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While living in a rental apartment can seem like you don’t have a lot of control over the design of the space, we’re here to completely debunk that theory. There are so many creative ways to make the space feel custom and reflective of your design style even if you don’t own the place.
Romanticizing your rental apartment is all about creating opportunities to make it feel more like a home. Everything from big design changes, like painting the walls, to the small details, like swapping out outlet covers. Today, we’re sharing 10 ways you can add style and functionality to your apartment — win-win!
Want more apartment decorating tips? Check out these articles:
- 10 Apartment Dining Room Ideas to Easily Recreate
- 27 Cutest Colorful Kitchen Decor to Add Personality to Your Space
- 12 Genius Renter-Friendly Bathroom Decorating Ideas to Make It Look Custom
10 Rental Apartment Decor Ideas
1. Add Color and Pattern
One of the simplest ways to add personality and character to a basic apartment is adding different colors, patterns and textures to your space.
In your living room, opt for some bold pillow colors on a neutral sofa and ground he space with a gorgeous patterned rug with similar colors. Doing so will instantly make the space feel more personal and homey.
2. Create a Gorgeous Coffee Table Moment
One of our most favorite things to do in any space we’ve lived in is to create a gorgeous coffee table moment. Complete with our favorite coffee table books, a vase of florals and of course a bowl of candy.
It’s all about making the table decor stylish, meaningful to your lifestyle and adding bits of fun for you and your guests to enjoy.
3. Add a Comfortable Dining Space
Even in the smallest of apartments, there can be a way to create a comfortable dining space. We absolutely love how this small bistro table and cozy accent chairs adds the perfect area to eat meals or serve food for parties.
Additionally, moving the table all the way against the wall still creates a clear pathway into the living room while not compromising the look and feel of the apartment.
4. Swap Out the Small Details
@reserve_home everything we’ve done to our NYC apartment to add charm over the last two years 🥀 #beforeandafter #homedecor #interiordesign ♬ original sound – Mallory
Swapping out small details like door knobs, outlet covers and towel hooks can seriously make the difference. There are so many different styles and options to choose from, so once you pin down the aesthetic and designs style of your apartment, you can make those small and easy changes later — further elevating your home and making it feel custom.
5. Create Different Zones
If you live in a small apartment, it’s super important to create zones. Whether you choose to divide the space or not, you still have the ability to have a living room, office, dining space and more. Maximizing your apartment with storage and smaller scaled furniture is a great way to achieve this.
6. Make the Most of a Small Kitchen
The kitchen is by far our most favorite room in an apartment, and many times they can be super small. However, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise your style to create a beautiful kitchen you love spending time in.
Using renter-friendly solutions like peel and stick floor tile, peel and stick backsplash and swapping out hardware will instantly transform your kitchen.
7. Build Functional Storage and Multipurpose Spaces
@akminteriors Creating a breakfast nook with extra kitchen storage! I matched the paint color to the kitchen cabinets & painted 2 Ikea bookcases that color, made shelves, and added seating. Very renter friendly – only 4 holes made total for the middle shelves! #renterfriendly #apartmentdecor #apartmenthacks #diningroomdecor #apartmentliving ♬ Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
When living in a small apartment, you’ll most likely have to built more ways to store items and create multipurpose spaces. This kitchen nook with built-in shelves is a perfect example of that. The shelves that frame the dining banquette is the perfect place to store extra dishes and decorative items, while creating a cozy, elevated breakfast nook and dining space.
8. Lean Into a Cozy, Elevated Style
One of the most popular aesthetics over the past few years has been the Nancy Meyers home aesthetic. It’s full of texture, comfortable seating and elevated decorative elements. If you’re looking for a cozy way to decorate your apartment, this is beautiful design style to be inspired by.
9. Hang a Curtain to Divide a Studio Apartment
@secondswithsarah 6 months in my little studio 🏠 #apartmenttour #studioapartment #nyc #homedecor #newyork #homedesign ♬ original sound – Sofia Richie Grainge
Are you living in a studio apartment and struggling to find a way to create a bedroom space? We love the idea of hanging a curtain to divide the bedroom space from the living room in this studio apartment. It still allows the natural light to stream in, but creates a divider as well.
10. Personalize Your Small Bathroom
@reserve_home we’ve been busy over here making some updates in our bathroom! the wallpaper from @McGee & Co. is the star of the show imo 🫶 #beforeandafter #roommakeover #nycapartment #bathroommakeover ♬ Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller
Apartment bathrooms can often be the last space you choose to personalize, but it will transform your mood when getting ready in the morning. Add some personality to the space with some peel and stick wallpaper. Then, swap out the mirror, towel hook and outlet light switch cover with something that reflects your design style.
