It's really a personal decision... I know people who don't change a thing, and I know people who have almost renovated a rental. I guess it depends on your budget and how long you plan to be there for.

Personally we paint the walls and hang some stuff. This month we're going big and putting grass and a small patio in the tiny backyard, but that's the biggest project we're going to do with this place (should cost around $300). I also want to change the shower head to something with more pressure.

these are all thing I struggle with too. I have never painted an apartment. Having to paint it back at the end and forfeit money (even though landlords always paint before new tenants) didn't seem worth it- and I find that as soon as I've gotten stuff on the walls, I had at least a little less need to paint. I recommend getting things for the walls you love that are either large in size or quantity to fill up the space. New fixtures is a fine idea, but yes, you'll want to take them with you when you leave. Unless the landlord is giving you a break on rent to manage or update the apartment in some way, anything you but you'll want to take with you. As for furniture, buy things you like, but can still afford- you're young! there will be plenty of time for new stuff. Go to antique and thrift stores for interesting accessories, use websites like joss and main for fun throw pillows, and your couch won't look so dinky.

The main thing I think about when deciding how much effort to put into a rental is- how long do I plan to stay? If I think I'm going to move in a year, I'm not going to put too much money into fixing the place up, and am going to try to mainly work with things I already have or that I know i will want even if I move. If, on the other hand, I intend to stay for 6 years, then thats as long as some people live in a house they own. I'm going to put effort into making myself comfortable, since I'm going to be living with those upgrades much longer. After all, living with a closet with insufficient places to put things is annoying for one year, but its worth it to fix it up if it's going to make that closet better for 5 years.

Also to think about: how much happier an improvment makes you. Sometimes little/cheap things can make a ton of difference to your daily life, like exchanging a really bad showerhead. Other times it might be a lot of labour/expensive and the improvment might not be so noticable in your daily life.

Go ahead and paint, but if you're just going to be there a year, I wouldn't do much else that you couldn't take with you.

You also have to be careful about changing things like the faucets. Legally, those most likely become the property of your landlord when they're installed. They're called "fixtures," and I'm sure there's a legal guide for renters you can find that will explain how that works.

Spend money on things you can take with you. But spend time on making the place your own. For me, a lot of the time I spend working on the place is more enjoyable than the time I spend enjoying my work.

If there is something that you really just can't stand to look at, I would say to do what you can to improve it without spending too much money. After you have lived in the place for a while you may have a better idea of whether you want to stay for a long period and then you might be willing to invest a little bit more. Whenever I have replaced anything in a rental, I kept the old item so that I could take the replacement with me if I chose.

How long do you plan on staying? Will you move out after your lease or will you sign on for another year?

I'd start with small changes. What if, after a few months, you realize you don't like the neighborhood? Or the lay out? Or the size? Or the rent is too much? I'd consider all those things before making major changes. Definitely make small changes to make it feel like home, but put the big changes on the back-burner.

Also, how lenient is your landlord about returning things to their "original state"? If you paint the walls, does she want the walls back to their original color when you move out? Probably not but it would be worth it to find out how "original" she wants the place to be when you leave.

Oy! First Apartments! Start small, and stay small. Make sure you document each change with before and after photos. I think you are smart to question how far you should go. I would alter the palette & mood of your place with color and lighting. Keep the fixtures as they are if you can live with them. Give yourself a year in the new place and keep raising the bar each year after that. I am giving this advice as a person who lost her security deposit on her new place because I went to far with my remodel. If you switch out any fixture make sure you save as original condition or you might be charged through the nose. Other than that Enjoy your new apt!

You've gotten some good advice here. Personally, I would concentrate on the things that you will live with for a long time to come. For example: I'd rather buy a good sofa that will last me for years than change the fixtures in an apartment (unless they're god-awful, in which case, please change the fixtures!). If you decide to live in the apartment for a few years, then it's a good idea to do some changes. But for 12 months? I think not.

Here's a good rule of thumb: spend no more than one month's rent on home improvements per year. If you stay a year, then you won't have spent TOO much money, but if you're there for 3, then over time you can make it more your own.

Instead of changing bathroom or kitchen faucets, think about changing the lighting fixtures. Those are easy to change, and easy to bring to the next place. Maybe just paint one feature wall so that you have less to paint back to white when you move out.

I agree with Terry. While it is a personal choice, 12 months really isn't a long time to make any major change. Unless, you are going to renew the lease at the end of the term. If you do want to make changes, money wise, I wouldn't spend more than one month rent on the changes.

