36 Apartment Decorating Ideas to Turn Your Rental Into a Home (2024)

Small Spaces

Apartments

• 01 of 36

  Add a Colorful Rug

  

  Most Lovely Things added warmth and color to a neutral-toned New York apartment with an overdyed rug, mid-century modern-inspired wall art, and velvet throw pillows in sunset shades of pink, gold, and orange.

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• 02 of 36

  Install a Breakfast Bar

  

  This compact galley kitchen by deVOL Kitchens resides in a small, Georgian-style apartment in Bath, England. A two-seater, cafe-style breakfast bar is built right next to the window to provide a cozy place for a cup of coffee or a meal.

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• 03 of 36

  Use Multipurpose Furniture

  

  In a small apartment, you can save space and reduce visual clutter by choosing multipurpose furniture. This can mean anything from a high-end Murphy bed that doubles as a sofa or something as simple as a small dining table that can be used as a sitting area, home office, or place to play games and work on craft projects, like this Scandinavian apartment from Fantastic Frank.

  The bed is pushed into the corner and the windowsill does overtime as a bedside table for a lamp and reading material, and a gallery wall includes a space-saving wall-mounted magazine rack.

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• 04 of 36

  Embrace Dark Tones

  

  While many people stick with light colors, darker tones can make an apartment bedroom feel more cozy. Desiree Burns Interiors painted the wall behind the bed in matte black which creates a grounded feeling in this apartment bedroom, while a large window provides plenty of natural light.

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• 05 of 36

  Accent with Soft Greens and Blues

  

  If you want to add a bit of color to your tiny abode while maintaining a light and neutral feel, choose soft natural colors like the pale greens and blues of this 205-square-foot Parisian studio apartment from Neva Interior Design.

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• 06 of 36

  Add a Pair of Love Seats

  

  In this apartment living room from Joshua Smith Inc., a pair of love seats subs in for a large sectional sofa, providing enough seating while working with the existing layout of the room.

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• 07 of 36

  Paint the Entryway

  

  A defined entry makes this less than 400-square-foot Parisian apartment from Neva Interior Design feel larger than it is, painted in a warm mustard yellow that gives it a welcoming feel and creates a sense of dimension when viewed from the main room.

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• 08 of 36

  Add Rustic Touches

  

  Rustic touches like a metal and wood sliding barn door and a chunky wood dining table add warmth to this Hoboken, New Jersey apartment from AHG Interiors with its waterfront views of the Hudson River.

  See Also

  15 small apartment living room ideas that prove tiny can still be trendy

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• 09 of 36

  Camouflage the TV

  

  In this sleek New York apartment from Tina Ramchandani Creative, a dark wood accent wall with a seamlessly built-in niche for a large flat screen helps to camouflage the TV when it's not in use.

  Tip

  If you're a renter on a budget, consider using removable wallpaper on the wall behind the TV to help it fade into the background when the screen is dark, or build a gallery wall around it so that it isn't an eyesore.

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• 10 of 36

  Add Wheels

  

  If your apartment kitchen lacks counter space but has enough floor space, consider adding a small kitchen island, ideally on wheels, that is lightweight enough to be easily moved around. It serves multiple functions in a small apartment kitchen, from adding extra prep space to providing a place to eat casual meals. This island in a Brooklyn loft kitchen from Becca Interiors is painted sage green for a soft, neutral dose of color.

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• 11 of 36

  Opt for a Wet Room

  

  If you just bought your first studio apartment and are renovating a tiny bathroom, consider installing a space-saving, streamlined wet room, like this small Scandinavian apartment bathroom from Fantastic Frank.

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• 12 of 36

  Double Space With Mirrors

  

  Decorating with mirrors is an easy way to make any space feel larger and more luminous. In this West Village, New York City apartment from Tina Ramchandani Creative, a pair of tall mirrors on either side of the bed reflect and bounce around available light, while doubling views and making the room feel larger than it is.

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• 13 of 36

  Suspend the WC

  

  In this small but bright and cheerful Parisian bathroom by Neva Interior Design. the simple choice to install a modern suspended toilet with hidden plumbing inside the wall makes the space feel roomier. It also makes the bathroom much easier to clean around the toilet area.

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• 14 of 36

  Embrace Simplicity

  

  This Scandinavian railroad-style apartment from Fantastic Frank is elegantly simple, with a black-and-white palette, clean lines, and industrial-style metal and glass partitions that visually define space without sacrificing light.

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• 15 of 36

  Hang Floor-to-Ceiling Drapes

  

  Floor-to-ceiling drapes in this apartment make the ceilings look taller and the space feel grander. Plus, drapes can be paired with solar shades or sheer curtains that will let light in while blocking an unsightly view or depriving nosy neighbors of spying on your every move.

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• 16 of 36

  Style Your Bar Cart

  

  A well-styled bar cart can serve as a festive focal point in a small apartment living room. In this boho-style living room from K Shan Design, a vintage rattan bar cart is styled with retro drinkware, black-and-white photography, and plants, making this entertainment station double as decor.

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• 17 of 36

  Add Statement Lighting

  

  Swapping out a boring or dated overhead light is an easy way to elevate your apartment decor. In this galley-style New York kitchen from Sissy + Marley Interior Design, a delicate pendant light anchors the dining table and floats in front of the window, making a statement without blocking natural light or views.

