Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Rental Apartment Decor That Finally Made My Place Feel Like I Own It
49
items Bare walls, builder-grade everything, and that beige carpet you didn't choose. If you've been staring at your rental thinking ‘this looks like nobody lives here,’ same. I spent two years slowly swapping in pieces that made my apartment actually feel ...
Sections
7
Living Room Pieces That Kill the Rental Vibe
Kitchen Upgrades That Hide Builder-Grade Everything
Bathroom Fixes for Spaces You Can't Renovate
Bedroom Pieces That Make Waking Up Less Depressing
Lighting That Eliminates the Overhead Fluorescent Nightmare
Entryway Organization for Apartments With No Mudroom
Living Room Pieces That Kill the Rental Vibe
Walking into my living room used to feel like entering a waiting room at a dentist's office. These pieces gave it actual personality without putting a single hole in the wall.
Grab this if your current coffee table is a sad folding thing from college. The caning detail makes it look like something from a boutique store, and I get compliments on it constantly. Took ten minutes to assemble.
Better Homes & Gardens Springwood Caning Coffee Table
Toss your blankets and throw pillows in these instead of leaving them piled on the couch like a nest. They instantly made my corner look intentional. Perfect for renters with no built-in storage.
Mainstays Oval Natural Seagrass Storage Basket
Swapped out the boob light energy of my old lamp for this one. The matte black frame made my whole living room feel five years more grown up. Use it behind a reading chair for that cozy pool of light.
Better Homes & Gardens 54" Matte Black Metal Floor Lamp
My beige carpet was giving ‘previous tenant’ energy. Layering this rug on top made it disappear. If you're renting and hate your floors, start here before you do anything else.
Mainstays Solid Off-White Shag Area Rug, Polyester, 5' x 7'
Keep a couple of these on your couch and suddenly it looks like you hired someone. The feather fill actually stays plump instead of going flat after one Netflix session. Way better than the poly-filled ones I tried first.
Better Homes & Gardens - Decorative Pillows & Throws
Use Command strips on the back and hang three of these in a row. Instant gallery wall, zero holes, full deposit back. I printed black and white photos from a drugstore for under five bucks each.
Mainstays 24x36 Black Flat Profile Wall Photo Frame
Set this on a side table with some dried eucalyptus and watch your living room go from ‘I just moved in’ to 'I've been here a while and I have my life together.' The wood stand gives it weight so it doesn't look cheap.
Better Homes & Gardens White Textured Ribbed Ceramic
Kitchen Upgrades That Hide Builder-Grade Everything
Nothing screams rental louder than those flat oak cabinets and laminate counters. These swaps tricked my brain into forgetting I don't own the place.
Swap these onto your cabinet doors in about twenty minutes. No drilling, just unscrew the old ones and pop these in. My kitchen went from 1998 to last weekend. Keep the originals in a bag for move-out day.
Design House T-Pull 1-1/2-inch Cabinet Knob
Leave this leaning against your backsplash when you're not using it. Doubles as decor and an actual cutting board. Way better than the plastic one I'd been hiding in a drawer for three years.
Better Homes & Gardens Natural Marble and Acacia Wood
Ditch the mismatched plates from your parents' donation pile. These matte gray ones make even scrambled eggs look like a restaurant plate. For anyone still eating off chipped college dishes, this is your sign.
Mainstays 12-Piece Stoneware Dinnerware Set Matte
Threw all my spatulas and wooden spoons in this and suddenly my counter looked styled instead of cluttered. The marble is heavy enough that it won't tip over when you jam a ladle in there.
Better Homes & Gardens Bamboo Square Utensil Holder
Pour your pasta, rice, and coffee into these and line them up. Your pantry shelf will look like a food blog. Took me five minutes and my roommate asked if I remodeled the kitchen.
Mainstays Glass Storage Canisters, Stainless Steel Lids
Get matching ones. Seriously. The random freebie towels from banks and car dealerships are dragging your kitchen down. These are thick, they actually dry dishes, and they hang nicely on the oven handle.
Better Homes & Gardens Kitchen Towel Set, 4pk, Blue, 18x28
Pour your dish soap into this and throw away the neon green bottle. It's a two-dollar fix that makes your sink area look intentional. I wish someone had told me this five apartments ago.
Mainstays Matte Ceramic Soap & Lotion Dispenser Pump
Bathroom Fixes for Spaces You Can't Renovate
My bathroom had pink tile from 1987 and a vanity that looked like it survived a flood. These additions distracted from all of it.