Good luck, and I am so excited for you!!! =)

As a military wife, I am no stranger to moving from rental property to rental property. I agree that you should not invest too much money into a rental. However, I also believe in making your living space as personal as possible. We usually will try to change things that we can take with, such as the light fixtures or door knobs. We have always painted, although it can be a pain to have to repaint when it comes time to leave. It really comes down to the parts of the home that are most important to you. You'd be amazed at how much just a coat of paint can make a temporary home feel like you've been there for years.

Fix what makes you most comfortable. If you faucet is not working, then have the landlord fix it/replace it, but otherwise I might leave it alone. When my roommate and I moved into our Queens apartment after first arriving to new york city we actually put in some relatively inexpensive new "wood" flooring and some laminate tile in the kitchen, and a new laminate counter top (our kitchen was TINY). they were labor intensive updates, but worth a couple of hundred dollars for us to have decent floors and a *definitely* clean counter top. Those two things improved both the look and the livability of the space - changes worth making!

It seems you already know what you're up for if you do make changes in the apartment (the most significant being the cost of the improvements and putting it back in its original state). If you absolutely can't stand the apartment as it is--if you're not looking forward to coming home from work because you don't find comfort in your own space--then go ahead (though the better advice would have been for you to have rented a better apartment). If you can tolerate living in it for 12 months (and believe me, 12 months fly by, just like that), I would just save the money to pay for things I will like forever (art) or to enjoy my youth (travel).

I think it's one thing to swap out a shower head or put one of those little swivel sprayer head things on the end of the kitchen faucet, but switching the actual faucet itself is pretty major. Also hanging stuff and putting up shelves is a lot easier than painting, especially if you have to paint twice. I can't imagine having to deal with packing and moving and then painting a place you are leaving.
It's one thing to put up a medicine cabinet or some other form of bathroom storage if there isn't one there, but for the most part I would make do with the fixtures/cabinets, etc. that are provided (and you are paying for) especially if you will only be there a year. Little things add up, I know everyone says painting is cheap, but good paint isn't cheap and you have to buy all of the "stuff" needed to paint and you have to store all of that "stuff."

I'm pro-painting. Its easy to undo, if you are certain you can plan for it. 5 gallons of off white paint, clear out the furniture, and you can knock it out in one day.

However, if you do not think you will be renewing your lease (going back to school, etc), no changes are worth it.

I agree with much of the advice above. You'll find that you can make a place very homey with things you can take with you like furniture, art, and textiles. All of these things make great long-term investments.

Collect ideas and create a design board to reflect on any changes so they're not impulsive. The professionals all do it, so why not us normal folks as well? Home design doesn't expire. You can take your time and let things evolve gradually.

Another thing to consider is that it is not worth coming up short on your rent because you were decorating. A good rule is to make sure you can purchase all your decor in cash. It's easy to set up a bank account for your home (before you get distracted with all the wonderful things out there), separate from your required budget, to help keep you within your means.

Some things I have changed in my apartment other than paint:

-redid bathroom floor with landlord's permission. He bought the supplies for me. The two days of work pulling up old tiles, pretreating the subfloor so the new ones would stick better, and installing new peel-n-stick tiles was well worth it as I have been here for 3 years now and at the age of 29 am SOOOO over gross bathroom floors.

- Hung 3 shelves over an area of counter in my kitchen with no upper cabinets. I will probably leave these when I move out.

- Changed the hardware on the kitchen cabinets. Wish I did it sooner! $30 of knobs. I kept the old ones so I can keep 'my' knobs when I move out if I want them. This (if you make sure to pick new handles that match the holes of the old ones) is a very easy to undo change.

I'm going to put my two-cents in against painting your new place. I just moved out of my first apartment after a one year lease and painting back all of the rooms that we had painted seemed like such a hassle (and waste of time/money) for a place that we didn't care about any more. This time around I am filling the space with re-painted frames from Goodwill, tapestries and other wall art to break up to monotony of white walls. Since I'm in the same boat as you (in potentially moving from year to year) I have decided to invest my time and effort into refurbishing old (but quality!) pieces of furniture to suit my current design inspirations. This way if I decide I don't want my furniture from this place in my new home I can resell it -- likely for a profit -- and start again fresh. But that's just me and my DIY ways :).

Agree with the suggestions above. Also talk to the landlord, when I left the last rental place he didn't require it to be repainted. I had done neutralish walls and pale woodwork so it wasn't a difficult colour scheme for the next person. I added colour through the furnishings which I knew I could take with me.

