I transformed my bathroom ‘hospital floor’ with a £19 rental-friendly buy
IF your rental property could use some updating, this woman’s bathroom renovation might inspire some confidence.
The Reddit user showed off the DIY glow-up she achieved with a lick of paint and a cheap Amazon purchase.
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In her Reddit afterUser Suitable-Party-675 gave a comparison of her handy work.
The poster said she wanted to breathe new life into her rented bathroom.
She described the basic layout when she first moved in. This can also be seen in the photo from before.
While the walls were the standard magnolia paint, she called the sand-colored background “a hospital-like floor.”
The tenant added a pop of color to the room with a tropical leaf bath mat and parrot-print shower curtains.
Ultimately, she decided to put more effort into the space and opted for a number of landlord-approved improvements.
“I painted all the walls, sanded the skirting boards, shelves and door and brightened everything up with white paint suitable for wood,” she says.
She chose a deep forest green color for the walls and hung a hanging basket on the wall.
The Redditor said she also “installed vinyl flooring and used caulk” to ensure the flooring stayed in place without moisture getting trapped underneath.
She explained how she could renovate the floor without violating the terms of her lease.
“It’s vinyl that you can stick and seal yourself, and the caulk keeps the edges from lifting,” she said.
The tenant was able to transform her entire floor for just £40 using the temporary vinyl.
A roll of Cushioned Vinyl PVC Flooring is available for £19.47 from Amazon.
The Reddit user opted for a light gray wooden floor look.
She added that there wasn’t much she could do about the permanent fixtures, such as the towel rail, radiator and bath.
To brighten up the space, she added lighting elements made of stick and peel material to the walls.
More DIY hacks suitable for rentals
You don’t have to make permanent or expensive changes to improve your space. Here are some tenant-friendly renovation tricks you can try.
Handles
You can buy inexpensive handles from DIY stores and use them to brighten up your kitchen cabinets or interior doors.
Kitchen cabinets
You can also spruce up your cabinets with vinyl siding. It’s a quick and easy way to transform your kitchen that’s easy to undo if you move.
To paint
Adding a splash of color to your walls can be a cheap and effective way to quickly spruce up your space. Just be sure to check your lease first.
Lighting fixtures
You can upgrade your lighting with a quick trip to a home improvement store. Replace the classic Ikea shade with something a little more expensive that you can easily remove and take with you when your lease is up.
Floor tiles
Whether in your shower or on your kitchen wall, stick and peel tiles can quickly and cheaply brighten up your home.
Reddit users shared their thoughts on the transformation in the comments.
“What a difference! You did such a great job, well done with the peel and stick lights too!” wrote one reader.
“Looks amazing, great job! I love that shade of green,” said another person.
“Beautiful work, I love it,” commented another impressed Reddit user.
“You did really well,” wrote a fourth commenter.
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