Outside

Spruce up the patio: Your apartment patio may be tiny and cramped but it’s your one connection to the outside. The time has come for your patio to live up to its potential and become the outdoor space you know it can be. Patios are cozy spaces, but you can really dive into that cozy feeling with a hammock. Make sure you secure it to a stud or weight-bearing structure and get ready to wrap yourself to comfy resting all summer long. A Small garden can have lots of advantages – the main one being they’re wonderfully low-maintenance. They’re also great spaces to be creative, as even the smallest additions, from colourful cushions to stylish garden lighting, will have a dramatic effect. Many San Francisco apartments offer japanese-inspired gardens on the patio which are perfect for growing your own herbs and/or gardening. 

Update your entryway: The front entry provides the first impression of your home. Replace basic house numbers for an eye catching address planter. Your front door is a prime location to splurge on attractive decorating features. Choose an attention-grabbing element, such as stylish outdoor lighting, or a richly stained wooden front door. Placing containers of flowers near the front entry is an easy and inexpensive way to add a dose of eye-catching color.

Inside

Paint/wallpaper: Nothing gives off a personalized vibe more than perfectly painted walls. Painting is a simple job you can do yourself (check with your landlord first). Painting a room or a single wall in your apartment is a simple DIY that will have a major impact in any space. If you love the look of wallpaper, you can get the same look with removable temporary wallpaper. Plus, you can utilize it all over your space, not just on walls. Try using it in kitchen drawers or to perk up the inside of bookcases and dining room hutches.

Fixtures: Nothing brings a room down faster than old, original fixtures. Consider updating things like faucets and light fixtures to immediately upgrade your space and better suit your personal style. If you want to change out your lighting, this particular change is one that can add some personality to your rental unit and typically won’t be an issue with your complex or landlord. Change up the kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity hardware. Are your kitchen cabinet doors ugly? Take them down. If you happen to have some awesome kitchenware that needs to be displayed, then go ahead and remove those doors.