The Fall Renter Home Checklist
Cozy up, cut drafts, host Thanksgiving in a small space and stay safe this fall, all without nails, paint or a dent in your security deposit.
- 3 pages, 49 to-dos you can tick off
- Print it, or fill it in on your phone
- Includes a Thanksgiving countdown and planner
You’re in! 🍂
Your checklist is ready. It’s a 3-page PDF you can print or fill in on your phone.
Download the checklist (PDF)Tip: on iPhone, open the PDF in Files or Books to tick the boxes.
What’s inside
Five short sections, in the order fall actually happens.
Photos first, then lean, drape and clamp. Nothing your landlord can bill you for.
Find drafts with a tissue, film on the trim, a stopper at the door, humidity at 30–50%.
Seats, table, coats and oven plan, plus a 2-week Thanksgiving countdown.
Smoke and CO alarms, space-heater rules, LED candles, grease-fire basics.
How to take it all down in January with no peeled paint.
Shop the checklist
The few things on the list worth buying. Each was in stock when we checked, and none needs a drill.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon.
🪟 Cozy-up & draft-proof
On the checklist: Fit window insulation film to the trim
Duck Brand Window Insulation Kit (fits up to 10 windows)
Clear shrink film that tightens with a hair dryer and cuts cold drafts from old rental windows. 4.5★ from about 5.9k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low–Med: tape goes on the trim, not the wall. Peel slowly and warm it in spring.
Check price on Amazon
On the checklist: Lay a weighted door draft stopper at the entry
Washable Door Draft Stopper, 38 in (gray)
Weighted tube that just lies against the door. No adhesive, and the cover comes off to wash. 4.6★ from about 5.5k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: nothing sticks to the door or floor.
Check price on Amazon
On the checklist: Hang thermal curtains on the rod you have
NICETOWN Thermal Blackout Curtains, 52 × 84 in (2 panels)
Thick, lined panels that hold heat in at night. Grommets slide onto the rod already in your unit. 4.7★ from about 62k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: no new hardware if a rod is already up.
Check price on Amazon
On the checklist: Keep humidity at 30–50%
TempPro TP50 Digital Hygrometer
Tells you when the air is too dry (static, dry skin) or too wet (window condensation, mold risk). 4.6★ from about 156k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: it sits on a shelf.
Check price on Amazon🍽️ Small-space hosting
On the checklist: Extend the table under one long runner
Terracotta Cheesecloth Table Runner, 120 in
A 10-ft runner covers a table and a folding table pushed together, so they read as one. 4.7★ from about 4.5k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: just lay it down.
Check price on Amazon
On the checklist: Borrow or buy folding stools that store flat
Lavish Home Folding Stools, 18 in (set of 2)
Two extra seats at dining height that fold flat into a closet. They also work as side tables. 4.5★ from about 10k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: freestanding.
Check price on Amazon
On the checklist: Swap open flames for LED candles
FURORA Flameless LED Candles, 8-pack with remote
Real-looking pillars with a timer, so the table glows with no flame near curtains, napkins, pets or kids. 4.4★ from about 13.5k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: no wax, no soot marks.
Check price on Amazon🛋️ Deposit-safe cozy
On the checklist: Add one throw
BEDELITE Buffalo Plaid Sherpa Throw, 50 × 60 in
The fastest cozy-up for a rental sofa or a guest seat, and it keeps working through winter. 4.7★ rating.
Deposit risk: Low: drape it.
Check price on Amazon🛡️ Fall safety
On the checklist: Have a CO alarm near the bedrooms
First Alert Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery backup)
Plugs into an outlet, so there is nothing to mount, and it moves with you. Worth having if you have gas heat or a gas stove. 4.6★ from about 23k ratings.
Deposit risk: Low: plug-in. Never remove the landlord's alarms.
Check price on AmazonFree tools that go with it
Plan it before you buy it.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Enter your email and the download opens right away. You’ll also get occasional renter decor tips, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Do I have to print it?
No. The PDF is fillable, so you can tick the boxes and type in the Thanksgiving planner on your phone or computer. It also prints cleanly on US Letter paper.
Is everything on it allowed in a rental?
Everything is chosen to be removable with no nails, paint or drilling. Leases differ, so check yours, and ask your landlord before changing anything fixed to the unit.
What if I already got it?
This browser remembers you, so the download button shows right away. On a new device, just enter your email again.
Make this fall the cozy one
49 renter-safe to-dos, a hosting countdown and a planner, free.
Get the free checklist