19 Apartment Decorating Hacks

Confession: I’ve lived in student housing for the last 6 years. Yikes. Some of my apartments have been better than others, but they’ve all been small and very basic as far as amenities go. My current apartment is a cozy little 3-bedroom. There’s no air conditioning, no dishwasher, and no washer/dryer. I don’t have fancy carpet or cute white kitchen cabinets (insert crying here). But I’ve made it work! I’m always flattered when people tell me that it feels good to be in my apartment, because I’ve done my best to keep it clean and decorate it well. I have a real-life budget and I try to make good decisions. 

Here’s a few things that have been helpful to me in creating a space I truly love despite the limitations I’ve been given.

1. Command hooks are your best friend. I especially love the velcro ones, because they can hang your frames completely flat! 
2. The best way to decorate is to clean.
3. Anything in sets of threes looks classy and elegant.
4. Don’t be afraid of old/funky/thrift store items. I once read that you should ask yourself, “If I saw this in Anthropologie, would I think it’s cute?” If the answer is yes, BUY IT! 
5. Pick one neutral color and work with it. It’s easy to go overboard with colors and patterns. Choose one neutral color as your base and find fun accent colors. 
6. Beware the gallery wall. A gallery wall with hundreds of little frames can make a small apartment feel dark and cluttered. Keep it simple, stupid. 
7. Empty glass jars can be beautiful decor.
8. Candles are magic.
9. Trays and baskets are the best way to decorate kitchen and coffee tables. It doesn’t really matter what you put in them, as long as it’s in a basket, it looks good! 
10. Hang ONE dish towel on your oven, and make it match your decor.
11. Rugs, curtains, and throw pillows are the easiest way to make an apartment look like a home. No matter what your carpet and walls look like, you can give the illusion of a well-decorated home with matching rug, curtains, and pillows. 
12. Cute towels can double as throw blankets.
13. Stacks of books can be great decor.
14. Put something on the front door. I think hanging a wreath on the front door is the equivalent of putting shoes on your feet. It just makes everything complete. 
15. Don’t be afraid to go BIG! Oversized art, plants, and furniture can look modern and cool. Don’t get oversized everything, though or you’ll feel like a doll in a giant’s house. 
16. Utility carts are a cute way to get more storage.
17. You don’t need to put something on every wall.
18. You DO need to put something on the main walls.
19. Don’t hate on the Dollar Tree! I’ve found great baskets and storage options at Dollar Tree and you really can't beat the price.

It’s easy to feel discouraged when you’re renting an apartment. Don’t assume that because you don’t own your apartment, it has to be ugly and dirty. Take pride in your physical environment! Make it your own!

♡♡♡
Rebecca