Making Your Apartment a Home

Moving into a new apartment can be an adventure, but it can also feel limiting, as most leases bar any big design changes. Even though you don't own the property and can’t make drastic renovations, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it feel like home -- and you don't need drills, bits and hammers in order to make it happen.

Assessing the Space

Every decorating project must begin with an assessment of the space. Think first about how the space is going to be used. Maryland-based interior designer Kelley Proxmire suggests apartment dwellers consider how to combine space. For instance, is it possible to incorporate a dining niche into the living room space or even double the living room area as a guest bedroom? “If this is the case, a sleep sofa would be a good idea,” Proxmire said. If the dining room table will double as both a desk and a table for eating, Proxmire suggests a drop leaf table to use less space.

Assess the floor plan to choose the proper scale for your furniture. Proxmire warns against shying away from big pieces. “Figure out what existing furniture could be used in the space, keeping in mind that a table that was used in a master bedroom may work well in the new apartment’s hallway,” she said.

Beyond the size dimensions of each room, consider what your landlord will allow. Is paint an option? Check the lease to avoid charges down the road. Can you replace flooring? Obtain the necessary permissions first. And what about hanging pictures on interior walls? Discuss the options with the leasing agent before that wall mount is in place.

Lastly, visualize your desired result and imagine your dream space before you get started.

The Must-Have Item

When it comes to personalizing your apartment, it's important to invest in one key piece, or a must-have item, that will define a room.

Jeff Akseizer of Akseizer Design Group recommends artwork to put your personal preferences on display. “Art should speak to you when you enter a room and be pronounced in its placement,” he said.

A great sofa is the key ticket item for interior designer Bryan Keith. “Invest in a good one, because this is usually an item that will move with you for several years to come,” Keith said. “With a great neutral-toned sofa, you can paint the walls any color and change the toss pillows for a fresh look from time to time with little cost.”

For the practical renter, a little more organization may make all the difference when settling into your new pad. Professional organizer Stacey Platt of DwellWell insists on a landing strip in a designated entryway of your apartment. “It is the one and only place where those important items you use every day -- wallet, keys, bus pass, key card -- can land upon entering your home,” Platt said. “This can be a table, shelf or any flat surface. A well-placed and well-used landing strip will ensure that these crucial items don’t migrate elsewhere, and it keeps them tidy."

Sprucing Up Small Spaces

Space is often the biggest challenge for apartment dwellers. Clear out the clutter with space-saving decor that also makes each room feel homey and open.

Clutter-free countertops are an important component of an organized apartment kitchen, says professional organizer Stacey Platt of DwellWell. “Counter real estate is a hot commodity and should be reserved for items used frequently or as decor,” Platt said.

Free up kitchen counters by using unused space on walls, under counters and even the ceiling. Buy two-in-one appliances, mount small appliances under cabinets and install a knife strip or steel bar with S hooks to hang a spice rack or utensils. “Even empty or awkward corners can be put to use,” Platt said. “Equip them with slim cabinetry that takes advantage of vertical space.”

Jeff Akseizer of Virginia-based Akseizer Design Group recommends multipurpose furniture to help free living spaces from clutter. Add a bench seat for comfortable living room seating with a lift top for added storage. Disguise adjustable shelving with a curtain draped across a wall for a multipurpose practical decor design, says Akseizer. Tall planters with rocks on top and small faux boxwoods also help to add a natural feel to any room while serving as a small storage space. Even a bed skirt can create a smart storage solution under your bed if your bedroom furniture does not have storage drawers built in.

Decking Out the Decor

Just because the usable space in an apartment may be smaller than a home, it doesn’t mean the decor has to suffer. Assuming that the walls will be white or off-white, Proxmire recommends adding some color to the living room by incorporating upholstered furniture pieces, especially a sofa placed against the wall. Window treatments will also add some fashion flare to a small space. “Even though it is a rental, it would be ideal for the windows to have some sort of window treatment -- even if they are stationary panels that do not close. It just needs the warmth of such finishing touches,” Proxmire said.

One of the easiest and least expensive decorating techniques that make an apartment feel like a home is hanging framed photos, says Bryan Keith, a New York-based interior designer. “In my current apartment, I have three groups of four photos, sized 11-by-14, placed in a 16-by-20 frame with mat,” Keith said. “Each grouping tells a story and makes a huge statement on the wall.”

Look to rugs and lamps to pull together a room. “A bold rug brings a great design aspect to a room while also giving an updated fresh splash on the floor,” Keith said. “Lamps from the '50s and '60s are also in again -- they are modern and usually large in scale.”

And don’t forget the small decor that can leave a big impact on your guests. Cathy Hobbs, founder of design firm Design Recipes, suggests dressing up frequently used items in every room. Create simple flower arrangements or a few stems of roses in a vase to place on the kitchen table, provide guests with pretty paper hand towels to use in the bathroom, or light a few small votives to add ambiance.

Add color to your kitchen's decor by displaying items you already own. “Layering coffee beans and coffee grounds in an apothecary jar in the kitchen will instantly dress up the area and give the space a comfortable feel and delicious scent,” Hobbs said.