A couple weekends ago, I mentioned helping a friend move into an apartment – a small apartment with a small kitchen. It can be difficult to make any small space personal, but that especially applies to renters committed to a lease agreement. Plus, a kitchen has to be as functional as it is unique.

We started researching and discovered my friend and I weren’t the only ones stuck between a rock and a hard place. In today’s economy, lots of people are downsizing to apartments and rental spaces and the Internet is filled with ideas on how to make a space personal without permanent fixtures.

For example, a well-placed pegboard or magnetic strip can create storage space on the walls and painting the cabinets can add a pop of color. Removing cabinet doors (or replacing them with glass) can make a small kitchen feel infinitely more open and adding shelves draws the eye up and creates even more storage space.

These tips apply to homeowners, too! If you’re thinking about a major project, taking some tips from apartment dwellers may be the best way to try something out. Use vinyl tiles or removable backsplashes to take some colors out for a test spin before committing to a bigger renovation. Just remember to call Kitchen Design Concepts once you’re ready for the big projects!

Our intern is Desiree Johnson, a recent journalism graduate and Texas native. The 27-year-old loves painting, her dachshund Munchie and using what she calls her “real, adult-sized kitchen.”