How I Upgraded My Rental Apartment (Before& Afters!)
How I Upgraded My Rental Apartment (Before& Afters!)
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Hey guys! I’m Alexandra Gater and I show you how to do rental-friendly upgrades and DIY projects on a budget. New videos every Saturday and vlogs on Wednesdays! Today I’m walking you through my favourite ways you can make your rental apartment beautiful with 10 easy renter-friendly changes for every room in your home!
Products mentioned in this video:
Links marked with a AF are affiliate links. That means I receive a percentage of the revenue made from purchasing products through this link. Products marked with * means they were gifted to me from brands but I was not paid to feature them in this video.
Canadian links:
Birdcage Light: https://fave.co/3cI119U *
Floor Light: (Not in stock anymore but this is the collection) https://www.target.com/p/project-62-leanne-ford-lighting-collection/-/A-54381644
Sofa: https://fave.co/2S7JNaY AF *
Bemz Cover: https://fave.co/2WTcDCq AF * (my cover is the Zaragoza Vintage Velvet Cover in the colour Clover)
Pink Adhesive Tiles: https://fave.co/3bv4vw7 AF *
Tile Mat: https://fave.co/2Sf9M3t AF
Hexagon Knobs: https://fave.co/3bukPNL AF *
Brass knobs: https://amzn.to/2yAmi6B AF *
Towel Hook: https://fave.co/2Kxb7ht AF
Shell Knobs: (Not shown online) https://fave.co/2SUCzL5 AF
Curtain Rod: https://fave.co/2KypdPN AF
Pom Curtains: https://fave.co/3bvQONf AF
Command Hooks: https://amzn.to/3cJ0Pqz AF *
Brick Clips: https://amzn.to/3eCw74t AF *
Mixtiles: https://fave.co/3aEkQgK
Printable Concept Shop: https://theprintableconcept.com
Juniper Print Shop: https://juniperprintshop.com
Etsy knob (gold leaves cabinet knob): https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/775231909/1pc-hollow-leaves-door-knobs-cabinet?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=knobs&ref=sr_gallery-3-8&frs=1
VdeV knob with tassel: https://www.vdevmaison.com/quincaillerie/poignaes/27166-VERT
Amaozon knobs: https://amzn.to/2VEaLvO
U.S. Links:
Birdcage Light: https://fave.co/2XVVW9J AF
Floor Light: (Not in stock anymore but this is the collection) https://www.target.com/p/project-62-leanne-ford-lighting-collection/-/A-54381644
Sofa: https://fave.co/3awg7xz AF *
Bemz Cover: https://fave.co/2WTcDCq AF * (my cover is the Zaragoza Vintage Velvet Cover in the colour Clover)
Pink Adhesive Tiles: https://fave.co/3bv4vw7 AF *
Tile Mat: https://fave.co/2Sf9M3t AF
Hexagon Knobs: https://fave.co/2xvRgsN AF *
Brass knobs: https://amzn.to/34VatUo AF *
Towel Hook: https://fave.co/2Kxb7ht AF
Shell Knobs: (Not shown online) https://fave.co/2SUCzL5 AF
Curtain Rod: https://fave.co/2YcmeVr AF
Pom Curtains: https://fave.co/2Y0WECC AF
Command Hooks: https://amzn.to/2Ko6h67 AF *
Brick Clips: https://amzn.to/2VsZ7nr AF *
Mixtiles: https://fave.co/3aEkQgK AF
Printable Concept Shop: https://theprintableconcept.com
Juniper Print Shop: https://juniperprintshop.com
What I’m wearing:
Free people tunic: https://fave.co/354bCsW AF
Let’s be friends:
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Shop my Amazon store U.S.: https://www.amazon.com/shop/alexandragater
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Retro label maker I use: https://amzn.to/2J7Ukk8 *
GET IN TOUCH:
Alexandra Gater
P.O. Box 68555 Walmer
Toronto, ON
M5S 3C9
EMAIL:
hello@alexandragater.com
Thank you so much to each and every one of you for your continued support. I get to make these videos for a living, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it.
Video shot by Carla Antonio: http://www.carlaantonio.com/
Edited by: James Resendes: https://vimeo.com/jamesresendes
All music sourced by licensing.
All opinions are my own. It’s important to hire licensed professionals for certain projects; if you’re unsure or unqualified, please don’t attempt any projects seen in my videos yourself.
How did you fix the bottom of that cupboard door. Is it press board? You also don’t mention that you put a new sink and faucet in your kitchen. So it is not just the backsplash and the door handles that help the look of the room.
That upcycled kitchen is my absolute favorite!! 😍
I wanna learn about squarespace when I search for a rental upgrade thank you disliked.
the tiles are absolutely amazing!
I have been binging your videos so much that I am dreaming of curtains with pompoms lmao
Where did you get the vinyl for your kitchen counters? I absolutely love the wood look.
what about curtain installation in a toronto downtown condo? with a glass window wall 🙁 and there’s only steel wall on one side and drywall on the other end and it’s 117 inches wide. I think we need a ceiling mounted curtain rod but there’s an air vent above the drywall in the ceiling. My boyfriend and I are n’t sure if we should get these professionally installed or if it’s even possible to mount them there.
