Make It Yours: 29 Gorgeous Apartment Decorating Ideas (Even While Renting)

In a world often focused on size, decorating an apartment presents unique opportunities.

While a large dream home might be the standard aspiration, apartment living proves that smaller spaces can be both functional and stylish.

Decorators and designers appreciate the impact of every detail in a cozy footprint.

Whether you rent a studio or own a spacious loft, discover stylish apartment decorating ideas to optimize and beautify every square foot of your home.

Embrace Statement-Making Choices

Don’t let a small space go dull. Instead, embrace color, pattern, and art to turn it into a jewel box of personality.

“Elevate a small bedroom by packing a punch of color and texture. Consider bold patterned wallpaper, custom lighting, and curated art,” says Michele Lorenz, a designer with Ashby Collective.

Incorporate Luxe Elements

Even in an open floor plan apartment, you can still create an elegant look by bringing in luxe fabrics and textures. Interior designer Kathy Kuo explains,

“My favorite way to elevate the look of an apartment is to invest in luxurious materials and textures so that every surface and corner has a polished and high-end look.”

She notes that because a city apartment has less space, it’s even more important to be thoughtful about every décor decision.

“Put a premium on high-quality materials and design elements,” says Kuo.

Add a Large Mirror

A large mirror reflects light and makes a space look bigger, which is often the goal in an apartment.

“A statement mirror can really open up a small space.

Serving both function and a visual point of interest, it’s an easy choice when decorating an apartment,” says Sarah Tract, founder and interior designer at Sarah Tract Interiors.

Swap Out Lighting

There’s nearly always space to swap out lighting in an apartment bedroom, and you can take it with you when you leave.

Not sure you can DIY it? Hire a taskrabbit (or another handyperson service) to install it—it’s typically a small job.

“Focus on the things you can tweak and change, not the things you can’t, and that often means you can add statement lighting,” says Alexis Elley, interior designer at Textures Interiors.

Layer Bold Colors

When you’re limited in terms of changes you can make to a space, look to color and pattern.

“Layering eye-catching colors, textures, and patterns is key to making an impact in a small space,” says Amber Guyton, interior designer at Blessed Little Bungalow.

“Imagine seeing a leopard print rug in a space topped with a textured mustard sofa, teal geometric wallpaper, and dominant brass and milk globe light fixture. It would stop you in your tracks.”

Mount Sconces Over Nightstands

Apartment dwellers know the struggle of small spaces, and, in the bedroom, that often means squeezing in nightstands that may not have room for both a lamp and your necessities.

In this city apartment, Antonio Matrēs mounts sconces next to the bed to save much-needed space.

Make a Statement With Textiles

When you can’t alter wallpaper or paint, look to textiles.

This apartment dining room by Shauna Glenn Designs is so vibrant that you’d never realize all of the color either comes from textiles, like drapery and a table runner, or art.

It’s all removable and renter-friendly.

Go With a Big Gallery Wall

Even in a space that’s short on square footage, a large gallery wall can make a big statement.

Going oversized actually adds more upscale interest to a space.

“Gallery walls make your apartment feel like your home rather than someone else’s, and the bigger you go, the more elevated and chic it looks! It adds the illusion that your walls are taller than they are.

It also gives a very editorial look to your walls,” says Moriah Frantz, interior designer at Moriah Frantz Designs.

Choose Oversized Art

Resist the urge to fill a small space with small art.

Instead, opt for a statement-making piece that will make your apartment feel like a gallery.

This is even more important if you’re lucky enough to have an older apartment with soaring ceilings.

“In an apartment with tall ceilings, oversized art is a must,” says Tract. “It not only creates a focal point, but encourages the eye upward, which is needed when you’re low on square footage.”

Layer Your Lighting

Don’t rely on the overhead lighting that was already present in your apartment on the day you signed the lease.

Add lamps and ambient lighting to give it a warm glow.

“Layered lighting is key in all spaces, but particularly in small apartments.

Ceiling, wall, table, and floor, they all serve a purpose individually, and are maximized when combined,” says Tract.

Add a Colorful Rug

Pin Most Lovely Things

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

Install a Breakfast Bar

Pin deVOL Kitchens

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

Open shelving maximizes wall space above.

Use Multipurpose Furniture

Pin Fantastic Frank

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.

Repurpose SpaceLook for space-saving opportunities in a small apartment bedroom, like using the windowsill as a bedside table for a lamp and reading material.

Embrace Dark Tones

Pin Desiree Burns Interiors

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.

