15 apartment living room ideas to copy whether you own or rent

Originally published on Real Homes

February 3, 2023, 11:00 AM

<p> The best way to decorate an apartment living room on a budget is to shop second-hand. Not only is this going to save you money it's going to add a ton of personality to your space that you won't get if you just fill it with a load of cheap flat-pack furniture.  </p> <p> Also, get DIYing, a lick of paint can make all the difference to a space, or pull up carpets (if allowed) and see if you have anything beautiful underneath, make your own throw pillow out of vintage fabrics. Just think; can I make that/restyle my current space to get that look, before you go spending any money. </p>

<p> If your space is limited, a room divider might not be an option without crowding the living room even more. One clever space-saving hack is to use your color on your walls to segregate areas.  </p> <p> My Bepoke Room's Head of Interior Design, Lucy Henderson and Lick's Lead Color Specialist, Tash Bradley explain, 'A lick of paint can make all the difference. There are multiple different approaches you can take when designing a studio apartment. We recommend zoning your room with different patterns, prints and colors.' </p> <p> 'Painting the walls and furniture isn’t the only way to zone your space. You can also select rugs to section parts off as well as using different lighting intensities in each section depending on its purpose. For example, bright lighting will be needed in the kitchen but the living room can have a more cozy and ambient lighting scheme.' </p>

<p> Jodie Hatton, Design Manager at Brintons explains, 'Similar to how dark walls can transform a small room or a patterned wallpaper can bring interest to an otherwise dull space, a patterned carpet is an inspired way to make a feature in an apartment adding interest and character. However it is important to choose the right patterned carpet depending on the size of the room.' </p> <p> 'Rugs create a feeling of warmth, depth and textural emphasis when laid over carpeting, wooden floorboards, or ceramic floor tiles. It’s an opportunity to introduce a bold color or pattern to your space. The unexpected shape of the rug will give an artistic aesthetic to the room.' </p>

<p> You can't go wrong with multi purpose furniture. The most obvious is to invest in the best sofa bed you can buy that'll be a statement piece in your living room and convert to a comfy bed for guests to come to stay. Another living room storage idea would be multi tasking built in storage.  </p> <p> 'Built-in storage is always a massive help but it either comes with the apartment or you have to spend a fair amount of money building it. However, you can solve this by purchasing multi-purpose furniture,' explains Bradley. </p>

<p> When it comes to configuring the layout of an apartment living room it can be a bit of a tricky task, especially if you are working with an open-plan space or a room that has to double up as something else. But there are plenty of living room layout ideas to make the most of your space that are way more interesting than just pushing everything up against walls. </p> <p> We would actually start by drawing up a plan of your space and then deciding on what furniture you can actually fit in the space, then start planning its location. Remember it's okay to float your furniture, it can actually make the space feel bigger than if you just go for the layout that shows the most floor.  </p>

<p> Often in an apartment, you have no choice but to make your living room multipurpose, but embrace that, and rather than see it as you have a one-room apartment see it as an open-plan space. </p> <p> Carve out space to create a little dining area that can double up as a workspace too. If you have the room add in screens in the form of curtains or furniture to make the living space feel like it's made up of different zones.  </p>

<p> In an open-plan apartment or a studio, it can be tricky to decide on the best sofa. You don't want it to look like it's just floating in the middle of the room. Opting for a larger sectional sofa (even if your space isn't massive) can solve that problem, acting as both a sofa and a 'wall' between your living room and the rest of the space. We love that this one is double-sided, adding a sofa to both the living room and the dining room. </p> <p> P.S. even if your space isn't as big as this living room, don't be afraid of choosing a large corner sofa. Let it hug the walls of your room and create a cozy, inviting ambiance, plus plenty of seating. </p>

<p> When your floor space is at a premium but you need to add storage to your apartment living room, open shelving is the way to go. </p> <p> 'We suggest you use all the available space you have, including your walls. You can use shelves, but also use your walls to store your dining chairs for easy access and to not clutter your floor space,' explain Henderson and Bradley.  </p> <p> Peter Erlandsson, Co-Owner of String Furniture agrees, 'In a small room, it’s great to be able to change the design once in a while. Sleek wall shelving provides you with plenty of flexibility both practically and aesthetically, meaning you can achieve a completely new look whenever you like. There is an age old doctrine of using light colors on walls to make your home look bigger. This is true, and your shelves need not detract from this.' You can invest in this String System in ash at Utility Design.  </p> <p> Opt for something slimline in the same color as the wall it's going to sit on, so you can maximize the storage space and so your shelving idea doesn't dominate the room too much. </p>

