This post is all about simple apartment decorating ideas. This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you use my links to purchase certain items, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. I’ve also chosen to keep this site ad-free to keep it clean and enjoyable to read, so if you find my content helpful, using my links is one of the best ways to support me. Thank you so much
I’m here to share 5 of my tried-and-true apartment decorating ideas. You can use them to make your boring rental come to life in no time, without breaking the bank. Who am I? No one really, LOL! But I have lived in 12 different apartments, and I’m soon to be on the move again. So I have figured out how to spruce up even the ugliest of apartments!
Most of these suggestions are apartment decorating ideas on a budget. No paint or peel-and-stick involved. These are truly renter-friendly decor ideas that you do not need to stress about. The idea is:
Get people to look at your stuff. This will distract them from the white or beige walls, older cabinets, chipped baseboards, or flooring that has seen better days.
5 Apartment Decorating Ideas
1. Add Plants
Okay, plants bring any space to life. I never even noticed this until COVID hit, and I was sitting in my apartment more than I had in the past. The place just felt like it was missing something. Then I was gifted a few plants, and I realized my place was missing life, like literally!
Now I get it, not everyone has a green thumb (though I think you can easily learn:) But even faux plants get the job done. They both liven and brighten up your space.
If you’re new to plants, you may enjoy these posts:
5 Things Every New Plant Mom Should Know
How To Care For String of Pearls | Easy Must Know Tips
2. Add Color Without Painting
This rental tip can be done cost-effectively for sure, but also, you could purchase some larger items as well. It all depends on your budget and current circumstances. Even adding small, colorful items will make a difference.
Ways of adding color to your apartment:
- Purchase colored furniture or paint furniture
- Add textiles for a pop of color: Throw blankets, hand towels, bath towels, shower curtains, bedding, throw pillows, etc.
- Place rugs
- Bring in seasonal florals
- Add artwork
Shop My Photo
Before you start decorating, make sure you understand the one decorating rule that ties everything together: The Renter Friendly Decorating Rule That Makes a Rental Feel Like Home
3. Display Your Own Photos as Art
I’ll be honest, I rarely buy artwork from a store. My husband took the photo above, and I have used it in a gallery wall. I have traveled so much, and I have a phone full of those travels and flowers. Why would I pay for someone else’s photos of Paris or a bunch of flowers when I have my own attached to a memory or a moment?
I promise, you’ll have people asking if you took the photos yourself and they’ll end up being conversation starters. My favortite way to display photos is:
- Have them enlarged and printed on a canvas (See an example below. I had a photo from our hot air balloon ride from Turkey made into a canvas)
- Get different sizes printed, some large for a focal point piece and some smaller ones to place on open shelving or act as fillers on a gallery wall.
- Use Mixtiles to create a gallery wall with ease
- Use an app to create a photo coffee table book
4. Decorate With Souvenirs From Your Travels
This is one of my favorite rental tips. Not only does it bring your travels home with you, reminding you of all of the places you have been privileged to experience, but it also adds character, which most rentals, especially complex rentals, often lack. It’s not that you can never buy decor from box stores and known names, but you may want to weave in unique finds from your travels to make your space feel more like you.
The idea is to collect pieces that tell a story…
I often try to have a list on my phone of items I actually need. Then, when I am on vacation, I search for these items. This will keep you from buying random trinkets you don’t actually need. My go to items tend to be:
- Tea/coffee mugs
- Coasters
- Kitchen utensils unique to an area I’m visiting
- Catch all dishes
- Small textiles such as placemats, hand towels, dishtowels, or pillow covers
- Cute postcards or prints by local artists: A postcard costs like $5, and I throw them in a frame and call it a day.
- Plant pots or Vases
You may enjoy this post: Travel Souvenirs | How to Buy the Perfect Souvenirs For Your Rental Space
5. Layer Warm Lighting
- Swap cool light bulbs for warm LED bulbs
- Layer lighting with floor lamps, table lamps, and sconces.
- This simple rental hack can even make cool, harsh paint choices look warmer and more cozy. It really softens the space and can help you handle living with paint colors you didn’t have the luxury of choosing yourself.
This post was all about 5 Apartment Decorating Ideas
You May Like…
How To Decorate White Walls Without Painting (9 Renter-Friendly Ideas)
5 Must Have Ikea Products For Apartments
How to Brighten a Dark Room | 7 Renter Friendly Tips
The Renter Friendly Decorating Rule That Makes a Rental Feel Like Home
