Decorating a small apartment so that it looks good while being functional can be a challenge. You have to consider your style, space limitations, paint restrictions, budget, and more. Not all is lost — there is plenty you can do to make your apartment feel like home. To get you started, here are some small apartment decorating ideas that are perfect for small spaces:
Put Up Renter-Friendly Decorations
Just because you can’t make permanent changes or paint your walls doesn’t mean you are out of options when it comes to personalizing your small apartment. Peel-and-stick products are a fantastic and renter-friendly way to customize your space. They come in tile, wallpaper, laminate, or vinyl format to cover everything from floors and walls to counters and cabinets.
When picking out peel-and-stick products for small spaces, consider large tiles or patterns to make the space look less busy. With large visuals, the space will feel roomier and bigger. This applies to other patterns as well, like on the rug or couch.
Plan Your Space
Small apartments feel even smaller when multiple areas are crammed together. Even though you may not have a lot of space to work with, make it work for you by dividing up the space with intention. Breaking up spaces and creating clear areas with a purpose creates a nice flow in your home and keeps things from feeling cramped.
If the dining and living area share one room, try separating them by positioning the back of your couch to face away from the living room. This creates a clear line separating the two spaces. Make sure to keep clear pathways between spaces and furniture for easy access and some breathing room.
Physically break up the space with a divider if you’re looking for some privacy. Putting up a divider, whether it be a bookcase or curtain, creates a physical barrier between the two spaces, giving a semblance of privacy. Whether you live in a studio apartment and want to keep your bedroom private sectioned off or you just prefer the clear distinction of spaces, dividers can help achieve your goal.
Since you have such limited space in your apartment, it is important to use every nook and cranny. Make that awkward corner into
the perfect reading nook or fill the space with shelves for storage. Making use of every inch of your apartment is crucial to maximizing functionality.
Choose Furniture That Fits Your Space
As much as you want a huge couch that you can lounge on in your tiny apartment, all it does is make the space look even smaller. Pick small apartment furniture that fits your space instead of taking it all up. Because you’re saving money on getting a smaller piece, you can spend a little more on higher quality.
Another bonus of selecting smaller pieces is that you’ll be able to fit several pieces into the room. However, don’t fill your apartment to the brim with small furniture — that makes your space feel cluttered. Be intentional when selecting pieces; think about their use and how they will work with your space.
As you’re placing your furniture, refrain from pushing it up against the wall. Leaving a couple of inches or putting it in the center of the room creates a feeling of a bigger space. You can also hang your curtains high up to make the walls seem taller. Putting some space between furniture prevents it from feeling like it’s all stacked on top of each other.
Use Multi-Functional Furniture
While you’re focusing on the aesthetics of your room, make sure it’s functional as well. With a small space you lack the ability to have a lot of furniture, but multi-functional furniture helps solve this issue by serving many purposes.
An ottoman with storage can serve as both a place to sit as well as a hiding place to put all your blankets and pillows and can even be a coffee table when a tray is placed on top for drinks and plates. Another example is a sofa bed; it’s a comfy place to lounge and folds out into a sleeping spot for guests at night. Look for furniture that can be used in a variety of ways, so you only need one piece instead of three.
Utilize Wall Space and Add Storage
Clutter makes your small apartment feel miniscule. Add storage wherever you can to give all your items a home. If this means sticking shelves all the way up your wall, then do it; take advantage of all that vertical space and find a use for it.
Try to fit in storage wherever you can so you don’t run out of room for your belongings. Under-the-bed storage is a great place to keep less frequently used items and take advantage of any empty corners with a corner shelf. Attach baskets and containers to the side of furniture, appliances, or counters where you can place frequently used items. With some creativity, you can find a storage solution for any space.
Add Pops of Color
Most apartment communities don’t allow you to paint your walls, so you can’t surround yourself in your favorite shade. However, there are plenty of alternatives to paint that put a pop of color on your walls.
Hang up artwork, photos, and tapestries to add a personal touch and some color to your walls. Go big by sticking removable decals on the wall that draw the eye and add some flair. You can go wild with wall art as long as you can reverse or repair your modifications.
Using the right color palette will help make the space feel dazzling. Light colors make spaces seem bright and airy instead of dark and enclosed. The sun that comes in will be reflected off the light colors, making the room look brighter and feel bigger. Pick out lighter colors for your furniture, walls, and curtains to make the most of the natural light.
Don’t be afraid to go bold with a vibrant color. It makes a statement and catches the eye. The key to incorporating bold colors is by balancing it by using complementing or lighter colors.
Make Sure There Is Plenty of Light
A well-lit apartment, whether by natural or artificial light, feels more welcoming and more spacious. Make your apartment a bright space by keeping windows unobstructed and leaving curtains open to let in all that light. If you don’t have a lot of natural light, place lamps and other light sources around your apartment.
If you’re still not satisfied with the light situation, sprinkle a couple of mirrors around your apartment. You can hang or lean them against the wall in darker areas. Mirrors make rooms look larger by reflecting light and creating the illusion of a larger space through the reflection. No matter the method you choose, lighting your apartment properly will immediately enlarge the space.
Incorporate Accents
Given that you may not be able to paint, accent pieces play an important role in getting the maximum impact. Your eye will be drawn to the items that have more vibrancy or add an interesting element to space, such as lamps, vases, curtains, or pillows.
Add an accent color, shape, or pattern with these items to provide extra glam. For example, a paper lantern floor lamp or a unique arch lamp will create visual interest while being functional and cohesive to your design.
Adding décor and personal touches around your apartment is a great way to make the space feel like yours, but your apartment can feel cluttered if you have too much. Follow the cantaloupe rule: avoid crowding the room with small objects by choosing a couple of key pieces that are larger than a cantaloupe.
Find the Perfect Apartment to Decorate
Try out all these small apartment decorating ideas to find the ones that you love and make your apartment feel like home! If you’re still searching for your next home and just getting ideas of what you could do to personalize it, let ForRent.com help you find the perfect apartment to decorate.
Searching for an apartment or rental home is easy and simple on ForRent.com. Browse through the extensive selection of online listings and narrow it down with helpful filters like the housing type, style of the rental, amenities, price, and more, or check out the top 10 trending listings to see what’s popular. ForRent.com has so many ways you can search to help you find the perfect home!
FAQ
How do I decorate a furnished apartment?
When it comes to furnished apartments, decorating them is different because you can’t pick furniture that reflects your style. However, there are still plenty of ways to
make a furnished apartment feel like home.
Add a personal touch by adding your own photos, wall art, and shelf décor. Putting your own pillows, blankets, and curtains around the apartment can make it homier and more familiar. You can even use peel-and-stick products to customize the look of your apartment without violating your lease.
How do I decorate my apartment while making sure I can get my security deposit back?
Make sure any changes you make are reversible or easily fixable so you can get your security deposit back. Normal wear-and-tear is acceptable such as nail holes, minor scratches, and peeling paint. Anything that modifies the rental’s structure or major changes like painted walls is considered property damage and may decrease your chances of getting back your deposit.
Use peel-and-stick products to decorate any surface and fill any nail holes before you move out. As long as you can make the apartment look like it did when you moved in, feel free to customize whatever you want.