Use this if your bathroom has zero storage and you're keeping shampoo bottles on the floor like a college dorm. It slides right over the toilet, no drilling. Holds towels, candles, all of it.
Better Homes & Gardens Over-the-Toilet Bathroom Storage
Toss out the dingy bath mat you've had since your first apartment. Fresh white rugs make a bathroom look clean even when it's not. Throw them in the wash weekly and they hold up fine.
Mainstays Tufted Stripe 2 Piece Bath Rug Bundle
Swap your thin, scratchy towels for these. They're hotel-weight without the hotel price. I bought four in the same color and my bathroom finally looked like it belonged to an adult.
Better Homes & Gardens Thick & Plush Towel Collection
Fill these with cotton balls, Q-tips, and bath bombs. Line them up on your counter and suddenly your bathroom has a spa vibe. For anyone whose counter is currently a graveyard of random products, try this.
Set of 3 Glass Apothecary Jars with Lids
The plastic rings that came with your shower curtain rod are doing nothing for you. These bronze hooks slide smoothly and look like they belong in a remodeled bathroom. Takes two minutes to switch.
Better Homes & Gardens Bronze Beaded Shower Curtain
A good shower curtain hides a lot of sins. This one covered my ugly tile surround and gave the room a focal point. Pick one with texture or a subtle pattern instead of clear plastic.
Mainstays Black and White Dotted Stripe Fabric Shower
Hang this with Command strips or toggle bolts depending on your lease. Rolling up towels and placing them on a rack looks ten times better than draping them over the door. Small effort, big payoff.
Better Homes & Gardens Wall Mounted Cube Shelves, Set of 4
Bedroom Pieces That Make Waking Up Less Depressing
For months I slept in a room that had a mattress on the floor and one lamp. These are the pieces that turned it into a room I actually wanted to spend time in.
Get this if your mattress is still on the floor or on a squeaky metal frame from a college move. No box spring needed, and it makes the room look like you planned it. Assembly took me about 45 minutes solo.
Zinus Shalini 41" Upholstered Platform Bed, Dark Grey, Full
Sleeping on these versus my old polyester sheets was like upgrading from a bus seat to a cloud. If you've never spent more than twenty bucks on sheets, this is the move. Your sleep will actually improve.
Better Homes & Gardens 4-Piece 400 Thread Count Cotton
Pair this with good sheets and your bed suddenly looks like it belongs in a catalog. Everything matches, which sounds basic, but I spent years with a random quilt and two pillows that didn't go together.
Mainstays Reversible 7-Piece Bed in a Bag Comforter
Drape this across the foot of your bed. That's it. That one move makes your bed look styled instead of ‘I just pulled the comforter up.’ The waffle texture adds depth without being fussy.
Better Homes and Gardens Waffle Weave Cotton Bed
Clip this onto your headboard if you don't have nightstands yet. It frees up floor space and gives you directional light for reading. Way better than the overhead light that makes your room feel like a hospital.
Mainstays Adjustable Mini Clip Lamp, Black Metal, LED Bulb
Having a real nightstand instead of a cardboard box changed my mornings. There's a drawer for your charger and junk, and the top holds a lamp and water glass. Looks like real furniture because it is.
Better Homes & Gardens Juliet Nightstand with USB
Lean these against the wall on your nightstand or hang them above your bed. Botanical prints work in literally any rental because they're neutral but not boring. Command strips, no holes, no drama.
Mainstays Kids Flowers and Mushrooms 2-Piece Framed
Lighting That Eliminates the Overhead Fluorescent Nightmare
Rentals always have the worst lighting. That single dome light in the center of the ceiling makes every room feel like an interrogation. These fixed that problem in every room.
Scatter these around your living room and turn off the overhead light. Instant mood. They flicker like real candles but you won't burn your apartment down or lose your deposit. Set them on a timer so they turn on at sunset.
Flameless Candles 3-Clear Real Wax Home Decoration
Drape these along a bookshelf or window frame. They give off that warm golden glow that makes everything look better. If your apartment feels sterile at night, this is the fastest fix under ten dollars.
Mainstays Vintage LED Edison String Lights for Indoor
Put this on a console table or bookshelf for a warm pocket of light. It's small enough for tight spaces but bright enough to actually matter. Beats the floor lamp in the corner that lights up the whole ceiling.
