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Temporary Flooring for Renters

Temporary Flooring for Renters: 8 Ideas to Take Your Place from Bland to Beautiful

We’ve all seen outdated, not-so-pretty flooring in a rental property, right? Sometimes, renting can be fun, but with that unattractive old tile on your floors, it’s hard to feel like it’s your place. With options like temporary flooring that were made for renters, there’s no need to despair!

When the ghost of previous tenants past haunts your floors, you can use the art of disguise with coverings that can be easily installed and removed at any time. In this guide, we will explore the ins and outs of what makes temporary flooring, and the different options you have to make a rental property feel more like you. 

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Temporary Flooring Explained

Temporary Flooring for Renters: Floorigami Desert Dawn peel and stick carpet planks that can be easily installed and removed at any point and time.

Temporary floors are there for those spaces that are subject to change at any time, as it can be easily installed, and removed with convenience and ease. 

But is temporary flooring durable? Absolutely! Temporary floors are temporary because of the installation method, not the durability. These floors are still constructed to last, just like the floors that are permanently installed. 

Ultimately, whether or not you decide to use temporary flooring isn’t determined by owning or renting an apartment; temporary flooring can benefit homeowners and renters alike. It all comes down to if it works best for you. 

Related content >> The Best Flooring for Flipping Houses

Floor Covering Options for Renters

Shaw Pantheon HD Waterproof VInyl Planks

Alright, you have decided to give temporary flooring a shot, but what are the options? We have to look at the floors that are easily installed and removed. 

That makes up two main categories: peel and stick flooring, and floating flooring (AKA floors that can be floated over existing floors). Neither installation requires adhesive or nails making each style perfect temporary flooring. With options ranging from carpet to artificial grass, you can have a floor that caters to your tastes. Let’s explore these styles in more detail!

Peel and Stick Carpet Tiles

Temporary Flooring for Renters: Floorigami Midnight Snack peel and stick carpet tiles.

Carpet can be an awesome option when you have unforgiving, hard floors like concrete or old tile. Plus, did you know carpet is available in tile and plank form in both low and high pile height options? 

We’ve all heard that any peel and stick floor will peel away from the floor it should be sticking to. Thankfully, major advancements have been made to make sure your carpet tiles will stick around for as long as you’d like. 

Another cool feature about peel and stick carpet, it’s available with patterned designs or solid colors. You can make a statement with carpet tiles, and still have comfort in the fact that you can remove them at any time. If one of the carpet tiles becomes damaged, simply remove the damaged tile and replace it with ease. Since the removable adhesive on the back leaves no residue, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up the floor if you want to peel up the carpet for good.

If you are just looking to cover a small part of your floor, you can create an area rug. You can get the number of tiles or planks you’ll need or check out our selection of area rugs, then you’re set!

With coziness and versatility, what more could you ask for?   

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Peel and Stick Vinyl Flooring

Temporary Flooring for Renters: FloorAdorn peel and stick vinyl tiles that can be easily installed and removed at any point and time.

It’s true, peel and stick flooring once had a reputation of lifting or peeling away from your subfloor, and you want your floor to stay even if it’s temporary. So you might be thinking, “is peel and stick vinyl really an option?” Great news: with the advancements flooring manufacturers have been making to adhesives, your floor will withstand the test of time. 

Need to jazz up that small entryway, or that kitchen floor? Go ahead and grab some peel and stick tiles or planks, as they are easy to care for and maintain. With an adhesive backing, all you have to do is peel and stick it in residential, low traffic areas! Not to mention with peel and stick vinyl, you can get beautiful bold patterns or stone and wood looks. Take your pick, and choose a floor that best fits your style!

Maybe after a while, some of your tiles or planks suffer some damage or bad stains, but that’s okay; the removable adhesive leaves no residue on surfaces so you can remove and replace the damaged pieces without any extra clean up. Plus, since vinyl peel and stick flooring is so cost-effective, you can replace the tiles without a costly hassle.

Let’s add this up: easy installation and removal + cool patterns and visuals + budget-friendly = one awesome temporary flooring for renters! 

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Vinyl Sheets

Mannington Revive 12' Luxury Vinyl Sheet

Also known as vinyl rolls, vinyl sheets have made big technological strides in the last decade and are now loved for their versatility, beauty, and low maintenance requirements. You can now find vinyl sheets with realistic visuals and textures, durable construction, and even some water-resistant and allergy-friendly options. 

To install as temporary flooring, vinyl sheets can be rolled out to lay flat under their own weight, as long as the subfloor is a clean, flat surface. For extra security, you can use double-sided tape to prevent movement. 

With this type of installation, it’s recommended to hire a professional for precise cuts to your sheet and special handling. However, if you fancy yourself a DIY pro, how-to videos provide step-by-step instructions to make it possible to install loose-lay vinyl sheets by yourself.

Available in wood-look, stone-look, ceramic-look, and decorative sheets, you can have a cost-effective, statement-making temporary floor with vinyl rolls in no time at all!

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Waterproof Vinyl Planks

TritonCore 7" Waterproof Vinyl Planks

These planks are simple, classic, and great for a DIY project when installed in a residential, low-traffic area. Simply lock the planks together, and you’ll have a great new addition to your rental property!

