Apartment decorating can be fun and exciting. Especially if it’s your first apartment! You get to have your own space that you’re in control of. But all that freedom could get overwhelming.

A lot of new tenants find themselves confused about how to decorate their apartments. Most of the time, you’re moving into somewhere completely blank. The walls are blank and the rooms are bare.

With so many things to consider, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of furniture and decor choices. But with a little planning and creativity, you can transform your empty apartment into the perfect space that reflects you and your needs.

Read on and we’ll provide you with some tips that will help you decorate your apartment.

1. Planning is Everything

Decorating an apartment could seem daunting. It’s important to plan things out before actually buying things. You need to consider things like furniture, colors, and styles. Take some time to think about what you want your place to look and feel like. 

It’s crucial that you think about the size and layout of your apartment along with any restrictions like budget or your landlord’s rules.

It might be a smart idea to write down or draw some ideas. It’s definitely helpful to draw out your apartment’s layout. This way you can see how furniture might look in different places. This website is helpful for creating custom room layouts. You might be in some trouble if you buy some furniture that doesn’t fit or makes a room look cramped.

A website screenshot showing a room layout displays a rug with a couch and two seats on it.

The site is really handy! You can customize the size of different furniture, rugs, and structure of the apartment.

Try experimenting with a color palette, too! Nothing too crazy, just a set of two or three colors that you want to stick with when decorating. It’d be great if you can find inspiration from the colors of your floor or walls so that you don’t have to repaint them

Taking the time to plan out your apartment will result in a more cohesive end product.

2. Use Mirrors

Mirrors are functional and gorgeous. They’re a great addition to any space, especially if that space is small. They can make your apartment feel larger, brighter, and more open.

Here are some tips for using mirrors:

  • Hang a mirror opposite of a window to reflect natural light.
  • Try using a large mirror to create the illusion of more space.
  • Use an artistic mirror that has a beautiful frame or a unique shape.
  • Put a mirror up in the hallway to check how you look and create the illusion of a grand hallway.

Mirrors are so underrated. They’re fantastic for managing light and opening up the room. Plus, they help you look your best!

3. Get Creative With Storage

Many first-time apartment dwellers make the mistake of implementing storage an afterthought. Storage could be tricky to deal with, especially in a small place.

Use vertical space when implementing space. You can use shelves, bookcases, and wall-mounted organizers to maximize storage on your walls.

Furniture with built-in drawers are a great solution for storage. A bed with drawers or a desk with drawers is great for apartments.

Maximize your closet space. Use a hanging organizer or throw a rolling drawer in there. This will optimize your closet space and allow you to put more than just clothes in it.

You can also ask your friends or family members to hold something for you. They might be able to store a bicycle you don’t use often, for example. As a last resort, invest in a storage unit.

Storage is an important part of any home that you should be considering from the start. Take inventory of all your belongings and try to find a place for them!

4. Don’t Forget About Lighting

Lighting can make a real difference. A dimly lit place is going to look sad and bring you down. A well-lit home is going to bring the space to life.

Natural light is your best friend. Take note of where all the windows are and try to base your layout off of that. Don’t let any furniture block the windows.

\ Making the most of natural light is important, but mastering artificial light is another art entirely. You can use fairy lights, LED lights, or lamps to brighten up any dark corners.

Lighting against a wall

5. Bring the Walls to Life

Bare walls could really ruin your apartment’s look. You should put photos, artwork, and mirrors up on the walls.

A woman hangs a picture

Click here for a picture hanging set on Amazon that includes everything you need to put photos on your apartment’s walls.

Click here to learn how to hang a picture in 5 easy steps.

6. Add Greenery

Plants can make a place look, smell, and feel nicer.

An apartment has many plants around it.

Adding taller plants in the corners of a room could complete the look and make a corner look less intimidating. Smaller plants would look best on a window sill or on larger furniture. Tiny succulents would look amazing on your desk.

7. Put Some Rugs Down

Rugs are a great way to control where attention and energy is focused. They’re also really comfortable to walk on if you’re barefoot or in socks!

A rug lays in the middle of a room with a sofa above it.

Use rugs to define spaces. If you’re designing an area for you and your friends to sit and talk, then a rug could be a great way to center everything. You should put the sofa and chairs along the edge of the rug.

Rugs could also be used in your hallways to create a walkway. Hallways feel so much better with a rug running down the center.

Plush rugs in bedrooms could make them feel cozy and warm.

The main function of rugs is to protect your floors. Put a rug where you’re going to be standing while cooking. Place a rug near the entrance.

Be creative with colors, shapes, and sizes. Create contrast with rugs.

Conclusion

Creating an inviting home is tricky. Especially in an apartment. Your place will come together nicely with enough planning, patience, and creativity.