Better Homes & Gardens Wood Grain Finish Table Lamp
Use this to bounce light off the ceiling instead of relying on that awful dome fixture. It creates ambient light that actually feels relaxing. I put one behind my couch and stopped using the overhead entirely.
Mainstays Floor Lamp, Black Metal with Natural Rope Shade
Keep this on your desk or entryway table. The frosted glass diffuses the light so it's soft, not harsh. Perfect for anyone who works from home and gets headaches from overhead fluorescents.
Better Homes & Gardens Glass Table Lamp
Clip this inside a bookshelf or onto a headboard. It creates little pockets of light around the room so you're not relying on one source. Think of it like accent lighting on a budget.
Football - University of Michigan Athletics
Okay this one is technically a candle, but the amber glass jar doubles as decor when it's not lit. The vanilla scent makes your apartment smell like you baked something even if you haven't turned on the oven in weeks.
Vanilla Cookie Crunch Scented Wax Melts, Better Homes
Entryway Organization for Apartments With No Mudroom
My front door opened directly into my living room. Keys on the counter, shoes everywhere, mail piling up. These pieces carved out an entryway that didn't exist before.
Push this against the wall by your front door. Bottom cubes hold shoes in baskets, top holds keys and mail. It creates a landing zone in apartments that have zero entryway space. Took me twenty minutes to build.
Better Homes & Gardens 4 Cube Storage Organizer, Black
Hang this on the back of your front door for jackets and bags. No holes, no tools, just hook it over the top. If you're currently draping your coat over a dining chair, this solves that immediately.
Generic Over-The-Door 6-Hook Rack, Bronze
Toss your shoes in this by the door instead of leaving them scattered. It looks intentional and keeps the floor clear. For anyone whose entryway currently looks like a shoe store exploded, start here.
Better Homes & Gardens Large Round Seagrass Storage
Put a print or photo in this and lean it on top of your cube organizer. It signals ‘someone lives here and cares’ the second you walk in. I used a free printable botanical from the internet.
Mainstays 8 x 10 Black Step Program Tabletop Picture Frame
Mount this with Command strips by your door. It has hooks for keys and a basket for mail. Everything that used to end up on my kitchen counter now has a home. Wish I'd done this on move-in day.
Better Homes & Gardens 23 inch Black Shelf with Gold
Slide this against the wall if you have a narrow hallway entry. Drop your keys, stack your mail, set a lamp on it. It creates the illusion of a real foyer even in a 600 square foot apartment.
Mainstays Westley Console Table, Warm Walnut
Lay this right inside your front door. It catches dirt, looks clean, and instantly makes your entrance feel polished. The natural fiber goes with everything and doesn't slide around on hard floors.
Customer reviews for Better Homes & Gardens Soleil
Small Details That Quietly Made Everything Look Expensive
These are the finishing touches that made visitors ask if I'd remodeled. None of them cost more than a decent lunch, and they took five minutes or less to set up.
Set this on a shelf or side table. It adds green without the guilt of killing another real plant. The pot it comes in actually looks decent, so you don't need to repot it. Zero maintenance, maximum effect.
Better Homes & Gardens Artificial Green Eucalyptus Plant
Drape this over a stack of books on your coffee table. It's one of those weirdly effective styling tricks that makes a surface look curated instead of cluttered. Takes three seconds to place.
Mainstays Indoor Oriental Minimalist Tabletop Home Décor
Put this on your bathroom counter or dresser. Corral your perfume, watch, and daily jewelry on it. Suddenly those loose items look like a display instead of a mess. The marble is real and feels solid.
Better Homes & Gardens Gold Cast Metal Decorative Tray
Swap out your black frames for one or two gold ones. Mix metals on a shelf and it looks layered and intentional. I put a photo of my dog in this one and it somehow made my whole bookshelf look better.
Mainstays 5x7 Picture Frame
Leave this on your dining table with some faux fruit or wooden spheres. It anchors the table so it doesn't look empty when you're not eating. Doubles as a catch-all for keys if you put it by the door.
Better Homes & Gardens Ivory Woven Ceramic Decorative
Line these up on a windowsill or bathroom shelf. They look real enough that I've had guests try to water them. Perfect for anyone who wants plant vibes without the responsibility of keeping something alive.
(4 pack) Mainstays 4.33" Artificial Succulent Plant
Prop up a few books between these on a shelf. It makes your bookshelf look like it was arranged on purpose rather than just stuffed. The bronze finish ties in with hardware and lamp finishes around the room.
Better Homes & Gardens Wood and Marble Bookends