Vinyl planks can be installed over carpet regardless of the pile height. Simply snap and lock them together over your existing floor using the interlocking tongue and groove installation system. Just make sure, when you’re installing over plush high-pile carpet, you have ¼” thick plywood to go over the whole carpeted area so you can install over a sturdy surface; this ensures your planks will stay locked together. 

Vinyl planks are a durable solution for you to get that real wood look. Some planks come with an attached underlayment and can also be 100% waterproof. You read that right, 100% waterproof

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Related content >> How To Install Temporary Flooring Over Carpet

Laminate Planks

Temporary Flooring for Renters: 12mm Mannington Arcadia Laminate Planks

Laminate planks are an excellent option for a temporary floor, as they too can be installed (floated) over carpet using the same installation process as vinyl planks. Simply snap and lock them together over your existing floor using the interlocking tongue and groove installation system. Remember, when you’re installing over plush high-pile carpet, be sure to use a ¼” thick plywood over the whole carpeted area so you can install over a sturdy surface.

Laminate floors are constructed of medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and a tough melamine wear layer that provides awesome durability. Expertly tested for durability and wear, laminate flooring is scratch-resistant, water-resistant, and in some cases waterproof, making it an excellent temporary flooring for renters.

Available in a variety of surface textures, laminate will give a realistic wood look that can be water-resistant and, in some cases, waterproof. Its ability to mimic real wood will take your rental home to the next level of elegance, class, and durability.

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Foam Tiles

Temporary Flooring for Renters: 5/8 Soft Wood Tiles

Foam tiles are versatile and simple; they can be installed over those unforgiving hard floors and will stay put with regular use. Plus, interlocking panels allow quick DIY installation and removal.

Maybe you have an extra space that you would like to convert to a home gym or yoga space. Enter foam tiles. Have a hallway with unsightly low-pile carpet and low foot traffic? Foam tiles have wood visuals or multiple vibrant color options to dress up that hallway flooring. 

Worried about having heavy furniture on your foam tiles? Great news, with furniture sliders under that heavy piece of furniture you can protect your foam tiles from damage. 

While sharp objects like furniture edges and pet claws might puncture the tile, the closed-cell foam will ensure odor and water-resistance, as well as insulation. Foam tiles can be a quick and simple temporary flooring for renters and rental properties. 

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Composite Decking

Naturesort Deck Tiles (4 slat)

In some rental properties, you might have a patio or deck, but it can be unkept, or simply not what you want. But hey, some floors are just unfixable, right?

Wrong! You thought we would leave your outdoor living space hangin’ with unattractive floors? No way, we got you covered there too with some awesome, temporary composite deck tiles. 

Composed of equal parts recycled wood fibers, glue composite, and recycled plastic, composite deck tiles are great as flooring for any outdoor deck, patio or even a balcony. Not every outdoor flooring option works or looks good on a smaller upstairs balcony, but composite deck tiles do! 

More to love: Comfortable and porous, composite decking allows water to flow through and drain properly, so mold and mildew are not a concern. Do you have a fear of insects? Allow composite decking to help calm that fear, as it is insect-resistant!

With all these features, composite decking is the perfect temporary flooring for renters’ outdoor space. 

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Artificial Grass

Temporary Flooring for Renters: Greenspace Artificial Grass

For those of us who live in apartments, yards are unheard of; that does not mean you can’t enjoy something that looks like a yard! Artificial grass comes in tiles, rugs and customizable rolls so your balcony, patio, or deck can become a precious oasis! 

Suited for pets, parties and anything Mother Nature will throw at it, you can layout artificial grass and chill! How so? Artificial grass is a man-made synthetic grass made from durable, synthetic fiber materials like Polyethylene, or Polypropylene. It is designed to withstand the outdoor elements, so it’s UV stable, heat-resistant, and frost-resistant.

Not a huge fan of bugs? With fake grass, bugs and other pests will pack it up and take their nuisances elsewhere. So you can feed your need for nature in whatever capacity you’d like with artificial grass. It will transform any outdoor space into the perfect hang-out spot!

Related content >> DIY Spotlight: From Apartment Balcony to Backyard Porch

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Conclusion

What do you want to do to upgrade your apartment or rental home? With the resources and know-how, your rental property can stand out with temporary, stylish floors. Allow your rental property to be an expression of you; go ahead, be bold and dive in!

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About Sydney Shields

Sydney Shields

Sydney Shields is a home improvement enthusiast with a passion for writing. Being a huge fan of the DIY revolution, her experience in crafting, blogging, and marketing led her to join Flooring Inc. She takes a personable approach to her blog posts and prides herself on the ability to dive deep into research for a fresh understanding of flooring, and...

2 Comments on “Temporary Flooring for Renters: 8 Ideas to Take Your Place from Bland to Beautiful

  1. I was somehow talked into putting down ceramic tile in my kitchen. I drop glass and it goes everywhere! Plus cleaning the grout is almost impossible. I hate this stuff. What’s the best way to cover it that is easy to clean and won’t break glass into a zillion pieces? I also have crummy laminate floor in my den and dining area that NEVER cleaned well. It is one big dull, smudged mess. Even vinegar and water never worked well; nor did any other cleaner. I see all these ways to cover CARPET but not much of anything about covering laminate. What is the best option?

    • Hi Kandy,

      Thanks for your question! If you want flooring that isn’t as hard as tile, vinyl planks might be a good fit. You can install vinyl planks as “floating flooring” over most flat, stable surfaces, including tile and laminate.

      I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions.

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