Making a Rental Kitchen Feel Like Home—Without a Renovation
When I started renting my 1922 Craftsman cottage in early 2021, I fell in love with its original hardwood floors, chunky baseboards, and old-house charm. But while the front half of the house was full of character, the back half—especially the kitchen—felt bland and uninspired.
The kitchen, though functional, lacked counter space, storage, and, most importantly, personality. It was also very green, which wasn’t exactly my vibe. Since a full renovation wasn’t an option, I had to get creative to make it feel like home. Here’s how I did it—all while keeping it rental-friendly!
1. A Fresh Coat of Paint
First, the green had to go. In a rush, I painted it Gentle Rain by Behr before moving in. While I probably would’ve chosen differently had I tested samples first, it was still a major improvement!
2. A Dresser-Turned-Kitchen Island
With almost no counter space and a whopping two drawers in the entire kitchen, I needed storage—fast. After failing to find a budget-friendly island, I repurposed an antique dresser I already owned. It turned out to be the perfect solution, adding both function and vintage charm.
3. A Pop of Color & More Storage
Enter my grandmother’s rescued china cabinet (check out my Dumpster to Dream Piece post for the transformation!). It fit the space perfectly, adding a much-needed pop of color and extra storage for kitchen essentials.
4. DIY Open Shelving
A big blank wall near the island was begging for some personality. I ordered handmade shelf brackets from BrownellnCo on Etsy, stained a couple of boards in Minwax Early American, and voilà—instant character! I mounted the shelves higher than usual (to avoid any head bumps in this busy passthrough area) and filled them with my favorite thrifted kitchen treasures.
I love the mix of thrifted and vintage items with personal touches. One of my sisters gifted me the jar on the bottom right - she saw it and knew I would love it. Billy’s family is originally from the same town that Bully Hill is in and we stop by the winery everytime we visit our family up there. I purchased the S&P salt and pepper shakers at a flea market on one of those visits. The vintage cheese board (right behind the S&P shakers) is one of my favorites. My mom has a great cheeseball recipe that Billy and I have started recreating and this board makes me think of her each time I use it. Everything else -with two exceptions- are finds on random flea market and thrift trips. The two stacked bowls towards the end on the upper left and the giant serving dish behind them are TJ Maxx finds!
5. Budget-Friendly Finishing Touches
To modernize the space on a dime, I spray-painted the silver cabinet handles black and added marble contact paper to the countertops. Both projects were easy, affordable, and made a huge difference!
The Results
Is it a perfectly designed kitchen? Nope. My dream kitchen? Also no. But it does feel uniquely me—all without breaking rental rules or my budget! Check out the after photos and some detail shots below.
How do you personalize a rental space? Drop your ideas in the comments! And stay tuned for more blogs and a whole new kitchen makeover in our new home! 😍
