Renting means working with a kitchen somebody else designed, usually badly, and leaving it exactly as you found it. That rules out most of the advice you will read, which quietly assumes you own a drill and permission.
Freestanding beats fitted
A narrow rolling trolley, a baker's rack, a tall shelving unit that stands on its own. Nothing attached to a wall, and all of it comes with you to the next flat. This is the single biggest win in a rental.
Tension does the work of screws
A tension rod under the sink becomes a hanging rail. A tension rod inside a cupboard splits a tall shelf in two. Tension shelves fit inside cupboards without a single fixing. Nothing pierces anything.
Adhesive, done properly
Removable adhesive hooks work if you follow the instructions exactly: clean the surface with rubbing alcohol, not a damp cloth, press for thirty seconds, and wait an hour before hanging anything. Almost every failure is someone skipping the wait.
Over-door is free real estate
Over-door racks hang on cupboard doors and hold foil, wraps, cleaning spray and tea towels without touching a wall. Check the door closes with the rack loaded before you fill it.
Magnetic surfaces you already have
The side of the fridge is usually the largest unused vertical surface in a rented kitchen. Magnetic spice jars, a magnetic shelf, hooks for oven gloves. Use the side panel rather than the door - doors swing and things fall off.
What to photograph on day one
Before you change anything, photograph every surface and every existing mark. It costs five minutes and it is the difference between a returned deposit and an argument.
Be honest about it
I lost part of a deposit once over four adhesive hooks that pulled paint off a cupboard door. I had stuck them to a surface that was slightly greasy, which is exactly what the instructions tell you not to do.
