5 Easy, Renter-Friendly DIYs Turned This Kitchen into a Cottagecore Dream
We all know that small design changes can make a big impact. And if you’re making those small changes to a small kitchen, then that impact is doubled. (It’s real math, don’t question it.)
The cozy kitchen in Allie’s Denver apartment was off to a good start, with bright natural light and pretty off-white cabinetry. But she knew some simple tweaks could transform it into a warm and cozy, vintage-inspired space — all while keeping her security deposit intact. She came up with a few ideas and then hit The Home Depot®. Both in-store and online, the Home Depot has a huge selection of DIY supplies plus on-trend and affordable home furnishings that helped Allie bring her vision to life. Here’s what she did.
Add Peel-and-Stick Style
It’s hard to beat “instant marble backsplash.” Allie grabbed some vinyl peel-and-stick tiles in a classic gray marble design to add texture and visual interest to her kitchen walls. Installation couldn’t be simpler: Just cut, peel, and stick! These tiles even have the glossy, reflective sheen of real marble — plus, they’re easily removed when Allie wants to move or just change things up.
Then Allie repeated the process on her beige laminate countertop, giving it a fresh look with new peel-and-stick shelf liner. The finish mimics real wood grain, and the light oak color adds that warm and cozy vibe. It’s a great contrast to the room’s creamy neutral color scheme.
Incorporate Curtains for Softness
Allie’s lovely open shelving helps her kitchen feel airy and spacious. But the challenge with any open storage is keeping your items display-ready all the time. The existing sheer curtains weren’t the most stylish solution, so Allie created a more design-minded “open-ish” look instead. She swapped in light-filtering cafe curtains, cleverly positioning them to cover two-thirds the width and the height. This positioning strikes an appealing pretty balance between open and covered, and the natural burlap curtains and oil-rubbed bronze curtain rod create a warm, earthy texture. So do the wicker storage baskets that Allie added to the exposed row of shelving.
At the window, Allie used her sewing skills to get extra creative. She picked up these beautiful ticking stripe curtains and turned one panel into a chic faux roman shade, imparting a French cottage feel. A simple tension rod keeps the effect clean.
Layer in On-Theme Finishing Touches
The details bring all these big changes to life as a cohesive new look. One of the most impactful — and easiest! — changes was a simple hardware swap: Allie replaced her old cabinet knobs with new ones in antique brass, for a vintage-inspired touch that complements her other DIYs.
Then she incorporated small accents in natural materials, earthy colors, and antique styles. A resin table lamp illuminates a dim corner of the counter, and a mango wood serving bowl keeps fruit handy while adding warmth and richness. Even salt and pepper shakers are an opportunity for a stylish moment: This natural wood set has an eye-catching geometric inlay for extra texture. This black marble crock keeps Allie’s cooking utensils tidy, plus it’s another instance of marble and wood: a key part of her kitchen’s new aesthetic!