<p> If you are renting, chances are you have inherited a sea of white walls, so why not embrace them and go for an all-white living room idea. Even if you aren't at the mercy of a landlord's tastes, white is a classic that creates a very serene, calming vibe, plus it's really versatile so you switch up your decor as your styles change without having to paint all your walls. </p> <p> Pair your white walls with a sofa in a similar hue, and pile up the white pillows and blanks too. Choose white window treatments too to maximize the natural light in your apartment. Add a touch of contrast in the form of prints and houseplants. </p>

<p> We love the whole vibe of this Copenhagen apartment. By mixing so many different styles and textures this room is so unique and full of personality. Recreate that in your living room by picking out furniture that means something to you (even if you think it won't go, that's part of the look).  </p> <p> Start collecting objects and decor that feel personal to your style and layer them up with new pieces to create a very eclectic cozy space, that still has a stylish, contemporary feel.  </p>

<p> Or if you like a more contemporary look and like for your room to have some structure, pick furniture and decor that have a linear look to them.  </p> <p> And by that, we mean clear lines, so a modern coffee table with a metal frame, a straight-backed sofa with square arms, even simple prints in black frames will add to the very clean vibe. You can add in some softness with cushions, rugs and blankets in you still want the soft to have a comfy feel. </p>

<p> If your living room is in an open plan apartment, a rug is a super easy way to create a 'zone'. See your living room rug almost as like walls of which you can arrange your living room furniture around to create a space that feels slightly separate from the rest of the room.  </p> <p> Pick a large, plain-ish, short pile rug to act as an anchor, and then you could always layer up a smaller rug in a more intricate pattern on top to be a focal point in the space. </p>

<p> We've mentioned the room-changing abilities of the best indoor plants many times, and there's no denying that they can add so much... life to a space. In an apartment living room where floor space might be tight opt for a shelving unit you can display your plants on but will also work as some handy extra storage too. </p>

<p> Sometimes the best thing for a cramped apartment living room is to embrace those small dimensions. Turn a small sad room into a rustic, boho, bang-on-trend dream space just by filling it with plenty of different textiles and textures.  </p> <p> Pile up the throw pillows and blankets on the sofa, cover the walls with prints and memorabilia, stack up your books and fill every surface with decoration. Stop it looking too crazy by keeping the walls white so you have that neutral backdrop, and pick a simple color palette for your decor too. </p>

<p> And if you do want to go adding in some bolder colors, use books. Book storage ideas are great options if you are renting too and can't go nailing stuff to the wall or painting a bright mural. If you've got books, you've got decoration.  </p> <p> Dedicate an empty wall to creating your library and use some simple shelves to display your collection. Mix in some storage too with baskets and add extra interest with prints and houseplants. </p>

<p> The best layout for an apartment living room very much depends on the size and shape of your space and what you need to use it for. It is solely a lounge? Or does it have to become a dining room or a home office when you need it to? This will obviously dictate the layout, but the best place to start is by drawing up a plan of your living room and trying out different layouts. </p> <p> Our top tip is to always give your living room furniture some room to breathe, don't have every piece in your room stuck up against a wall. And be creative with your layout too, don't just pick a focal point and angle everything towards that. </p>

How can I decorate my apartment living room on a budget?

The best way to decorate an apartment living room on a budget is to shop second-hand. Not only is this going to save you money it's going to add a ton of personality to your space that you won't get if you just fill it with a load of cheap flat-pack furniture.

Also, get DIYing, a lick of paint can make all the difference to a space, or pull up carpets (if allowed) and see if you have anything beautiful underneath, make your own throw pillow out of vintage fabrics. Just think; can I make that/restyle my current space to get that look, before you go spending any money.

Colin Poole

Let our apartment living room ideas inspire you to make the most of your space, no matter what the size, layout or budget

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