space feel much more you.
29. A proper laundry hamper, because that old “floordrobe” habit is not doing your rental any favors. This soft, braided number is unexpectedly cozy — and it’s even got a lid, so you don’t have to sit there staring at your dirty socks all week before laundry day if you don’t want to. Aaah. Isn’t that so much nicer?
Fanta/Wayfair
Promising review: “Absolutely gorgeous and of excellent quality for the money. I got the rust color and I love it. I have had it around a year and shows no sign of wear. I line it with orange trash bags and it looks great. I like it because it’s not too big and not too little.” —Gayle
Price: $83.99+ (originally $155+; available in two sizes and 25 colors)
30. And lastly, a sleek, modern essential oil diffuser, because very few things are as soothing as your favorite scent — and if you fill your space with that scent? That’s a surefire way to make any rental feel instantly like your own personal haven.
Wayfair
In addition to a standard, eight-hour continuous mode, this inobtrusive oil diffuser has an interval mode; when placed on this setting, it will diffuse for 10 minutes, then take a break for 20 minutes, continuing the cycle for up to 24 hours. Set it, forget it, and keep catching waves of your fave scent literally all day.
Promising review: “I really like the way this fills the room. After turning the unit on, it begins dispersing the oil within seconds and both modes last a long time. It silently vibrates the water and this keeps the water and essential oil mixture evenly mixed. The color options are also nice — the green one fits nicely with the rest of my decor. The top part isn’t fastened so it’s easy to re-fill, but should be kept away from kids’ or pets’ reach. The top will also sometimes have some condensation after all of the water and oil mixture is gone so one should be careful if its on a surface that shouldn’t get wet.” —Yasmin
Price: $59.99 (available in two colors)
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