I just moved to a new rental and these are great tips!
Can I use vinyl flooring on my shower floors or will the water get stuck underneath and ruin the floors?
Thank you so much for all the great ideas. Gave me some inspiration to redo my bathroom. Hopefully after all this pandemic craziness I would like to have you redo my brother’s living room in Toronto. He’s a little too fragile to do all the work necessary himself if we did it virtually. He has a great sense of style and is a minimalist which for me is a challenge. The good news is that he is not afraid of colour.
Did you paint your cabinets? I have those old 80s cabinets in my apt I rent And I would love to paint over them but I’m unsure more or less how to do it and the "wood" part is falling apart.
I changed my knobs and curtain rod and it did make a big difference. 🙂
I dont ask my landlord nothing he wasn’t his when I moved in so he don’t know how my apartment looked to begin with if he dont like it sew him he a jackass anyways …anyways great video very helpful 😀
1. Change overhead lights
2. Determine the problem areas
3. Invest in a customized couch cover
4.Invest in pieces you really love
5. Change out your tiles
6. Change handles/knobs
7. Change curtain rods
8. Change your curtains
9. Hang Artwork
10. Paint
I dont use the word hate very often but i really really hate renter beige…. *sighs in despair*
Can I use the peel and stick over ceramic if there’s already ceramic??? Any tips?
Tie your hair back !!!
Hi loved this video. Can you tell me how you managed to create the circle behind the bed? Many thanks.
I keep spackle and wall patches. When I change a picture, I patch the area. I keep stuff like that in my tool kit. You can even buy stuff like that from the dollar store. Also, get some old jars and keep little bit of paint to touch up patched areas.
This is such a great video! You’ve given me so many ideas, thank you!! x
Your landlord gave you permission to remove the closet fixtures?? Did you have to put that back when you moved out?
great tips!! thank you!
You have to be a teacher lol
11:53 ur cat says she owns ur life
LOVE this! Where did you get your headboard from? I’m looking for the same aesthetic for my new apartment☺️
Hi, any suggestions on space/ galaxy/ sky themed wallpapers for a kid’s room?
That cutting into that box 🤣
Loved it all!
WOW this is so helpful! Thank you Alexandra! Love your apartment!
Great tips, thanks a million! Love your cat. Umbra is very stylish and practical.
My rental house kitchen top is painted white by owner. What can i stick on it without damaging paint
Wow, that was very informative! Thank you!! I think I just might do all seven! You are awesome! Be safe out there ❤️
Thanks for all the great tips!
Great ideas, and your kitty is GORGEOUS!
Love this video! Maybe add # 11 how to decorate your space with PLANTS!!!!! Displaying them in creative ways: hanging, placing on shelves, using chic, but inexpensive baskets, pots, cans, DIY planters, etc.! This could be a whole video! Thoughts? Maybe you already have a video like this!
These are all really good but always remember to read through your entire lease – mine very specifically says that I can’t put any holes in the woodwork and I can’t use adhesive hangers on the walls. I had to move in a hurry or else I wouldn’t have lived here because of a lot of strange caveats (required neutral curtains that they don’t provide you with a rod for, not allowed to use the w/d after 10, other oddly specific stuff). I’m absolutely not going to follow the lease to the letter but it’s always good to know so you can know what needs to be fixed before you leave if you’re really invested in getting your deposit back
In the before / after comparison of the kitchen, the countertop, sink, and faucet are different. Was that you or the landlord?
Had to stop watching for a while. Because I tired to design. Failed then got all sad.
If you can’t change the light, and you can change the bulb, consider that. Most rental offices use light bulbs that are not energy efficient. Keep the old bulb to replace if you move, but it makes such a difference in energy efficiency and cost of electric use. LED bulbs use so much less energy and your electric bills will show it.
I never get tired of seeing that cat box hack. Bravo!
LOVE your videos! I see that you have a brick wall, what are your thoughts on that? We just bought a house and has a dark red brick wall. We are thinking to paint it white but couldn’t make up our minds. Any suggestions?
Your hacks are so expensive…if you can work on affordable hacks then i think it would be very much appreciated…
were you born and raised in Toronto? You’re the only torontonian I know of that pronounces the second T
Renter beige disgusts me
Please never stop. I just recently found your channel and I am so hooked and I find you to have such great videos ON TOP of great skills and advice. I had seen your closet into office video when it came out and I enjoyed as well but I never looked into you after that. I’m glad I’m back.
Where did you get your bedroom rug from!!!!
wow, thanks so much for providing links to the products so thoroughly! I love watching YouTube makeover to help me decide on products and it helps when I can click on a link to buy too 🙂
You have SUCH a creative mind and this video was soooo helpful!
What do you recommend for curtains, when you need blackout curtains? I have blackout curtains on my huge bay window that is west facing. Without them my apartment gets SO HOT, but they are really dark colored. Any tips for making blackout curtains feel more light and airy?
this was soooo helpful, thank you!