Hey, I’m Hannah.

I’m 29, I’ve rented four apartments in St. Louis over the last seven years, and I’ve lost pieces of five different security deposits along the way — usually because I tried something I definitely should not have tried. I’m not a designer. I’ve never bought a brand-new piece of furniture in my life. What I am is a thrifter, a spray-paint-in-the-parking-lot DIYer, and the friend you text at midnight to ask “is peel-and-stick tile actually going to ruin my wall?”

Why Renter’s Canvas?
Because your rental isn’t a forever home, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t feel like yours. I started this blog after realizing every friend who moved asked me the same questions: How do I hang art without drilling? Can I paint a kitchen cabinet my landlord will never notice? Is Facebook Marketplace worth the drive? Every answer I give comes with a dose of honesty — I’ll show you what worked, what fell apart two months later, and exactly how much cash each project put at risk against my deposit.

What you’ll find here:

• Drill‑free hacks that leave walls exactly how you found them

• Furniture flips you can haul out in a U‑Haul

• Plant styling that survives rental lighting (and my overwatering habits)

• Real budget breakdowns where every dollar is weighed against deposit liability

I keep a spreadsheet of every thrifted item vs. its new retail price. I call it “The Math.” I’ll share it with you. No aspirational mansions. No permanent changes. Just sharp, sisterly advice for making a rented space feel like home — without losing your money.

Rent cheap. Decorate like you own it.

— Hannah (and Kevin the overwatered pothos)
St. Louis, MO