20 essential tips for apartment decorating on a budget (2024)

There are a lot of perks to apartment living — pools! Gyms! Never having to mow a lawn! — but decorating isn’t exactly one of them. Stuck with the whims of landlords trying to outfit a space on the cheap, tenants don’t have nearly the same range of options that homeowners do when it comes time to decorate.

But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Flip through the slideshow below for 20 essential tips and tricks for making your apartment a nice oasis that fits your style.

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The fastest way to not get an apartment deposit back is to leave the walls full of nail-holes when moving out, and that scenario is really easy to avoid. Use adhesive hanging strips, like those made by 3M’s Command brand, to hang photos and other wall art without causing any damage. Note: be sure to check the weight limit for the hanging strips you’ve purchased before anchoring anything heavy to the wall.

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One of the easiest ways to make your home feel a little more luxurious is to invest in a quality shower head. Most apartments are outfitted with the most basic of options, and there are so many better showerheads on the market. If you’ve got a big shower, consider a rainfall showerhead for ultimate luxury.

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Painting is a controversial subject in the world of apartments: some tenants love it, and some landlords ban it. If your building allows tenants to paint, keep the post-move repainting to a minimum by painting an accent wall in your space. It will add a bright pop of color without requiring you to repaint the whole living room on move day.

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Even easier than paint, temporary wallpaper is available in countless prints and patterns. It may be a little challenging to hang — keeping all those weird air bubbles out is a real pain — but the visual payoff of good-quality temporary wallpaper is massive. Go for a tropical-themed print for island vibes in the bathroom, or keep it calm with a pastel ombre in the bathroom.

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The flooring situation in an apartment can’t really be changed, but area rugs offer a budget-friendly way to make these surfaces more compelling. Peruse vintage shops for antique rugs with interesting patterns, or buy rag rugs in tons of colors and place them strategically throughout your space for maximum payoff.

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A backsplash just makes a kitchen look more finished, but they’re really pretty easy to DIY. Home improvement stores sell a wide variety of peel-and-stick tiles, many of which look seriously impressive. Use the tiles to create a farmhouse-inspired backsplash in the kitchen, or spruce up the walls in a boring bathroom.

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Cabinet handles, drawer pulls, and other finishings can be really tacky in an apartment, but they’re among the easiest design elements to change. Available in multipacks at home improvement stores and individually at decor purveyors like Cost Plus World Market and Anthropologie, adding cute drawer pulls only involves changing out a few screws. Just make sure to save all the pulls for move-out day, when you’ll have to change them all back.

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In a space without a ton of storage? Get creative with bins and baskets and unconventional spaces, like the tops of cabinets or random, unused corners. It’s also possible to turn these spots into interesting decor moments via artfully arranged canisters or vintage hat boxes that can store necessary items while adding visual interest.

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If painting is out of the question, the best way to add excitement to drab apartment walls is via lots of colorful art. Whether it's supporting working local artists or finding surprisingly affordable vintage pieces at thrift stores or antique malls, you don’t have to spend a lot to get a lot of decorative bang for your buck.

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They’re a little challenging to plan and do require accumulating several pieces of art in advance, but a carefully curated gallery wall can really step up the look of any living room. Consider a theme — perhaps calming landscapes, or beloved family photos — and use tape to plan out exactly where you’ll place each piece before hammering any holes into the wall.

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Literally bringing life to small apartments with even the most challenging lighting conditions, houseplants make any room look cheerier. Spaces with lots of light offer lots of options, ranging from stunning succulents to the dramatic foliage of plants like monstera deliciosa. If you’re a plant newbie or are living in a space with less natural light, easy-to-keep varieties like golden pothos and ZZ plants will thrive with little attention.

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Sometimes, taking care of plants just isn’t in the cards, and that’s okay. Fortunately, fake plants look a lot better now than their super-tacky ‘70s predecessors. With no need for watering and a lifespan that lasts forever, they’re an easy addition to a space that could use a little more brightness.

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Both functional and attractive, simple floating shelves are easy to install and perfect for displaying your favorite decorative pieces. Use bins to keep them organized, or simply arrange elements like plants and stacks of vintage books for a put-together decorative space.

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Sometimes, you have to play tricks on your eyes to make cramped spaces more inviting. Mirrors do a great job of that by reflecting light and making rooms look bigger. Scour thrift stores and vintage shops for mirrors in cool frames, or keep it minimalist with a classic rectangle shape.

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Nothing makes a space look less put-together than clutter like phone chargers, unopened mail, and other random junk. Use charging stations to keep phone cords organized, and keep mail tucked away in an organizer to minimize clutter eyesores, and make regular sweeps of your countertops to keep everything tidy.

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Whether richly scented or purely decorative, candles add both warm lighting and decorative interest to a space, and they can be endlessly affordable. Spruce up a boring dining area with an artsy candelabra, or arrange different heights of pillar candles in a variety of colors on a tray for an eclectic touch.

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It’s a bit more involved than hanging a few photos, but cheap mini-blinds are a real bummer. Cover them up with nice drapery, or splurge a bit on wider wood (or faux wood) blinds that look a little more upscale.

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When you think about it, pretty much anything can be decor. That even goes for boring, functional items like coasters, pot holders, and doorknobs. If you don’t have a ton of space to be creative, use these small flourishes to show off your design vibe. Add vibrant agate slice coasters to a basic coffee table, serve dinner in pretty vintage dishes, or invest in a funky end table that is both stylish and functional.

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A lot of smaller kitchens lack efficient storage, but it’s easy to make the best out of that situation. Use inexpensive metal racks to show off the vibrant colors of your produce and pantry items, artfully arranging canned goods and pastas stored in glass jars to look like fancy gourmet store displays. It can be a little challenging to maintain, but the visual payoff is worth it.

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You might not be able to do anything about the drab surroundings if your landlord is being a real pain, but there’s nothing stopping you from adding a fresh coat of paint to your coffee table or night stand. Use bright, inviting colors like creamy yellows, calming blues, and fun pops of brighter hues like coral to take your space to the next level.