I'd add shelves, change light fittings and change curtains. I don't think I'd do more unless there was something that really didn't work.

I recommend investing in quality furniture and artwork that you can take with you. We did replace our shower head but plan on taking it with us. We have stored the one that came with the apartment carefully and will put it back in. If fixtures are at the point of needing replacement, consider asking the landlord to pay for part of it. Kate at Censtational Girl has painted '80s style brass fixtures as well.

Your question contains two different kinds of improvements - you mention sofas and fixtures. I would put together two different lists - one having to do with decorative/functional pieces that you own and are moveable, and the other list being changes to the apartment itself, such as painting, wall to wall carpeting, lighting or plumbing fixtures, etc.

Re: the 2nd list, I would only make changes to the apartment that you feel you can't live without and understand that you will lose that money. If you plan to stay only a year, then that list should be very small. If there are things that are very old/not working properly, then check out the laws in your town/city - you should be able to get your landlord to pay for those. You should not be improving the property at your own expense, in general - the owner should be.

Re: what you do own - furniture and decorations...you have to buy for where you are now and consider the scale of the furniture to the space, etc. If you buy pieces that are truly functional and won't fall apart in a future move, then likely you will be able to make them work in wherever you move next. I agree with Suzanne above - I have never bought everything at once (could never afford to, for one thing)...every time you introduce something new, it's an opportunity to rethink and re-design, a good practice for wherever you move next.

When I moved into my apartment, I had no idea how long I'd be staying, so I tried to spend the least amount possible (thrifted furniture, no painting or changing fixtures). Now I've been there over a year and a half, and it looks like I'll be staying, but now I have no desire to make any big changes! My lamps, rugs, and curtains all set a really nice mood to the place, & now I don't have any worries about moving out, when it's time. Glad to know I've saved money and can buy new things when I move into a more permanent space.

I'd recommend taking your decorating process slowly, and you may find that you can enjoy your space without having to put more work into it.

I always try to rent from individual owners that actually own the condo or house. If possible, I negotiate lower rent in exchange for my labor in upgrading the home. If the landlord actually owns the unit, they're usually open to this (if you can prove you do quality work). Even if they don't agree to lower rent, I have always gotten landlords to pay for the material (new blinds, paint, appliances, etc...) in exchange for me doing the actual work. That way I can enjoy the benefits, but not have to worry about painting back or taking things with me. It's a win/win for me, really.

If none of this flew, I would maybe paint one accent wall (I'm so over painting apartments back to white when moving out) or be creative with wall decor to be able to leave the walls white/beige. That way anything I spend money on I can take with me.

When I was renting apartments I would always develop a good relationship with the landlord or the manager. With some daily pleasantries and a plate of homemade cookies once a month or so I was able to pretty much do what I wanted. I got the management to tile my kitchen and bath, refinish my floors, install new appliances and a window AC unit. I was allowed to paint and change out the light fixtures. I was careful to always run my choices by them and show them what I did so they knew that I wasn't doing anything crazy. I usually left anything I installed so that I could have the fun of doing it at the next place.

I advise the typical Sandra Rinomato tip: live in it for a while, then decide what's necessary and what you can live with. Sometimes a little bit of elbow grease goes a LONG way.

If there are things you absolutely can't live with, try to be creative in your solution so that whatever you buy you can take with you, or sell. I have never gotten too caught up on the idea of "well what if it doesn't go well in my next place" because there will always be that certain someone who will want it on craigslist or ebay. Sure, you probably won't get what you paid for it, but the cost you lose is probably worth the happiness it gave to you in your old place :D

All the advice is good. Some things I've done:
1. nothing
2. switch shower head and save the old one
3. painted a bedroom - the ONLY reason was because the previous tenant smoked and it was GROSS, otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered
4. Tore out WTW carpet with the landlord's help, hardwood underneath :)

I would rather save money to buy a house. My rule is any money I spend, I need to be able to take it with me (quality furniture, kitchen supplies, etc.).

I only make cosmetic changes that can be easily un-done when I leave. If it's something that is broken, and I would like to be in charge of what it is replaced with, I have sometimes asked for a budget and then bought it myself, deducting the cost from the rent and including a receipt. (for example: chandelier over dining table came with apt. and one day caught fire. It had previously been a hideous brass thing, and I chose a much more attractive nickel one). I always paint though, and 2x times the next tenant has liked it so much they asked me not to re-paint it white. :-)

After owning a condo for 10 years and sinking over $70K in improvements that I did not even come close to recouping when I sold it http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/house-tours/house-tour-kathryns-loft-life-009235

I will soon be a renter and it's my goal to spend absolutely nothing in improvements!!