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• 18 of 36

  Create a Storage Wall

  

  Consider this minimalistic approach of adding a storage wall by either having it built-in or using components that appear to be built-in. Adding a multifunctional custom storage wall can house all your clothes, shoes, accessories, clutter, and a disappearing wall desk, like this chic mini studio work area from Paris-based Caroline Andreoni Interior Design.

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• 19 of 36

  Skip the Bathroom Vanity

  

  While a bathroom vanity can add storage and counter space that some people find indispensable, not everyone needs a ton of storage under the sink. In this small bathroom from Becca Interiors, a vintage-style wall-mounted sink adds character while a mirrored medicine cabinet houses all the essentials. A sink minus the vanity opens up space in this bathroom.

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• 20 of 36

  Add a Peel-and-Stick Tile Backsplash

  

  Sometimes the most depressing thing about a rental apartment kitchen is having to stare at a dated backsplash that you didn't choose and don't like. If your budget or your lease prohibits you from making cosmetic changes like swapping out the backsplash tiles, consider giving your kitchen a mini refresh by using DIY removable peel-and-stick tile.

  A new backsplash created with peel-and-stick tile can add color and pattern to your kitchen—and it can be easily removed before leaving so you don't risk your security deposit.

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• 21 of 36

  Create a Casual Bedroom

  

  Fantastic Frank used an industrial-style glass and black metal partition to create a casual, open bedroom in this studio apartment that doesn't block light or views to preserve an open feel.

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• 22 of 36

  Brighten a Windowless Bathroom

  

  Many apartment bathrooms lack natural light. To compensate, consider adding a backlit mirror over the sink that will add ambient light while producing a flattering reflection, like in this New York apartment bathroom from Tina Ramchandani Creative.

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• 23 of 36

  Create an Eat-In Kitchen

  

  Add a small table and chairs to your apartment kitchen to create a cozy place for meals or meal prep, like in this light-flooded space from Fantastic Frank.

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• 24 of 36

  Add Pops of Color

  

  A bubblegum pink wall here and a giant neon yellow pencil light sculpture there give this otherwise neutral-toned apartment from Fantastic Frank a dose of personality and spirit.

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• 25 of 36

  Optimize Bathroom Storage

  

  If your apartment bathroom is short on storage, look for opportunities to add shelving, like the recessed window in this bright modern bathroom designed by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design.

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• 26 of 36

  Add a Banquette

  

  In an apartment with a larger open-plan kitchen, adding a banquette along one wall can make the space feel more inviting, like this New York apartment from Tina Ramchandani Creative.

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• 27 of 36

  Thread Metallic Accents Throughout

  

  Metallic accents will add shine and light to a small space. This apartment kitchen from Desiree Burns Interiors is open to the living room, with metallic accents that are carried throughout the space for a cohesive look.

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• 28 of 36

  Accent with Bold Color

  

  A bold blue painting adds a mesmerizing dose of color in this neutral-toned apartment living room from Joshua Smith Inc. It's the perfect solution for those long, bare apartment walls that also lack molding.

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• 29 of 36

  Hang Removable Wallpaper

  

  Removable wallpaper is an easy and budget-friendly way to bring some attitude to any room in your apartment. Wallpaper brings character to this neutral kitchen from K Shan Design, adding color, pattern, and a touch of bling.

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• 30 of 36

  Designate Space with Furniture

  

  A small sectional with arms defines the sitting area in this apartment living room from Joshua Smith Inc. to create a cozy feeling. The arrangement preserves traffic flow in and around the sofa without minimizing the intimacy of the space.

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• 31 of 36

  Define Areas With Lighting

  

  A pendant lamp over the dining table easily defines your dining area in the same way that an area rug defines a space. By separately lighting your dining, kitchen, living, working, and sleeping spaces, you can illuminate areas in use and dim unused zones, giving you the sense that your apartment contains multitudes of living areas.

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• 32 of 36

  Hide the Bed

  

  If you feel awkward about entertaining in a small apartment with a visible bed or don’t like looking at the bed during waking hours, there are a few solutions. Install a sofa bed, a Murphy bed, or hide your bed behind a screen. Or, use a daybed that functions as a couch by day and a sleeping space at night.

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• 33 of 36

  Design a Gallery Wall

  

  Too many small pieces of art scattered on the walls of your apartment can make it look busy. Focus on a collection of small paintings and photographs to create a statement-makinggallery wallabove the sofa or a casual and chic space-saving daybed, like the one here.

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• 34 of 36

  Leverage Vertical Space

  

  Utilizing vertical space will draw the eye upward andmake your space feel largerthan it is. Extend shelving to the ceiling, or hang plants, pendant lights, or art in the empty space above furniture. If your ceiling is high enough, paint it in a different color to create a sense of expansiveness.

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• 35 of 36

  Incorporate Open Shelving

  

  While it's often a good idea to incorporate hidden storage into a small space, too many closets, cabinets, dressers, and armoires can also eat up precious square feet. Open shelving can keep a kitchenette feeling light and airy and encourage you to edit your possessions to the essentials.

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• 36 of 36

  Layer Textiles to Absorb Sound

  

  While you can’t fix thin walls and shoddy construction with decor, you canreduce noisefrom neighboring apartments by layering sound-absorbing textiles. Pile on plush wool rugs, pillows, throws, drapes, and upholstered furniture to make a difference in the decibels.