Decorating Your Apartment: Inexpensive and Practical Ideas

Whether you rent or own a tiny studio or spacious apartment, here are some stylish apartment decorating ideas that will help you optimize and beautify every last square foot of space in your home.

We’ve created a must-see selection of ideas, from minor tweaks to complete makeovers, that can adapt as your style evolves. Let’s add some touches and cozy up your French apartments structure to give it a more homely feel.

Delve into design tips used by experts to turn living spaces into comfortable areas with the help of professional interior design advice. With guidance, it’s definitely achievable. Take a peek at these decorating suggestions from industry experts to ensure your apartment’s design stands out.

Decorate an apartment on a budget

To decorate your apartment without spending a fortune, consider being strategic about where you find your decor pieces and how you use them. Try to challenge yourself by hunting for vintage or preloved items at thrift stores, flea markets, or online platforms you enjoy browsing.

Fashion trends may change, but having a timeless style is key. Instead of chasing trends, invest in high-quality furniture and classy home decor items that will last.

Mirror the Walls

Placing mirrors on walls to reflect light is a way to create the illusion of more space in a room. Large mirrors can visually expand your apartment, reflecting light throughout the space and brightening corners. Whether it’s your bedroom, living room, kitchen, or office, mirrors serve both functional purposes in expanding the space. A full-length mirror can genuinely change the atmosphere in corridors or hallways, especially those dim and with corners that lack light.

Enhancing your apartment with mirrors on all walls to reflect light is a way to create a feel twice as big. By placing mirrors, you can create the illusion of more room by bouncing natural light and brightening up darker areas.

Consider placing a large mirror opposite the window to maximize light and create a more spacious feel in the room. Additionally, mirrored furniture with high-shine chrome finishes can help reflect light while seamlessly integrating with the overall decor.

How about Period Details?

Adding touches of luxury and warmth reminiscent of Parisian apartments with warm, texture-rich velvet seating can elevate the charm of your space. Use materials that add character and authenticity to interiors and create a sensory feast.

Upgrade the Lighting

Lighting plays a pivotal role in a modern apartment. The amount and quality of light in a room not only affect how the decor looks but also impact the color of the walls. Different types of lighting can alter the ambiance of a space. Warmer white lights will give the decor a quite different feel compared to cooler, more artificial lights.

Consider installing glass sliding barn doors or solid ones in rooms lacking windows, like those connecting the front and back rooms. While they might not be soundproof, they let in light flow and create a feeling of extra privacy.

Fancy a modern twist? To add more glow, add LED strips behind household items. Your home is defined by its light zones: dimmable sconces for cozy living spaces, focused task lighting for your work nook, and warm LEDs under the kitchen cabinets.

You can also use spotlights or wall-mounted sconces to draw attention to your favorite piece of art or your blossoming houseplants. Let tech go smart: find lights with adjustable color, temperature, and intensity. With only a tap on your phone, you can create the ideal atmosphere for movie evenings, book clubs, or active mornings.

Select Statement Lighting

lighting fixtures are the jewelry of a home. Carefully selecting statement lighting pieces can elevate the ambiance of a room and make a wow factor even in more conservative settings.

Kitchen Island

Thinking about skipping the traditional dining table for something more contemporary? If your apartment kitchen is short on space but has room to spare on the floor, think about incorporating a kitchen island on wheels. This versatile piece can offer extra prep space and double up as an informal dining spot.

Many modern apartments do not have a dining area to make room for one of the sought-after kitchen elements: the island. Islands serve as both accents and practical additions. Besides providing cooking and prep space, a chosen island with cozy stools can also serve as an excellent dining spot.

Kitchen tiles and bench

A feature like bold-colored tiles throughout your kitchen reflects natural light from windows. A built-in bench is a big plus, as it allows you to maximize dining arrangements.

Splitting the Room a New Way

Looking for another way to divide your room? If installing sliding doors is not an option or doesn’t suit your apartment layout, you could try setting up a rod from wall to wall and hanging curtains.

Creating living and sleeping zones in a standard French studio apartment is key to making your resting space feel cozy and private—experiment with creative room dividers, like screens, benches, or tall bookcases.

Divide a Room While Adding Storage Space

Your bed may be close to your couch in a compact studio apartment. If you wish to host guests without them having a view of your bed, consider using an open shelving unit to separate the space.

Positioning a bookcase behind the bed can effectively create a sleeping area. Personalize the bookcase with plants, books, decorative items, and viola! It’s a standout feature.

This design can help you maximize space and distinguish your bedroom from your living area.

Use Curtains or Screens to Divide a Studio Apartment

Utilizing curtains to section off areas in your studio apartment allows you to conceal certain parts of the space. They can establish a sleeping nook or hide cluttered shelves.

Movable screens are practical for studio apartments due to their versatility. You can easily reposition them to obscure areas (like when chores are pending or the bed is unmade).

Prints in limited space

You can turn a regular or old fridge into a design project by decorating it with removable wallpaper. This technique can be used for different items, such as tiles in kitchen or bathroom floors, doors, and even entire walls.

Prints can significantly benefit small areas like powder rooms. Consider adding eye-catching wallpaper to make a visual impact in limited spaces.

Paint it White

Painting the walls in a white color can really change the perception of space in your home. Opting for white can make a small apartment feel more spacious or provide a base for your decorating ideas. An added benefit is that it’s easy to repaint when you decide to move out or refurbish. White and other light neutral tones are choices for room paint, mainly if you aim for a fresh, bright, and airy ambiance. These hues serve as a canvas, allowing accent colors in your decor and furniture to stand out in a refreshed environment.