Start small and do a few additional things for every year that you stay. Invest only in stuff that will easily make the move from one place to another -- artwork is good for this (and can go along way toward making walls more bearable). A few good pieces of furniture that should fit whever you move will work too). I've lived in six different rentals since college and now that I'm settled in a house I own I wish I hadn't spent so much on the places that I was obviously only going to be in for a year or two.

I also wouldn't count on being able to re-use fixtures from one place to the next. You'd be surprised at how many different varieties and sizes are out there - as soon as you buy a single-handled faucet for the bathroom, your next place will have a two-handled sink.

Generally speaking, I wouldn't make any changes that don't "pay" for themselves during the time of your anticipated stay. You'd be better off saving that money as a down payment for a home/apartment/condo of your own (that you can customize to your heart's content) or for future upgrades when you're in a more permanent rental situation (having made a commitment to your job/neighborhood/relationship, etc).

When my girlfriend and I moved into our apartment we decided that we would gladly pay $10-15 more per month over two years if the few things we disliked were changed. With the landlord's permission, we painted white the ceiling, 70s wood paneling, and kitchen cabinets; put in a new shower head; installed some shelves; etc. All for less than the $250 we originally budgeted and we can take several of the items with us when we eventually move.

Am I the only one who's never had a landlord who either wouldn't allow painting or put it in the lease that you had to return the walls to their original colour? I've always been told by my landies that tasteful colours are A-OK.

If required, I will change light fixtures, paint, change hardware, put up shelves.

Personally, I always put in my own shower head! Also, at the moment my kitchen sink does not have a spray nozzle, which I hope to remedy soon. I hate painting, and my walls are neutral, so I'm not going to bother. However, I'd suggest trying an accent wall if you aren't going to be there long. There's less work but with a definite "pop" of color and personalization. Throw rugs and curtains can also make a huge difference and can usually be used in another dwelling.

I have always painted the walls, changed out light fixtures and added different draperies to add my own touch to the place. My motto is you can always take that with you {except the painted walls}
Strange they want you to paint it back. I guess it depends on how much the deposit is, if it ends up being the cost of re-painting back, then I would leave the walls.
I ended up helping our previous landlords sell their house as I had painted the walls colours that the buyers loved! They gave me one months rent back for that!

Congratulations on your first apartment!

Here is advice I wish I had followed:
- In the first year, buy good basics and only good basics. (For me it was mattress, couch....but no credit card purchase allowed!)

- Make a wish list and send a note to family and friends. (I promise you they have a ton of stuff they want to get rid of ...it won't be exactly what you would pick out, but it will save you thousands of dollars and they will be happy to help you out.)

That's it. Don't go shopping. Don't go to CB, WE, PB.

If you want something put it on the wishlist. If you don't get it in a month and you still want it/need it - shop craigslist for it.

Learn to live way under your means now. It will set a lifetime of good habits.

Good luck! Enjoy!!

I've painted and for me it wasn't worth it. I am big on changing out light fixtures though, because I hate ugly light. i bought this crazy chandelier for the kitchen, and it is what people notice most about my eating nook.

Also, i got a new toilet seat cover, new shower head, and new blinds, because those are such small things that why not. I also bought IKEA curtains, because they are cheap and make such a difference. Honestly, it is your home, assess what will make you happiest, if say you are snowed in you apartment for a week and you can't go anywhere. Would that be fresh walls, clean floors...only you can know.

I have been asking myself this question as well since I recently moved into my first 1 bedroom apartment with no roommates.

Since I plan to be in the space longer than one year but not likely more than two years, I have decided to invest in things that I can take with me to a new place when I move.

The first purchase was a nice quality sofa because I didn't have one & prior roommates had always supplied the sofa in any living arrangment that I've had. In the coming months, I plan to gradually purchase furniture, rugs, & artwork that I love but pieces that have some staying power & can come with me when I eventually decide to move.

My landlord told me that I could paint but was required to turn it back to renter's white when I left. The painting sounds like fun now, but I know that when I'm looking forward to moving into a new apartment the last thing I will want to do is stay behind at the old place & return the paint job to the original color. Instead, I'm going to hang lots of artwork & colorful curtains to break up those monotonous white walls.

