34 Apartment Decorating Ideas to Make Your First Rental Look and Feel Like Home

A built-in bookcase, a comfy chair, and good lighting officially designate this whimsical corner as the perfect reading nook. Designed by Andrew Flesher, the white shiplap and butterfly print surrounding the bookcase offers a whimsy feel. Arrange the books by color and play around with the setup so there's always something fun to look at.

Putting mirrors on all your walls to bounce light is one of the best apartment decorating ideas to make a room feel twice as big. Choose a soothing color for a monochromatic theme, as designer Benjamin Dhong did here. The green monochrome approach prevents the room from looking busy while the distressed fireplace mantel treatment and rich velvets warm it up.

Find inspiration in a Parisian apartment designed by Lichelle Silvestry, where luxe, warm, and texture-rich velvet seating further enhances the period elements. "I adore using materials that add character and authenticity to my interiors," Silvestry says. "It's a sensory feast."

See your wall art gallery from a new perspective! This Chicago apartment living room by interior designer Devin Kirk is a charming example of well-proportioned pairings. Mix frames of different colors and borders around your couch to encourage conversation and add personality.

Here's the ultimate party trick: Use a tiny coat closet as your living room's designated bar area. Your guests will be impressed as you step back to reveal a well-stocked bar. This one by Robert McKinley adds depth and intrigue, especially with the color-blocked hues.

The galley kitchen in this New York City apartment designed by Nannette Brown is an absolute showstopper. The window floods the space with light that reflects off the black tile. Plus, it proves you can maximize your dining arrangements with a built-in bench.

Nothing uplifts a room like a vase of fresh flowers! Even if you're the only person who will see them, keeping an arrangement in each room will make you (and the space, of course) feel ready to tackle the week ahead. Take a note from this bathroom by Anna Spiro Design, and opt for flowers that speak to a print used in the design.

Designer David Frazier wanted to warm up and personalize the more generic bones of this New York City apartment to make it feel more like a home. He accomplished that by customizing the window treatments and installing a modern sconce, both of which add dimension to the walls and cast a more flattering light.

Many railroad apartments have a windowless room at the center that connects the front and back rooms and relies on them for natural light. If you want to create separate zones or extra privacy, try a solution that doesn't create the extra problem of blocking light and flow. Here, Shari Frances did just that with frosted glass sliding barn doors. They're definitely not sound-proofed, but they won't block light like a solid door and will enhance your privacy.

In this open kitchen that's also the main living room and dining room, Heidi Cailier carved out distinct zones that still visually flow nicely together and don't overcrowd the room. She didn't sacrifice a dining table, but she did shrink it down to ensure that it doesn't cramp the living area's style.

Simplicity in layout and color scheme can often be best in smaller spaces, as proven in this tiny New York City bathroom designed by Shawn Henderson. This formula (pretty shelves, matching hardware, and simple, high-end accessories) is also always an easy win in a rental. High-end brackets that match the hardware and other surfaces will keep it feeling consistent. Oh, and a fancy room spray is always a plus too.

If you don't want to install sliding doors or it just isn't feasible in your apartment, consider placing a rod from wall to wall and then hang a curtain, as ETC.etera did here. In a studio, dividing your living and sleeping areas is the best way to make the place where you crash feel more like home. Get creative with room separators, opting for screens, benches, or even a tall bookcase.

You can make a small apartment work harder with just a few stylish items. And this is especially useful in a tiny entryway. Here, Tamsin Johnson Interiors chose two sculptural hooks for coats and bags, a slim and stylish basket for umbrellas, a chic accent chair for sliding in and out of shoes, and a mirror that dresses up the wall and also allows for last-minute touchups.

In this Chicago apartment, designer and occupant Devin Kirk built a home bar in a small closet niche. He made it pop by painting it Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball, adding and a fabric skirt to conceal extra storage, and hanging matching wallpaper on the back cubby wall. Being ready to entertain and prepping your space accordingly is an easy way to make your apartment feel all grown-up.

Nothing shows you're adulting like window treatments that aren't made of paper or plastic. Design firm ETC.etera opted for striped Roman shades, but flowing curtains could also do the trick. Either way, the right window treatments will make your space feel more polished (and enable you to sleep in!).

To make a rental feel more personal and homey, make your mark with a monogramed shower curtain, towels, or robe. Then add artwork and decor to polish it off. Alexander Reid used a garden stool and filled all the blank surface space with a gallery wall.

Your entryway might also be your kitchen, living room, and, well, basically everything but the bathroom. Or you might have a few awkward transitional zones like landings and hallways throughout the apartment. Either way, don't overlook those little little corners and nooks. Here, Danielle Colding chose a perfectly sized dresser and styled it with artwork, a vase, and a mirror, all of which reflect the colors featured in the rug.

The biggest mistake you can make while furnishing your first apartment is not thinking about how you actually want to live in it. If you work from home, for example, establish a layout that prioritizes a home office, whether it has its own room or a designated corner by a window, like this one in designer Krsnaa Mehta's home. Do you like to cook and eat in or host dinner parties? A big dining table that can double as a workspace during the day might be better for you.

A home isn't quite a home without a well-stocked kitchen. The basic essentials include cookware, a coffee machine, a toaster, and fruit bowls, to name a few. If you have limited storage space and need to display appliances, consider investing in appliances (how pretty is this espresso machine in a kitchen by AP Design House?) that get the job done while also beautifying your countertops.

Not only will a headboard and/or bed frame serve as a focal point in your bedroom, but it'll be a major upgrade from putting your mattress directly on the floor. You'll never have to rest your head against the wall again! For some guidance, take notes from this space designed by Arent & Pyke. The curves of this headboard along with the warm, deep colors ground the room and fill it with an edgy intensity, while pink linens soften things up.