Did you spend a lot of time and energy on your apartment’s decor only for it to look basic and maybe even awkward? Do your Pinterest inspirations and flea market upcycle purchases come across as random and secondhand? Decorating your apartment doesn’t have to be difficult. With a few tips and a good plan, you can design a cozy and stylish place with minimal effort. 

Avoid the challenges of home decor by understanding your limitations and identifying your possibilities. Look for inspiration to guide your choices by creating vision boards and talking to friends and relatives who share your tastes. Finally, take advantage of the recommendations in this guide to create a space that looks sophisticated, comfortable, and representative of you.

Related: What Is a Garden Apartment?

What You Can & Can’t Do When Decorating an Apartment

Before you begin your apartment decorating journey, you will need to accept the reality that renting imposes limitations on what you can do. Landlords may not want you to paint or puncture 30 new nail holes into the drywall for a gallery wall, no matter how beautiful the result may look. These limitations can feel discouraging, but apartment dwellers should find some relief in the fact that plenty of workarounds to the limitations in your rental agreement exist. 

For example, if your heart is set on color, you can add a colored room divider and invest in bright pillows and throws. Floor lamps or tall houseplants can insert points of color above couch level, and lighting can create a warm ambiance. Some people take years to create the perfect home, but with intention and purpose, you can start to make your apartment your home immediately. 

A Guide to Decorating Your New Apartment

The following tips apply almost universally to any home with small spaces, and you can alter them to fit any limitations imposed by your renter’s status. These ideas will transform your apartment into a place people will envy: 

• Create vertical storage: Smaller spaces often lack storage, but tall bookshelves provide the opportunity for storage and style. If allowed, installing shelves will also increase your surface area for displaying knick-knacks and decorative items. If you need a place to hide your clutter, a tall stand-alone cupboard or wardrobe with doors to hide unsightly objects will do the trick. Keep your table and couch clutter-free by adding vertical space for your belongings, and save a little room for a decorative piece or two. 
• Turn furniture into decor: Consider relocating and repurposing furniture, such as dressers, armoires, and vanities. Often, moving these items to a different location turns them into a unique design element and allows them to serve an aesthetic, rather than purely functional, purpose. For any worn-out pieces, consider upcycling them with paint for that pop of color you so desire. Replace the hardware (handles, knobs, pulls) with unique finds to give your furniture more personality.
• Use removable picture hangers and wallpaper: Don’t let your rental contract prevent you from making your space your own. Technology has improved the options available to renters for hanging pictures and wallpaper. If your landlord won’t let you poke holes in the walls, use alternative, temporary options, so you can hang your photos or change your wall colors without losing your deposit. 
• Get a room divider: Most apartments lack square footage, but they also lack an efficient use of floor space. You can conquer this pitfall by investing in room dividers. They can maximize the usefulness of your space, adding a designated in-home office, for instance, while adding a decorative element that fits your taste.
• Keep it simple: Remember that with a minimal amount of space, clutter will fill rooms and make them feel claustrophobic. Don’t run away from knick-knacks or patterned designs, but use them with restraint. It is easy to overdo it in a small room.

Where to Buy Decor

Decorating your first apartment requires some shopping, and knowing where to shop can help you find stylish items within your budget. So, we list a few of our favorite go-to stores below.

Online

Online shopping for apartment decor is fun and easy, and many sites offer virtual tools and photos, so you can visualize how to decorate a new apartment with a certain item. Some stores to consider when shopping for your apartment include: 

• Facebook Marketplace: Buying from local people selling their used furniture and home decor means that you can score some quality decor on a budget. 
• Craigslist: You can find practically anything on Craigslist, and many first-time apartment decorators find furniture and appliances here. 
• Wayfair: Wayfair sells all of your household needs at a range of price points, and they offer them in stylish options, from bathroom rugs to dish towels. 
• World Market: If you want to shop online, but also want unique items that fit your style, World Market offers an eclectic collection of items for the home that will fit a variety of tastes. 

Own a pet? Check out our luxury pet furniture review for some great stylish options.

In Person

While online shopping offers convenience, nothing beats a little time spent doing hands-on shopping. Feeling an item’s texture and seeing its color in real life makes it easier to know if you’ll enjoy it in your home setting. 

• HomeGoods: From furniture to holiday decor, HomeGoods serves shoppers who don’t want to spend their entire budget on one or two items. 
• Yard sales: Local yard sales present a fun opportunity to hunt for that unique item at a great price. Many people treasure their yard sale finds. 
• Antique stores: If you want to add a touch of class to your decor, you might try some vintage lamps or decor items from a local antique store. 
• Local big box stores: Finally, for convenience and ease, many people stop at their local big box stores like Target or Ikea. They sell everything a household could possibly need, making it easy to completely decorate your first apartment. 

Looking for a New Apartment to Decorate?

Are you looking for a new apartment to decorate? We can help you find a great location and a great space that will serve as a perfect blank slate for you to imprint upon. Reach out to start your free luxury apartment search with AptAmigo.