I have always rented. (I'm 50) so I have a liberal approach to the idea of recreating a rental space into my own.

The first concept is that I consider my damage deposit to be the price I pay to individualize my space. I paint the walls and hang things up and I am frankly not going to take the time to paint or spackly before moving. Most places I have lived in for around 5 years at a time, though, and the longest was 7 years.

As I said, I always paint and hang art and pictures and shelves. I always trade out the showerhead and I leave it when I go. We have usually had to change the two prong electrical outlets to three prongs as well since we like older places and those tend to be two prong.

Other than that, it really depends on the place. I usually do improvements in the yard, to include raised beds for gardens if there is no space or if the garden space significantly needs improvement. I do get permission to improve the outside, although it usually shocks my landlords how much money I put into the outside (I love to garden.)

the place we live now: we replaced the kitchen lights (open florescent bulbs with no covers are unacceptable to me) - We repainted the bathroom extensively (purple badly sponge painted walls - no way) and we have hung a nice coat rack in the living room that we will leave (due to the holes for the strong support we needed to make it stay)

We also traded out the cabinet and drawer pulls in the kitchen as well. and the landlord does a crappy job of ant extermination, so we hired someone to do that too.

We are planning on looking for a place in 2012 (our sister is moving in with us and we want a larger place with better appliances) so that will make 4 years in this house. We leave it significantly improved but are pretty sure we will not get the deposit back. ah well.

I have been a renter, and then an owner, and now back to a renter (most of my life having been spent in rentals) and here is my recommendation: There is something about your current place that made you want to live in it, whether it is the size of the rooms the views from the windows, the kitchen layout... Whatever it is that you love about where you live is what you should play up, downplay what you don't like about it. But don't invest a lot of money in a rental, as you will always come out behind in the end.

Instead, start saving for your perfect first home. If you find a faucet set you like, put that money into a "house fund" account and keep a list of what you're saving for. The longer you live in your apartment, the more you will get excited about owning your own place, and the more you will have for improvements when you take the step to buy.

Renting is like dating: until you have the paper in your hand that says it belongs to you, you should only put into it what you don't mind taking away from your future "relationship."

Given that this is your first apartment and that it's a live-in with a boyfriend, I would seriously recommend focusing money and effort on things you can take with you. Get a feel for running and enjoying your own place. Setting up house takes money. It's amazing how fast money vaporizes when purchasing spatulas, pots and pans, towels, brooms, and *stuff*.

If you do go ahead with modifications, run choices by the landlord, as others have suggested, and get it in email or writing somehow (not just verbally). Make sure they confirm their OK in writing. Some landlords will take advantage of younger tenants; it happened to me in my first rental after college!

Best of luck in your new home! :)

We've never lived in an apartment and NOT improved it! That's probably because we have more creativity, time, and energy than we have money (like to get a nicer apartment!). Painting is so inexpensive and easy (really it takes a day or less!) that I would say for sure do it because it makes such a huge impact!

As for other things, make changes that will really make you happier to live there AND that you can also take with you. For several apartments I've switched out the crappy showerhead in the bathroom for a nicer luxury style. All year I have a more enjoyable shower and then when I move out I just put a new economy showerhead back on (in the same style as the original, usually like 3 bucks) and take my nice one with me to my new place! So if installing a new kitchen faucet will make you happy every time you use the sink, go for it! Just save the old one to put back on before you move out.

Depends on what sort of person you are. I rented for years in multiple places and NEVER painted because I'm a last-minute kind of guy and moving is always hellish, and I'm not adding another step to it (repainting). An organized person could pull it off, but not me!

Also, my taste runs bright/deep, so would take multiple coats to cover. MAYBE I couldn't done an accent wall, but no trim no way never.

As and artist & traveler, I always had lots to put on my walls. I started collecting textiles after traveling in India because you can stuff them in a backpack and they won't break. I always spent money on lighting because you want to light your collection, and because it really transforms a place.

In the "must be re-painted to white" catagory:
My daughter and I recently painted her icky cheap buff/white apartment a much nicer and better quality pearl gray-white. It was just a matter of getting rid of the Institutional Buff and she can live with it happily for the next 18 months.

Sometimes it's just the crummy shade the landlord chose.

So much good advice! When I moved in with my roommate we both knew we wanted to paint everything. We picked out colors for every room and went to town before we put too many large pieces of furniture in it. It made a great deal of difference to the feel of the apartment and it helped to showcase some of the nice molding in our place. We didn't know how long we would be there but ended up staying for 3 years so it was totally worth it. I wish my new apartment would let us paint because I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Also, another vote for changing the showerhead. It is a wonderful thing to have!

