15 Most Life-Changing Tips for Decorating Your First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment? You probably want to make it homey, am I right? Here are 15 of the best tips for decorating your first apartment that'll instantly beautify your space!

I know exactly how exciting it is to move out & finally have a space of your own!

But there comes a LOT of confusion when it comes to decorating your first apartment. There are tons of ways to go wrong: you don't have a strategy or a vision, you haven't developed a budget, you're accepting freebies without considering how they could impact your space or you're overcrowding it with tons of tiny decor items.

However, as someone who's basically committed all kinds of design crimes, I'm here to help you out!

Here are my top 16 tips for decorating your first apartment that are guaranteed to help you create your dream home - and they're super easy and inexpensive as well!

THE BEST TIPS FOR DECORATING YOUR FIRST APARTMENT

01. Everything starts with a vision

Decorating your first apartment is a whole strategy! You can't just go ahead & buy everything you lay your eyes on without a proper vision, because that'll result in a disastrous outcome!

It's important that you have a vision right from the start! Start planning what you want your first apartment to look like months before going apartment hunting! Use Pinterest or Canva to create moodboards of each room and try to find the exact same or very similar furniture & decor to those on your board!

Also develop a budget & stick to it! Apart from your personal taste, money the second most important factor that influences your furniture+ decor choices!

02. Try to get freebies, but be mindful

I know, I know, I was also over the moon when a few of my relatives & family friends helped me out with hand-me-down furniture. But to avoid making your first apartment look tacky, you REALLY gotta be mindful!

You need to resist the temptation of freebies, whether it's hand-me-down furniture, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace finds

Not everything will fit your vibe & the planned aesthetics of your home. While some furniture only need a new coat of paint or new upholstery to fit into your first home nicely, some old pieces are just not worth it!

So don't rush into decisions that might hurt the aesthetics of your home! It's better to turn an offer down than to have to look at mismatched furniture all day long.

03. Choose appropriate rugs

One of the most helpful tips for decorating your first apartment is to choose the right rugs for your home! And I'm not only talking size, but also design, pattern & materials!

This is easier said than done, so here are a few tips that always work:

A rug too big is just as bad as a rug too small: a large rug will make your home look disproportional, a small one will narrow it down like crazy. Try to tailor your rug choices to the furniture layout you have in mind: it's best if you choose a rug that's 5-6 inches wider than the legs of the furniture the rug is under!
Keep it simple: rugs made out of simple, natural materials should always be prioritized! Rattan, cotton, wool or jute rugs will make your apartment look more expansive than it actually is.
Minimal patterns & colors are the way to go: yes, keeping it simple is basically the main principle you should be following. But who said simple means boring? Minimal patterns & subtle colors are a MUST! Striped, checkered, geometric lines, boho patterns in fun neutrals, like brown, black & white or grey are all great rug choices!

Remember, go with rugs that are eventful enough to draw the eyes in, but simple enough to avoid overcrowding your space!

04. Add greenery

If there's one thing that we always forget about is to add some greenery! But fresh, seasonal flowers & potted plants are the perfect way to vitalize your apartment right away!

So don't forget to include them into your first apartment design! Scatter a few potted plants, indoor trees in woven baskets & vases full of fresh flowers across your whole space & enjoy their positive effects on your home!

05. Don't overcrowd your space

The excitement of your first apartment can lead to irrational decisions regarding decor. I've been there! I was SOO excited to move out & personalize my space. I got a bunch of sculptures, like a 1000 candle holders & an unnecessary amount of framed printables for my first home.

Don't be like that! You don't need too many tiny decorative items, they're only going to overcrowd your space & make it look tacky.

It's best if you invest in a few statement pieces, like textured canvas art, a large vase or an extravagant pot. Trust me, less is more! Such statement pieces will instantly catch the eyes, but since you only have a few of them, the space as a whole won't feel too conflicting.

06. Use mirrors to enhance the interior

I'll let you one of the best tips for decorating your first apartment that many interior designers swear be! It's to use mirrors as much as you can!

Mirrors are one of the most inexpensive, yet impactful ways to decorate your first apartment. They let you accessorize boring, empty walls, and they also make your space feel airier, brighter & more energized!

So they might just be the key to a cute first apartment decor! Incorporate them into each room: hang them on your walls, or simple prop them against them & place a few full-lenght mirrors into empty corners as well!

07. Keep it proportional

I know just how exciting furnishing your first apartment is. However, sometimes we treat our very first apartment as our first house. They're clearly not the same & we should be treating them as so!

I know, I've been there! We pick furniture that are WAAAY too big for our apartments out of pure excitement, we just want to make it look super homey.

