Our designer-inspired décor tips are renter-friendly updates that will make any space magazine-worthy.
Apartment decorating doesn’t have to be an afterthought. You may be limited in square footage or restricted by your landlord in terms of structural updates (no knocking down walls here!), but you can still make a big impact with clever design tricks and efficient use of space.
From navigating old lighting to maximizing charming details to creating bold style in a small room, you can create an apartment home that feels like an intentional, upscale retreat rather than a leftover from your college dorm room days. Here are 20 apartment decorating ideas that will help you transform your unit, whether it’s a postage stamp studio or a sprawling pre-war palace.
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 Kelly, 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.
Keep the Color Palette Monochromatic
While there’s the argument for going bold in an apartment, there’s also something to be said for keeping the color palette more monochromatic to make a space seem larger. In this urban apartment bedroom from Kathy Kuo Home, she’s played up a black-and-white color palette to make the space feel elegant and refined.
Incorporate Your Story
Your apartment is your place to tell your story, and, if you have collections from your travels, favorite flea market finds, or inherited treasures, display them! Laura Britt, president and managing principal Britt Design Group says, “Find a way of bringing all the things that are important to you into a mindful design aesthetic. You don’t throw everything and the kitchen sink in — there is bit of curation and intentionality. It’s the opposite of sterile modernist approach.”
Britt recommends using a color palette or a specific era or trip as a theme to keep it cohesive yet collected.
Carve Out a Place for Everything
The best way to make an apartment seem intentional and styled is to minimize the amount of stuff in it. “A clutter-free apartment is a truly elevated apartment. When everything has its place, it creates a sense of calm, which can be helpful in smaller spaces,” says Kelly.