The best advice I can give you is to live there for a few months before you spend any money improving things--especially since this is your first apartment.

I've lived in several apartments over the past several years, but one year ago, I finally settled down in a one-bedroom (sans roommate). I choose the place carefully, knowing I wanted to find a place where I would want to live for a while (i.e. years).

For the first few months, I made no changes. I just allowed myself to live in the space, with my current belongings, to best figure out what worked, what didn't work, and what I wanted out of the space.

In the months after that, I have slowly made changes. I purchased a new bed (which is something I'll have for a long time--regardless of where I live). I chose to paint, and while I paid for the paint, I don't have to paint it back when I move out (nor will I lose any of my security deposit) due to an arrangement with the landlord. I have purchased window coverings, new light fixtures, new art, and slowly have been acquiring new furniture (mainly off of CL--project furniture).

When I purchase furniture or window coverings or light fixtures or art, I am thinking specifically of my current home. However, I do plan to take all of these items with me (and put the items that came with the apartment back up when I move out).

It is a personal choice, but I really think you've got to live in your space, with your current belongings, for a few months before you go shopping. Otherwise, you'll end up with a lot of things you don't actually want or need.

Good luck!

Oh, one more thing:

I would be cautious about making joint-purchases with a boyfriend or roommate. I've done this in the past (when it comes to decor items and household items), and it can be messy when you move out or (heaven forbid) break up.

I don't have a roommate anymore, but I would recommend having a clear distinction as to who owns what--especially when it comes to larger, more expensive purchases or purchases that work in some sort of set or design scheme. Otherwise, you'll end up fighting over little things or stuck with a bunch of items you can't use, post move-out.

Just a thought... :)

Someone earlier suggested budgeting a month's rent toward making the place yours. I think that's a great rule of thumb: it scales up what you can buy as you can afford more. When I moved into my new apartment, we'd budgeted for a broker's fee but ended up not having to pay one after all (long story), so instead we put that money toward new furniture and other ways to make the space feel like home. It's good it worked out that way, too -- I discovered my old couch wouldn't have fit up the stairs anyway!

I also like the suggestion to wait a month after moving before you do anything major. You'll discover which spaces you gravitate toward and which are underused. Then spend your cash on improving the layout and making the parts of the place you use most even more comfortable.

Also, small, less-permanent changes often make huge differences: curtains, area rugs, wall decals, things like that. Changing fixtures (aside from replacing the showerhead) is often not worth the trouble, as they either become property of the landlord or are unlikely to fit in the next place you move to.

As several people have noted, what you do to your apartment depends on the money, time and energy available. Be it painting, window treatments, shelving, etc. you should do those changes you feel you are capable of easily accomplishing. I've heard of wealthy people hiring contractors and decorating apartments they would only occupy for 6 months. The landlord doesn't mind because they get a fabulously decorated apartment after the person moves out.

As for myself I don't like moving so I prefer to stay as long as possible and over time make over the space the way I want it. I also tend to limit my changes to projects which can be reversed and/or removed when I leave. I have done everything from painting, to hanging 175 linear feet of shelving, to changing out faucets and appliances, all of which are reversible.

Good Luck!

i just moved into a new place and could be there for a year or more. i'm trying to customize with the budget from my security deposit from my previous lease. it's a good goal and is fun to search for gems at thrift stores that add your personality to the new space!

My boyfriend and I just moved into our first place (on our own without roommates or parents) and I'm in the same situation. It's a 1950's duplex and I love it, even the paint... I just dread the kitchen & the bathroom. It's the two toned tile. I know if I could change it, I would be 1000x more happy there and I would probably stay longer (3 years estimating). It's just finding a way to ask the landlord if she'll knock it off the rent. I live near the beach and I know the small reno's I want to do would drastically improve the place and she could easily knock up the rent $300 a month after we moved out purely based on location. I just need to find the courage to ask.

I started painting my apartments in about 2004; I'd already been renting for almost a decade, and while I wasn't ready to buy, I couldn't stand the anonymity any longer. One thing I found: As a nonsmoking professional adult with no pets and decent credit, potential landlords wanted me as a renter. So I used that and asked upfront, before anything was signed and as a potential condition of moving in, whether I could paint. Everyone was fine with it, though they all asked for no dark colors, a condition I didn't mind. Essentially, they usually have to repaint between tenants anyway. It's not that big a thing for them. They mostly fine people just as a way to get cash. But if you ask upfront, a lot of them will go for it. If you know in advance that you intend to sign for more than one year, that is a huge bargaining chip and almost any landlord will agree to painted walls in order to ensure regular tenancy of the apartment.

