How to Make Your New Apartment Feel Like Home

Just moved into a new place and it feels a little… empty? We’ve all been there. Turning a blank apartment into a home takes more than just furniture—it takes planning, creativity, and intentional choices.

This guide is packed with apartment decorating ideas, whether you’re looking for apartment home decor inspiration, rental-friendly tips, or new apartment decorating advice. With these practical suggestions, you’ll be able to transform any rental into a warm, inviting space that truly feels like yours.

1. Make a plan: Get to know your space

It can be helpful to look over your new apartment before you buy furniture or hang art.

Layout and flow: Where do natural walking paths fit in? Where does light from the sun come in? Knowing how you move around your space can help you arrange your furniture in a useful way.
Size and scale: If your apartment is small, you might need furniture that can do more than one thing. If your apartment is big, you might want to make separate areas.
Existing features: Make a list of what you like and don’t like about the space, such as the fixtures, built-ins, and the view from the windows.

Making a simple floor plan or mood board can help you see where you’re going with your decorating. You can use tools like Pinterest, Canva, or even paper sketches to help you plan out your apartment decorating ideas and see how different parts will fit together.

Pro tip: Think about your own needs and way of life.

2. Make Your Walls Unique

The look of a home is often set by its walls. It can be hard to decorate a rental apartment because of lease restrictions, but there are many creative ways to make your walls your own without hurting them:

You can use removable wallpaper or decals to change the look of your home. There are so many patterns and textures to choose from that you can play around with color and design.
Gallery walls: A carefully chosen group of framed photos, prints, and art can bring a blank wall to life. If you can’t nail into the walls, think about using command strips or hooks that come off.
Floating shelves let you show off small plants, books, and decorations without having to install them permanently.

You can make a new apartment feel more like your own by adding small things like colorful frames or art that shows who you are.

3. Think carefully about the furniture you buy.

The most important part of any home is the furniture. When coming up with ideas for decorating your apartment, think about both style and function:

Multi-purpose furniture: In smaller apartments, furniture that can be used for more than one thing, like a sofa bed, storage ottoman, or extendable dining table, can save space and be useful at the same time.
Size and proportion: Don’t use furniture that is too big for the room. On the other hand, small furniture in a big room can make it feel empty. Plan ahead by measuring your rooms.
Comfort: Don’t forget about comfort, even though looks are important. A soft rug, a supportive mattress, or a comfortable chair can make a room feel warm and inviting right away.

If you rent, it’s worth buying things that are flexible and can be moved or rearranged easily.

4. Layer Textures and Fabrics

Using different textures and fabrics is one of the easiest ways to make your apartment feel warm and welcoming. Rugs, curtains, throw pillows, and blankets can make hard surfaces softer, soak up sound, and make a room look warmer.

Area rugs add color and texture and help define spaces, especially in open-concept apartments.
Curtains: Pick fabrics that go well with your furniture and let in some light. Lightweight sheer curtains can let in light, while heavier drapes can make a room feel cozier.
Mixing different textures, like linen, velvet, or knit, can give throws and pillows a layered, lived-in look.

These things not only make the space look better, but they also make it feel more comfortable and familiar.

5. Add personal touches

Personal touches are the best way to make a house feel like your own. Things that have sentimental value or are related to your hobbies can instantly make a place feel more like home:

Put family photos, travel memories, or pictures of you and your friends in frames or on floating shelves.
Collections: Small collectibles, books, or handmade things can tell a story in your space.
DIY projects: Simple crafts, like painting your own plant pots or making your own wall art, can give your home character without costing a lot.

These little things make the apartment feel more like a home and less like a temporary space.

6. Bring in the outdoors

Plants are a great way to make your apartment feel more alive. They can do more than just look good; they can also make the air cleaner and help with mental health:

Plants for the inside: Pick plants that will do well in the light you have. If your apartment doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, snake plants, pothos, or ZZ plants are easy to care for.
Herb gardens: A small herb garden on a windowsill can be both useful and pretty.
Fake plants: For renters who don’t get a lot of sunlight or don’t have time to care for real plants, realistic fake plants are a safe choice.

Adding plants is a simple but effective way to decorate a new apartment that can make it feel bright and welcoming.

7. The light is important

People often forget about lighting, but it has a big effect on how a home feels:

Use overhead lights, floor lamps, table lamps, and task lighting together to make a space feel deeper and warmer.
Soft bulbs: LED bulbs with a warm tone can make a room feel cozier than bright white light.
Accent lighting can set the mood without being too bright. String lights, candles, or small spotlights can do this.

Good lighting can change a room from cold to warm, making even a small apartment feel more welcoming.

8. Get the most storage space without losing style

It’s hard to find storage space in apartments, but it’s important for making a place feel like home. When it comes to decorating a rental apartment, you can focus on stylish ways to store things:

Under-bed storage: You can store clothes or extra linens that you don’t need right now in boxes or rolling bins that you put under your bed.
Furniture that can be used for more than one thing, like ottomans, coffee tables, and benches with storage, can help keep things tidy.
Shelves that hang on the wall: Use vertical space for books, decorations, or kitchen supplies.
Hooks and organizers: Pegboards, closet organizers, and hooks behind doors make the most of small spaces.

A clean home helps you feel calm and in control, making your new apartment feel like your own private space.

9. Color and Unity

The color of a home sets the mood. Renters often can’t paint, but there are still ways to make a space feel like home:

Accent walls: You can add color and texture with temporary wallpaper or peel-and-stick panels.
Coordinated fabrics: Pick pillows, rugs, and curtains that have colors that go well together.
Small decorative items, vases, or picture frames in a color scheme that matches the rest of the room can bring it all together.

A home looks well-planned and polished when the colors and patterns are chosen carefully.

10. Little Things Matter a Lot

The little things are what make a new apartment feel like home:

Scent: Candles, diffusers, or fresh flowers make a room feel warm and inviting.
Handmade pottery, woven baskets, or small crafts give things a unique touch.
Seasonal decorations: Adding simple touches like holiday ornaments or autumn wreaths can make your home feel festive and unique.

These little things add to the warmth and character of your apartment as a whole.

11. Affordable Choices

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to decorate. Many new tips for decorating your apartment won’t break the bank:

Thrift stores and used furniture stores are great places to find one-of-a-kind items that add character to your home at a low price.

DIY decor: You can add style to your home without spending a lot of money by making your own crafts, painting furniture, or using things you already have in new ways.
Sales by season: Many home goods stores have sales on rugs, lighting, and furniture all year long.

Even small amounts of money spent on the right things can make a big difference in how your apartment feels.

Conclusion

It’s truly possible to make a new apartment feel like home, you need to combine style, function, and personal touches. You can make your home reflect your personality while still meeting your needs by carefully choosing your furniture, lighting, textiles, and decor.

The most important thing is to be intentional about how you decorate your apartment, whether you’re trying out new ideas, looking for ideas for your rental apartment, or following new tips. Start with a few things and add more over time. Embrace your own way of life. Your apartment can go from being a temporary place to stay to a warm, welcoming, and truly personal home.

Disclaimer: Please note that the tips in this article are only meant to be helpful. Depending on the layout of the apartment, the lease, and the person’s situation, the results may be different for each person.