10 Simple Changes You Can Make To A Small Apartment Kitchen To Make It Look Expensive

Rental kitchens can be a mixed bag. Some are cursed with decades-old appliances, dingy light fixtures, and a lack of space, all of which make cooking a challenge. Others are new and filled with builder-grade elements that do the trick function-wise but lack personality or charm and often look cheap. There are, however, a number of cool and inexpensive ways you can upgrade this space to make it beautiful. Thankfully, upgrades such as changing out hardware and light fixtures and covering unsightly surfaces can have your small apartment kitchen looking much more elevated and luxurious. They're also temporary enough that you can still get your security deposit back when you move out. 

Not only are most of these projects easy for DIYers, but they're also surprisingly budget-friendly, especially considering their impact on the aesthetics of the space. They can bring charm and personality to an otherwise uninspiring kitchen where you may wind up spending a lot of time. Even if you own the home and have a larger kitchen space that needs an injection of personality, many of the ideas below can be useful as permanent or temporary fixes that make the space look more expensive.

Older and builder-grade cabinets often have less-than-stunning hardware. This is one of the easiest elements to switch out, since you can keep the old knobs and reinstall them when you leave. For this renter-friendly workaround to replacing cabinets, make sure that the current hardware holes accommodate the new. Look for materials like brushed brass and nickel for an elevated look or go for a classic black matte. You can also upgrade your plain knobs and pulls with more sculptural vintage-style hardware featuring botanical and animal motifs for a Victorian chic aesthetic. 

If you're convinced that your kitchen appliances have been around since the last century (or they simply don't fit your preferred aesthetic), you can cover them in a variety of ways. Vinyl peel-and-stick material is a fun, durable way to cover appliances like the fridge and dishwasher. They even sell sleeves that give a vintage makeover to newer fridges, producing the luxe pastel look of the coveted, but pricey, SMEG refrigerators. You can also cover these appliances with patterned peel-and-stick wallpaper for an even wider array of patterns. Just peel any material away when you leave and check for sticky residue you need to remove.

One cool way to cover countertops is with peel-and-stick vinyl, which comes in many finishes. Look for durable vinyl with heat and water resistance to help it last longer. To achieve an expensive look when you cover up basic Formica, use marble-patterned vinyl with veins that look like stone. For a chic modern farmhouse-look wood finish, utilize peel-and-stick vinyl with a wood grain pattern. This peel-and-stick DIY is good for a quick, cost-effective change that easily reverses to the original when you peel it off.  

Storage in a small apartment kitchen is always a necessity, so why not increase yours by adding luxurious-looking baskets along the top above your cabinets? Larger baskets can even look like spendy, customized bins designed to go there. This awkward space is often underused but allows for discreet storage, especially for extra pantry items, serving tools, and objects you don't use very often. The baskets also add rich texture to the kitchen. When you move, simply pack up the baskets and use them for storage in your next home.

There are many ways to change the lighting in the kitchen if you're fed up with the existing ceiling fixtures. Battery-operated LED sconces and pendant lights require no wiring knowledge and can be put anywhere to light up a space. You can also add a small lamp to your kitchen counter or mount under-the-cabinet light bars to create a richly layered kitchen lighting scheme that meets all your needs. Subtly layered lighting that fits both task and atmosphere-creating needs can be a great way to make the kitchen look far more luxe than it does with a glaring overhead light. 

A simple metal rail that hangs along the wall has all sorts of uses, the most obvious of which is to organize pots and pans. It can give your kitchen an old European look, especially if you opt for beautiful materials like copper, iron, and brass. It's also great for freeing up your limited cabinet space for other things. Likewise, you can install a rail or a bar above your countertop and under the cabinets to hang mugs, kitchen utensils, and small baskets with cooking essentials. Just note that you'll need to patch the holes in the wall before moving out.

If you don't have room to eat in your kitchen, consider installing a fold-out table on an empty wall. Not only can it serve as a shelf when folded in, but it also affords extra counter space when folded out for prep and cooking activities, making it ideal in a smaller kitchen where counters are limited. With the addition of a chair or a stool, it easily becomes a spot to eat or enjoy a cup of coffee. A fold out table with a couple of collapsible chairs can give a rich, Paris-apartment-chic vibe to your small space.

It's easy to run out of storage in small kitchens, and an enclosed, wall-mounted cabinet works great if you need a place to store items like spices, tea, sugar, etc. Or opt for additional wall-mounted shelves to hold canisters, dishware, and decor. You may need to patch the screw holes afterward, but it's a functional option that allows easy access to essentials and dresses up the walls. For a sleek and modern kitchen, choose a streamlined cabinet in metal or light wood. For a more rustic French Provincial or elevated cottage feel, opt for dark wood with carved accents. 

If you lack room around the stove, add a shelf over the back of the space between the appliance and the wall. This will keep things from falling behind and give you extra space for things like shakers, spice jars, utensil crocks, and more. This solution not only gives the look of a more custom, intentional kitchen design than just a stove against the wall, but it also keeps things from falling behind the appliance. Or, add a slender slide-out shelving unit on wheels between the counter and the side to get even more storage right within easy reach as you cook.

If your essential ingredients are going to be out on the counter in a kitchen with limited storage, make sure you store them in pretty canisters or jars that add to your decor, not detract from it. This is especially true if you have open shelving and don't want unsightly boxes and packaging in view. Great options include vintage colored glass canisters, apothecary jars, and large mason jars. In a more vintage kitchen, charming canisters can help reinforce an old-world look, while more streamlined canisters in materials like wood and metal work perfectly in a contemporary design scheme.