Translucent furniture

Transparent furniture is gaining popularity in modern apartments. Clear furniture blends into its surroundings and basically disappears, creating an illusion of a larger space. Glass, lucite, and acrylic materials are being used to craft chairs, end tables, coffee tables, and vanities with a see-through effect. This results in a sleek, shiny surface that beautifully complements an apartment’s aesthetic.

Discreetly blend storage into every design

Maximizing storage opportunities is key to maintaining an uncluttered living space. Choose furniture that serves a double purpose by offering storage solutions. Multipurpose furniture is an excellent idea for flats. Think about a coffee table that can also serve as an ottoman or a coffee table that can store throw blankets. These might be anything from a Murphy bed that opens up to become a sofa to a small dining table that can be used for various purposes, such as setting up a home office, turning a room into a sitting area, or having a place for games and crafts.

Open storage options

Enclosed closets and built-in storage units can weigh down a space, so opt for open storage—like bookcases without doors, floating shelves, and cabinets with glass fronts. To elevate this space, expand storage solutions from one end of the wall to the other or reach from floor to ceiling for a spacious feel.

Revamp Your Flooring

If you’re transforming a simple dining room in a 20th-century home, opt for green floor paint instead of the conventional color. This unexpected choice will inject bright, vibrant life into the room, creating a contrast against the tones of the table, chairs, walls, and ceiling.

Add Some Surprising Red Accents

Infuse vitality into every corner by incorporating pops of red accents to, for example, hardware pieces.

Repurpose Treasures from Flea Markets

Embrace creativity when selecting items from flea markets. Repurpose unique finds to blend functionality with appeal.

Make the Best of What You Have

To resemble a midcentury residence, use architectural elements such as exposed brick and ceiling beams. The focus will be on enhancing the existing structure without altering it.

Unite Heritage with Innovation

Mixing old-world antique elements with modern accents can create an effortlessly stylish look. For example, combining a vintage crystal chandelier with a classic shelving unit can add a touch of sophistication to any space.

Embrace Bold Colors

Don’t be afraid to embrace statement colors. They can transform a living space remarkably. Choose jewel-toned walls in shades like green, blue, yellow, and purple, and don’t shy away from mixing patterns for added depth and enjoyment.

Paint the Entryway

A defined entry can make a compact Parisian flat seem spacious – try painting it in a welcoming, warm, and vivid shade to add warmth and depth when seen from the main living area.

Anchor The Room

Are you looking to divert attention from your living area’s cramped size? Incorporate a statement design element that captivates and becomes the main focus of the space rather than its proportions. To create a focal point in a room, opt for one standout piece of artwork that adds character and focus.

For example:

Hang a Chair or Hammock

Even though you’re in a metropolis, your balcony can still have a vacation-like atmosphere. A hammock or hanging chair adds to the breezy and carefree atmosphere.

Spend Sensibly on Important Furniture Items

When on a tight budget, prioritize purchasing furniture that defines a room’s purpose. To properly serve their purposes, a dining room needs a dining table, a living room needs a sofa, and a bedroom needs a bed.

Unleash Creativity in Wall Art

Instead of limiting yourself to framed art, consider unusual options for wall décor. Think about creating eye-catching wall art pieces from objects such as
framed fabrics or textiles, vintage plates, dried flowers or botanical pressings, tapestries, framed maps, macrame art…

Frames for a wall art gallery

Mixing frames in different colors and styles around your sofa can spark conversations and infuse personalized flair.

Select Your Passion

First-time apartment decorators are advised to be patient and picky while buying furniture. Waiting for pieces that really call to you is more important than grabbing anything just because it needs it at the moment. Sooner or later, you’ll end up swapping it out.

Peel-and-Stick: Redefine What Surfaces Can Be

You might overlook your bathroom or kitchen in a rental, thinking, “It is what it is.” Isn’t it disheartening to be stuck with a backsplash that doesn’t match your taste in a rented apartment kitchen? However, there’s a twist. If you’re unable to make changes due to budget constraints or lease restrictions, you can give your kitchen a makeover by trying out peel-and-stick tiles for backsplashes, counters, and flooring.

Breathe Life with Greenery

Greenery adds warmth and vitality to any design, whether it is used in miniature planters on a mantel or bigger ones in the corners of a room.

Energize with Green and Blue Hues

Opt for soothing natural hues, like soft greens and blues reminiscent of a Parisian studio, to inject some color into your space while keeping an airy vibe.

Nature’s Touch

Introduce rustic charm with features like a sliding barn door crafted from metal and wood, along with a chunky wood dining table to infuse coziness.

Reach for the Top

Using vertical space will help your room appear larger by drawing attention upward. Raise shelves to the ceiling, or add pendant lights and plants.

One simple trick to create a sense of height and openness in your apartment is to include design elements that guide the gaze upward toward the ceiling. For instance, a tall floor lamp paired with art pieces and decorative items placed high on the walls can boost the appeal of your living area, giving it a more expansive and spacious feel. Additionally, floor-to-ceiling curtains and tall storage bookshelves can also contribute to the illusion of space.

Play around with Symmetry

Arranging items in a mirror-image layout can give the illusion of a more orderly space. Symmetrical setups also convey a sense of balance, creating a peaceful, elegant atmosphere.

Balancing functionality and aesthetics is imperative when designing your living space. When you rent with Wunderflats, you can trust us to handle maintenance and building management, allowing you to focus on creating a home that perfectly reflects your lifestyle. We offer a diverse selection of apartment rentals throughout France, so you’re bound to find one you’ll be proud to call home.