Feel at Home: 10 Tips for Decorating Your First Apartment

Posted On October 14, 2022

Your first apartment is a blank canvas that lets you have free reign in terms of its design. Decorating your first apartment can be a way for you to express your creativity and aesthetics. Here are a few tips that you can follow to help you start your design journey in making your first apartment your own.

Tips for Decorating Your First Apartment

We’ve listed down a few decorating ideas that you can try out once you start decorating your first apartment. Follow these tips so you can refurbish your ideal home in the best and most stylish way possible.

1. Select Ideal Furniture for Your Interior

For starters, you should always consider the space that you’re working with. This means choosing the right size of furniture that will let you maximize the floorplan of your apartment. Smaller spaces tend to work with multi-purpose furniture like stools with built-in storage and tables that have adjustable surface areas. 

Modular pieces are also perfect for furnishing your first apartment since it lets you use your space efficiently without compromising their functionality. Avoid using oversized furniture as it can make your space appear cramped and uncomfortable.

2. Display Your Favorite Artwork and Paintings on the Walls

Be creative and pick decors that reflect your personality. You can hang different prints, paintings, and other decors on your walls to make your space look livelier. You can also mix and match these decors so your home will have a different look without you having to rearrange the entire space. You can also be bold and use different wallpaper instead of keeping your bare walls to suit your prints and paintings.

3. Go With Neutral and Earth-Toned Colors

Choosing the right color palette is also a key element in having a strong foundation for the design of your space. You can start with neutral tones like beige, ivory, and taupe if you want a more minimalistic approach to your space. These colors complement wooden flooring and earth-toned furniture. They also make your apartment look more spacious and inviting. Having a defined color scheme makes it much easier to choose and match your furniture and other decors for your apartment.

4. Add Houseplants and Ornaments 

Having indoor plants in your apartment gives your space that much-needed pop of color. It also improves the air quality inside your space. Using houseplants and other related ornaments is often associated with Bohemian aesthetics. If you want to follow this design idea, you can put succulents in specific corners of your home and layer rugs on your floors to give it a cozy and rustic boho vibe.

5. Make Your Space Cozier Using Rugs and Curtains

You can also utilize rugs and curtains to help you separate specific areas of your apartment. Other than the usual window curtains for your privacy, they also add a certain elegance to your space and help you control the amount of natural light coming inside your home. You can also place rugs on specific floor areas to set your living room, dining area, and lounge or office space apart. This works in most spaces, especially in apartments with an open concept. Using rugs and curtains in this way lets you maximize your space and keep it from looking cramped.

Using rugs gives your space extra color and texture for that added warmth and coziness as well. They add additional texture to your home, giving it more character.

6. Explore Using Different Light Fixtures 

Some apartments will have enough windows to let in natural light inside your rooms. However, if you have a windowless apartment, you should make the most out of your lights and ceilings to make your space feel less dull. 

You can use pendant lighting to save space since these fixtures hang from the ceiling. You can also hang stylish lamps and faux chandeliers to upgrade the look of your home without using much space. Having the proper type and amount of lighting lets you maximize your space and make each room or area in your apartment look good and function properly.

7. Use Stacked Books and Magazines as Accent Decor

A pile of books can add some style and sophistication to your space. Instead of getting bulky bookshelves and wall installations, you can place the books beside your furniture for that extra pop of color and texture. Make sure not to overdo it and have a few books out at a time to avoid making your space cluttered and unorganized.

8. Use Mirrors to Lighten and Open Up Your Space

Mirrors can create the illusion of space by reflecting light and color around the room. You can place them beside your windows so they can reflect more natural light, or put them near your furniture to make your room appear bigger and more spacious.

You can put a chic mirrored headboard or hang matching vertical mirrors above the nightstands or put a full-length mirror against your wall. You can also use circular mirrors for your bathroom to keep its classy and serene feel.

9. Add Soothing and Scented Candles

If you want something different for your first apartment, you can always use scented candles. Choose those with a subtle aroma to give your space a cozy and intimate atmosphere. You can also scatter these candles around your space and use them as part of your decor.

10. Declutter Your Space Regularly

Since you’re decorating your first apartment, you might be tempted to put everything that looks nice in it. Even if you have a big space to work with, it’s always ideal to declutter and reorganize your home whenever necessary. This lets your home breathe and see which items and decor you need. Keeping your things well-organized will let you maximize your limited storage and maintain the functionality of your space.

Spruce Up Your Apartment With the Right Decor and Furniture

One of the most exciting things about moving out is decorating your apartment. From choosing elegant wallpapers and rugs to selecting ideal furniture pieces, there are many ways you can showcase your personality through how you decorate your home. For more style inspirations, visit Cyrus Rugs to check out more tips on decorating with rugs and other design ideas.