But not only are you taking up much of your living space with this, but you're also making your apartment look disproportional!

So resist the temptation of large furniture! You definitely don't need a large sectional for your first apartment living room, instead opt for a loveseat! You don't need a king sized bed either, stick with a double or queen bed. And you most likely don't need a giant rectangular dining table that can fit 6-8 people! A small, round one will suffice!

08. Invest in timeless lighting

If you want the best for your first apartment, you'll invest in evergreen statement lighting! Contemporary globe lights are literally the BEST, especially those that have metallic details.

Why is this important, though? Well, elegant statement lights are a great way to decorate your first apartment & enhance its aesthetics even more. Contemporary globe, clear glass, but even rattan chandeliers, pendant lights & wall sconces will add such an elegant, classy touch to your space without you having to splurge on more decor items.

09. Personalize your space

Remember, your first apartment should reflect your personal style! But style is not everything! A first apartment should also be a reflection of who you are: your experiences, the people you love & maybe even your future goals!

So don't get caught up with making your apartment look too much! Put effort into personalizing your home as well!

Hang framed photos of you & your loved ones, place your favourite framed moments (whether it's you in your favourite dining spot or on the best vacation you've ever took) on console tables or shelves. Heck, if you have awards that you're very proud of, don't be shy & display them somewhere! Or if you're into spirituality, frame your vision board & hang it above your sofa / bed!

10. Quality linens go a long way

Investing in quality linens is one of the most (if not THE most) important tips for decorating your first apartment you'll ever come across!

Just like quality lighting options, quality linens also add a touch of elegance to your space & make it feel like a luxury 5 star hotel! Really!! So it's definitely worth spending more a little bit on bedding, bed sheets, pillow covers, throw blankets & curtains!

And not just because of this! You can easily take your linens with you if you decide to move. High-quality linens will serve for YEARS, and no matter how different of a home you're moving into, your linens are sure to fit every aesthetic!

11. Opt for multi-purpose pieces

One of the most useful tips for decorating your first apartment is to invest in multifunctional / multi-purpose furniture!

Contrary to popular belief, multifunctional pieces are not only helpful for small apartments. Even if you have plenty of space, it might be a good idea to have a few pieces that are either convertible or multi-purpose.

I'm speaking from experience! I thought I could easily set up my home office next to my bedroom, but I couldn't. That would have been the SINGLE perfect place in my whole apartment, but it didn't work out. So I had to get a pop-up coffee table, which I love & would recommend you buy too!

So yes, you can never be sure you have enough space for your home office! And you can also never be sure your apartment bedroom can fit a vanity table! But even if they COULD, it's good to save that extra space for something else, like a storage unit!

12. Make sure you have enough storage

If there's one thing you always need more of in your first apartment, it's definitely storage! And yes, storage CAN be used for decorating, even if it seems impossible at first.

So go ahead & kill two birds with one stone! Place a cube organizer, bookcase or console table into every empty corner or along the walls that seem awkwardly empty. Grab a few decorative woven storage baskets to make something so functional seem pretty!

Even patterned cardboard boxes or clear storage bins could be used for decoration!

This way, you'll not only have a few extra inches of storage space, BUT you'll also have something nice to look at!

13. Hide wires, radiators & everything not too pretty

Wires, radiators & AC's out in pure sight are such an eyesore! Lucky for you, one of the most useful tips for decorating your first apartment will solve this problem! And that is, to hide all functionality of your home!

Hide TV wires in a wall cable channel, organize messy cords & cables in a cable management box or disguise radiators as console tables with the help of radiator covers!

These changes are super easy to do, but will result in a huge positive impact on the aesthetics of your first apartment!

14. Swap out nasty hardware

Swapping out old, outdated hardware is a sure-fire way to instantly elevate your first apartment! Of course, you'll have to contact your landlord beforehand, but it's worth the effort!

See, with a new set of brushed nickel, gold, brass or black metal hardware set, you can make your apartment look 10 times better very inexpensively!

So swap out all your basic door knobs, drawer pulls, handles & towel holders! It's gonna change your design, like crazy!

15. Find renter-friendly temporary solutions

Your first apartment probably won't be the last. Every renter knows that their first apartment was basically only good for finding out their preferences & what they need & don't need in an apartment.

Nevertheless, it's great to make the space feel like YOU! You'll never know how long you'll actually stay, so let your personality shine through & put effort into making it feel like a real home.

So experiment with decor & find temporary solutions that can be reversed, and won't cost you your security deposit when you move out! Apply peel & stick wallpaper, use contact paper to freshen up old furniture or countertops, and try peel & stick floor tiles as well!

This post was all about the best tips for decorating your first apartment.

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