How to Improve an Ugly Apartment When the Landlord Will Not Help

Walk through your apartment to assess the rooms you would like to renovate and decorate. Note any problems you observe in the spaces. List the renovations you would like to complete in each room, what materials you'll need and how much they'll cost.

Speak with your landlord about any restrictions on renovating the apartment, to ensure you are not breaking any rules for tenants. Ask the landlord if any rooms or renovations are off-limits.

Use a screwdriver to remove cabinet doors in your kitchen if they are outdated, moldy or falling apart. Store them away (somewhere safe, so you can restore them when you move out) to create a new display for your dishes and other kitchen knickknacks. You can also buy new cabinet knobs to dramatically improve the atmosphere of your kitchen. Decorate with colorful or kitchen-theme accessories, including stainless steel appliances and utensils to match.

Add plants, both real and artificial, around your apartment, filling empty corners and blank spaces on counter tops and tables.

Visit vintage stores and flea markets to find decorations and furnishings for your apartment, including chairs and tables. Use wood stain on the furniture to create colorful themes for your rooms.

Hang wooden or painted shelves throughout your apartment, adding books, decorations and personal belongings to ipmart flair to individual rooms.

Place colorful and bright curtains against white or vanilla walls to instantly give the room atmosphere and a base color on which to add decorations.