Many renters stare at their kitchens confident that Ebeneezer Scrooge & Company were the Landlord's contractor and interior designer. Not being able to replace counter tops, reface cabinetry, upgrade appliances or tight budgets can leave tenants feeling thwarted in their quest to bring holiday cheer into their homes.

Brightening up a rented kitchen does not take a miracle. Below are some quick and inexpensive decorating tips from our Designers and our friends at Dwell Magazine;

1.) Start with larger pieces that can be taken with you when you leave. Bar stools, bakers racks, movable island racks and overhead pot racks are great transferable items that can quickly change the look and feel of any kitchen.

2.) Unsightly walls can be re imagined with products like Smart Tiles by Quienco & Cie, Inc. These easy to use adhesive tiles do not require any special tools and can be removed without damage. Smart Tiles are available in clear and a variety of decorator colors.

3.) Chasing Paper also offers a wide array of attractive, inexpensive and disposable self-adhesive paper . This line work very well on back splashes.

4.) Self-mounting hooks, like those offered by Ikea, can be used to display lighter items like dish towels, holiday cards and children's artwork.

5.) Craft stores offer a variety of chalk board and frames that you can use to create custom art work, message boards or to post dinner party menus.

6.) Cabinet knobs can be easily swapped out. Replacing one or more knobs is a fun way to express a personal interest or a clever way to repeat your design theme in a subtle way. Novelty nobs are offered by many major manufacturers. Knobs.co also offers a custom design option. To learn more about novelty or custom knobs visit www.knobs.co.