Getting the keys to your first apartment is a momentous occasion. Because of the limited space available (and maybe limited budget), apartment decorating can seem a little stressful, but don't fret. Our guide on how to decorate an apartment has five helpful tips for decorating your first abode.

Apartment Decorating On a Budget

Apartment decorating is all about opening up a small space and saving money wherever you can. We've laid out eight cute and budget-friendly apartment ideas below.

Have a Vision

If you have a clear idea of how you’d like your new apartment to look, you’ll avoid wasting money on apartment decor items that don’t fit your vision. Always keep your budget in mind and prioritise the statement pieces that will tie your look together.

If you’re living in a student apartment together with a very small budget, you may want to prioritise certain spaces – your living room and bedroom will get the special treatment, but your bathroom may have to do without those extra touches.

Customise Inexpensive Furniture

Save money by buying inexpensive, neutral furniture pieces (like chest of drawers, headboards and coffee tables), secondhand shopping or by collecting family hand-me-downs – these basic pieces are the perfect canvases for DIY decoration. Make these pieces your own with decorative knobs, patterned wallpaper or paint in your favourite shade.

Rejuvenate the Room with Plants

Combat the cramped or cluttered feeling of small apartment spaces by decorating with plants. Live plants are an excellent choice for improving air quality and their growth is highly rewarding, although they can be hard to care for when natural light is limited. If you're not much of a green thumb, decorate your studio apartment with artificial plants – their visual impact on your decor will be the same as that of live plants.

Try a Light Colour Palette

Because they reflect light well, white, light neutrals and pastels can all make a small space look and feel brighter, larger and airier. Dark decor can give the illusion of your apartment looking cluttered and less spacious. Consider light rugs and white walls.

Gallery Wall Art Fits Right In

The combination of modern and traditional gallery-style wall art is a gorgeous addition to your apartment decoration. Gallery walls are the perfect places for leftover posters from your teenage bedroom, decorative wall mirrors and even family photos. The best part? No gallery wall is identical to another – you have the freedom to design yours to represent you and your style.

Gallery walls can fill up the large blank wall sitting in your bedroom or living room. If you don’t have a large wall free, you can create gallery walls around features like doorways and windows to add fun detail to your apartment. To learn how to make a gallery wall, check out our guide How to Create a Gallery Wall.

Use Open Storage Elements

Hefty storage units like cabinets and dressers take up a lot of space and can make a small apartment feel cramped. Instead, try storing your clothing and kitchenware in open shelving units and bookcases. If you choose to go with open storage, make sure you stay neat. Cluttered shelving can make your apartment look cramped and chaotic.

Tip: Eager for more? Then why not also check out our guide on Apartment Furnishing: The Basics and How to Make Your Apartment More Cosy in 4 Steps.