Accent with Green and Blue

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Agathe Tissier

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.

Add a Pair of Love Seats

Pin Design by Joshua Smith Inc. / Photo by Peter Murdoch

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.

Paint the Entryway

Pin Neva Interior Design / Photo by Picthouse – Patrick Mancliere

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.

Add Rustic Touches

Pin Design by AHG Interiors / Photo by Nick Glimenakis

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

Camouflage the TV

Pin Tina Ramchandani Creative

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.

Try a Mobile Kitchen Island

Pin Becca Interiors

If your apartment kitchen lacks counter space but has enough floor space, consider adding a small kitchen island on wheels that can 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.

Open It Up with Floating Shelves

layered shelves above copper and rose gold décor

A floating shelf arrangement is an affordable apartment living room decorating idea for showing off collectible objects and mementos.

Simple shelving staggered for a unique look works as a rotating display you can quickly update.

Choose wood and metal, stainless steel, painted shelves, or inexpensive MDF options to suit your design style.

Make a Statement with Furniture

You might be stuck with basic apartment finishes and materials, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fabulous furniture.

Fill the space with pieces you love to help make it your own.

Choose a furniture piece for every room to be the focal point.

With a stunning mustard-yellow sofa or midcentury modern coffee table, you’ll quickly forget about any less-than-ideal features you can’t change.

Update an Apartment Entryway

coral hanging shelf and round mirror in entryway

If your apartment lacks a designated entry, try this apartment decorating idea to create your dropzone with a few wall-mounted pieces.

Hang hooks for stashing hats, purses, or light jackets. Choose a unit with a shelf on top for grab-and-go items like your keys and sunglasses.

Finish the setup by hanging a large mirror for last-minute touch-ups on your way out the door.

And if your rental doesn’t allow you to screw into the walls, pick up a few adhesive-back hooks to do the job.

Use baskets below the hooks to drop bigger items like umbrellas or dog leashes when you walk in the door.

Maximize Small Kitchen Storage

white kitchen open shelving over sink brass accents

Apartments are notorious for having minuscule kitchens.

Maximize vertical space to take advantage of every inch of kitchen storage.

If your setup includes open shelves, place several stacks of dishes on each shelf, arranging like items together.

Use the upper shelves for lesser-used items you don’t need to access as often.

Keep items organized to avoid a cluttered look that will make the space feel smaller.

Use Peel-and-Stick Tiles

camper bathroom with tile wall and wood-framed mirror

Finding non-permanent apartment decorating ideas is key to making a rental feel like home.

For example, you might want to add patterned tile to your bathroom, but your rental agreement makes it a no-go.

Instead, use peel-and-stick tiles that are easy to apply and remove when needed.

Choose a small area, such as the wall above the sink, to keep costs low. Use the design as a jumping-off point for other bath features, including towels, washcloths, and shelving.

Drape Your Space in Decor

Add luxury to a rental with gorgeous draperies.

Hanging several sets of draperies along a wall is an apartment-approved way to give your space personality without the permanence of wallpaper or paint.

It also gives the illusion that windows are hidden behind the draperies rather than just an expanse of blank walls.

For extra privacy, you can also use drapes to separate shared spaces, like bedrooms or offices.

Trick the Eye with Built-In Storage

bedroom hidden storage cabinets and drawers

Some vintage apartment buildings have gorgeous built-ins, ideal for storing necessities.

If your apartment doesn’t, fake the look by adding a wall unit or bookcase reaching almost the ceiling.

If allowed in your building, install moldings around the tops of the shelves to reinforce the built-in look. Tuck the bed in between two bookshelf units for a custom look.

Install a Gallery Wall

Sitting area with tv and framed artwork on wall

Turn your TV wall into a focal point in your living room using this clever apartment decorating idea.

Hang a gallery wall of artwork around the TV to frame it, and surround the display with furniture.

This TV could have been placed on the console table beneath it, but using the wall leaves the tabletop available for serving when entertaining.

Plus, having a piece of furniture beneath a wall-mounted TV grounds it and prevents it from seeming as if there’s a random object floating on the wall.

Do Double Duty with a Daybed

A daybed can be a sofa by day and a guest bed by night. Accented with plenty of pillows for back support, you can sink comfortably onto a daybed to watch TV or read a book.

When overnight guests come, this apartment decorating idea gives them a comfortable place to sleep.

Keep a large basket nearby for storing extra linens to make the transition from sofa to bed easy.