I made a few mistakes with paint colors over the years! But when I finally bought my first place, I had the benefit of that experience and ended up with colors I love.

I definitely agree with what pretty much everyone else is saying:
-live in the apartment for a month or two before you start changing things--that will give you a chance to figure out what you can live with, and what is going to drive you nuts if you don't change.
-how long are you planning on being in the apartment? All of my previous apartments had been one-year-and-then-moving-on deals, so I did little to nothing to them. My current apartment, though, is one I plan on staying put in until I buy a place (which is a loooong way off), so I'm putting much more work into it--painting walls and kitchen cabinets, replacing lighting fixtures, putting up back splashes and shelves, and now I'm considering replacing a horrid hollow-core door (the only one not original to the 1910s in the unit!)

I'm a huge proponent of making an apartment your own, especially if you plan on staying for a few years! :-)

My first apartment, I painted the entire space, had custom draperies made for the walls of windows in the LR, BR, and DR, restored the built-in hutch in the kitchen, installed new base cabinets on the other side of the kitchen, and laid new kitchen flooring. (I also stuck a plaster knife into an electric socket in the dining room, which threw me across the room, bounced me off the opposite wall, and knocked me out. Haven't done that since.) The landlord must have been astonished when I moved out, because it looked like a drug den when I moved in. I got my deposit back.

First apartments are insane. You want to do everything because it's your first personal space. But it's nuts. Make all the changes in your mind, and save the money for a down payment and the improvements you will want to make when you are a first time home owner.

I've found the biggest bang for my buck in a rental is a coat of neutral paint, followed by changing out dated knobs, lights and window hardware/curtains --all of which you can take with you. I also fix or get the landlord to fix the obvious things like loose trim and dripping faucets. A fresh, clean "box" makes all the difference, even if your mattress is on the floor. Painting cabinets and replacing fixtures generally are not worth it in a rental.

I used to spend a ton of time and money on making improvements to apartments. What I decided over time is that my money was better spent buying furniture and art (like Chickysoup said) that could travel well and make me feel comfortable wherever I landed. But I know people who paint every single time.

My two exceptions: showerhead and toilet seat. I change those out when I move into a new place.

For me, the important thing about changing stuff in a rental is that I have to be able to change it back, leave it behind, or pay for it. I change out showerheads, towel bars, light fixture covers, etc.; but I always save the old ones to put back when/if I move again. They belong to my landlord, not to me.

(Unless I went in on it with the landlord) I'd never change out something like a toilet in a rental, because where on earth could I store the old one until I moved out?

Don't do much. If you do anything, do it now as a year will fly by. I wouldn't even paint for a year and I actually enjoy painting. Certainly don't change your bathroom fixtures. I would change light fixtures.

I painted my bathroom recently, but only because there was a mold issue. My landlord sent his handyman to remediate the mold, but he never painted, so I did it. Otherwise I just hang things and decorate using items that are all move-able to a new place. Keep in mind if you do move, whether it's to another rental or a home you own, the stuff you buy might not fit. So I don't even spend a lot on things that might not fit, like curtains, etc.

I could not agree more with the commenter who suggested becoming friendly with the landlord/super. In my first place, I was friendly and always on time with the rent and when it came time to move out, I asked the landlord if he would like me to repaint and he said no and even helped me breakdown some shelving that wasn't going with me. The flooring was damaged during the move-out, but he still returned my deposit in full.

In our current place, we invited the super over frequently enough that his wife noticed a few fixtures weren't my taste and she suggested that they replace them. So I got those updated for free, without even asking. They've even suggested we use the building painter to paint our place when I asked about changing the colors.

Be nice, be neat, be patient and be friendly and you'll save yourself a ton of hassles. I guess that's good life advice, too.

Because I move so often I only ever end up staying at a place for about a year. So I only make simple home improvements that I can switch back and take with me; door knobs, switch plates, shower heads, light fixtures and so on. The most I would ever consider changing is maybe a faucet or a toilet if its gross.
I've NEVER painted. I just don't have a problem with white walls like other people do I guess, though that might have to do with the first place I rented... it was a really old military house so it had seen a lot of traffic. The walls had been painted over and over so many times that the walls just looked gross. I might consider a temporary wall paper though.

