How To Decorate Your Apartment On A Budget

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When you live in an apartment or small home, it may seem like you don’t have the room or budget to decorate it the way you would like. But decorating your apartment doesn’t have to cost much. With a bit of creativity, you can change your decor and transform your home into a space that you and your family will enjoy living in. And we’ve got some tips on making a small space look bigger as well.

Here are the top 10 ways to decorate your apartment on a budget.

1. Switch to warm light bulbs in your bedrooms 

Light is one of the most overlooked aspects of decor. By changing some of the lighting in your home, you can totally transform the look and feel of your space. Maybe you currently use the standard blue light bulbs in all of your rooms. How about switching out blue light for soft, warm yellow and orange light bulbs in rooms of rest like the bedrooms?

And if you have rooms with both overhead lighting and lamps, like bedrooms and the living room, you can consider using warm light bulbs in some of the fixtures and switching to that lighting closer to bedtime. That will help relax everyone’s eyes and minds so you can be in the right state for a restful sleep. And it will signal to your kids that it’s time to get ready for bed.

Bonus tip: If you have both lamps and overhead lighting in your living room, consider switching some of these light bulbs to warmer tones. Turn these on every night for an instantly relaxing ambiance as you and your family wind down for the day.

2. Color-code your books

If you’re a big reader, you probably have a big collection of books in your home. Why not double their use as decor? Simply arrange them by color and it will instantly be a statement piece in your living room. And you can absolutely do the same with your kids’ book collection in your little ones’ room. You can have them help you and use it as a teaching moment about colors!

Even if your collection is small, color-coding your books can add a visually appealing touch to any room. And this is especially handy if you don’t have much room in your apartment to hang art. Don’t have a bookcase? Don’t fret. Simply pile them on the floor to make a cozy reading nook in a corner area and it’ll still have an interesting look. The kids will love to get comfy in the corner to read.

3. Play with textiles

There are plenty of ways to decorate with textile. They can be sourced anywhere and don’t cost much, so you can build a collection without hurting your wallet. 

Use your chosen textile as a rug, furniture upholstery, a pillow cover, bed sheet accents, and even wall art. You can experiment with different patterns and textures in different parts of the apartment. Hanging a beautifully colorful rug in a front hallway or using one in your child’s room for a play area is another fun way to decorate.

4. Consider removable wallpaper 

Changing the color of your walls is another budget-friendly way to enhance your decor, but many apartments either don’t allow wall painting or require that you repaint walls the original color if you plan to move. The solution? Temporary wallpaper. This allows you to change the color of your walls without the hassle of worrying about needing to check with your landlord or potentially repaint the walls.

 

Consider using light colors in small rooms, because it will make them look bigger and more airy. And, don’t be afraid to use more than one color in any room. Using one or two more complementing colors will add dimension to your space.

Bonus tip: If you have leftover temporary wallpaper, there are plenty of ways to use it. Check out our article on creative decor ideas to use up removable wallpaper.

5. Bring in plants

Plants are a great way to make an apartment or small house feel both cozier and more spacious. Aside from improving the indoor air quality and helping you feel relaxed, they also spruce up a dull space by bringing a bit of the outdoors inside. Start with a plant that you can easily take care of and don’t be afraid to bring in more. The best part? You can have your kids pitch in to help! 

6. Get creative with wall art

There are plenty of beautiful art pieces online that you can print yourself and frame to display on your walls. This is an inexpensive way to add a statement to an empty wall. There’s artwork you can download for free, or you can choose to shop places like Etsy for affordable prints and printable art. Send it to your local print shop, or use an online printing company to get a professional-looking piece of art printed and sent to you. And all you need to buy is a frame!

Another great idea is to print photos that you’ve taken. Companies like Shutterfly allow you to upload your own photos, or favorite photos from friends, and have them printed and shipped to you in a variety of sizes. And you can purchase frames from these types of companies as well.  You can also purchase inexpensive and cute wall decals to make a picture or collage.

And for the kids’ rooms, consider framing some of their favorite handmade art and crafts. An easy way to do that is to print coloring pages and have kids color them in and pick the ones they want framed. Check out our coloring pages section for more free coloring page printables like the one below.

7. Pick a piece of statement furniture

A statement furniture piece is the one item that dictates how the rest of the space looks. It’s important that you pick a really good one that reflects your style. If you don’t have one yet, you can find really good bargains at second-hand stores and flea markets. If you’re buying brand new, it may be pricey so you’ll want to find financing options for your furniture. When you have this taken care of, it will be easier to decorate the rest of the room.

8. Lean a big mirror

Being in a small apartment can feel constricting. However, you can easily change that by leaning a big mirror on your wall. It creates the illusion of space and will invite more natural light to your space. You can also choose to hang mirrors on other walls. Even better if you get a statement mirror as this can bring some drama into your room.

9. Consider updating fabric

Oftentimes, one of the easiest ways to bring a new ambiance into your home is to take the time to freshen up your fabric and change up the colors, as well as the style. We mentioned textiles before, but why not expand on that with curtain designs, fresh rugs, or carpets to make your lounge more unique?

10. Pay attention to small details

The easiest way to make a small space feel more luxurious on a budget is to pay attention to the small details. Simple things like the cabinet pulls, drawer handles, and even light switches can make what was ordinary, extraordinary.

Which of these tips are you going to try out in your apartment first? Let us know in the comments below.

About the Author

Kiley Morrow took the big leap from working a 9-5 to quitting, getting out her laptop, and becoming a freelancer. Since then, she has found her passion in writing valuable and informative lifestyle and travel articles. After traveling for years, she knows just how valuable a quick how-to guide can be for readers, which is why she contributes guest posts to various blogs.

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