A few things to consider from a landlord's perspective.

We generally don't mind if you paint or want to make small changes, but tastes are subjective - there's a reason why beige walls and white trim are so popular! Always ask for permission before making changes - our general assumption is that you'll leave the place as you found it. If we need to spend money to put it back to "normal" then its your security deposit that we spend. Recent tenants painted a room to be a nursery for their daughter and it looked beautiful - but we can't risk turning off future tenants that don't want a purple bedroom with butterfly borders.

Most landlords are willing to invest in their properties over time, but exchanging rent for upgrades doesn't always make financial sense. Sure, it might be something that will increase the rent when you move out in five years, but we still have to pay the mortgage every month. In some situations, you're basically asking the landlord to dip into their own money or savings to finance your upgrades and hope that it pays off in the end. Can you see why some are reluctant, even though they're supportive of the general idea? And we barely know you, so assuring us that you know what you're doing isn't a guarantee of anything - build a relationship with us first.

Finally, keep in mind that security deposits are meant to be a last-resort option to protect the landlord. Most of the time, they're not enough to cover the full cost of labor and materials for several repairs. Replacing carpet and flooring, repainting...these cost hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars. And the landlord can't rent to new tenants until the repairs are completed. So please don't treat the security deposit as a "payment in lieu" to alleviate your responsibilities under your lease. Your landlord may just decide to sue you for the full costs of the repairs and work...and if you haven't gotten written permission for the changes, you're going to lose in court.

I think the most important thing would be this: stay versatile. In our last apartment, my finace and I bought a large sectional sofa that fit really nicely in that room. Now in our new place the living room has awkward door placements and it doesn't fit as well. It would have been better for us to buy two smaller sofas instead of the sectional. If you plan on moving again soon, think ahead and try to be sure that whatever you buy, you'll be likely to use it again in another place (unless it's inexpensive enough to get rid of when you move).

Also, keep in mind that you might want to change color schemes, etc, and buy either neutrals or things that can be changed (like the Ikea furniture with replaceable covers).

As far as painting goes, I say just check with your landlord and then decide if it's worth it based on their preferences. Some landlords don't care if you paint, some are insistent that you paint it back when you move out (and do you really want to do that in the middle of moving?) Same goes with fixtures. Good luck and have fun with your new apartment!

Wow, A LOT of comments. Still, I do have something to add. Early on, we would never have spent money to really fix up an apartment. It wasn't ours, so why bother.

But I'm older now, single. While "I'm not dead yet", I realize my days of moving ever couple of years has ended. I've been here now over 10 years. This is where I LIVE. So now? I'm replacing that kitchen counter I hate! I'm painting wall, DOORS! This is my home and I want it to BE a home, not just some place I live.

It's up to you how much money you spend. How badly you need to change something or can you just live with it. Just know the obvious. Whatever you do isn't yours. That money is gone other than the joy the changes bring you. You're fixing up someone else's property.

I think it's really silly to renovate a place that you're living in for a year. Totally agree w/other commenters about replacing small, but important things like shower heads, etc, that you can take with you and will be usable in your next place.

It's smarter to save up until you either buy a place or move into an apartment you plan to rent for several years and THEN think about renovating.

Other than paint, I follow one very simple rule with changing my rental: You can't take it with you.
I've invested a lot of time and effort into our home, but everything I have done is something I can move with me and change as my tastes and my needs change. I have several chairs that have been in multiple rooms throughout our house, and I've made a lot of changes to them. I've also purchased rugs and curtains. But they can all easily be taken to wherever I go next.

Keep in mind there's no rush to do anything. Live in it awhile and make a list of what you dislike the most and want to change. Also the previous advice of running what you want to do by the owner or manager before you do it is a good idea. What you want to change or add may end up being something they have considered doing but haven't gotten around to doing. Who knows, they might be willing to pay for the materials if you do the work or shopping depending on what it is.

My prescription --

New light fixtures, new outlets and switchplates (if covered in paint/dirt), new toilet seat, new showerhead, paint. It's cheap, landlords generally don't care about stuff like that, and changing these things makes the apartment feel new.

Well did your landlord actually say the possibilities are endless? Personally I don't see the point in putting a lot of money into a rental, unless the money is for things you can take with you. Paining and putting up artwork is one thing, but any other permanent changes seem like a waste to me. Invest in some nice furniture instead.