How to Decorate Your First Apartment Without Emptying Your Entire Bank Account

As a college student myself, I know what it feels like to be so excited to move into your first apartment and wanting it to be the cutest, coziest, stylish home and so a million ideas run through your head about how to decorate your space. On top of your ideas, your roommates pitch into your group chat with more ideas on how to style your tiny apartment space. Everything is rainbows and butterflies until you realize that you must pay a security deposit, renters’ insurance, utility bills, etc. all on top of the monthly rent. So, you conclude that you can’t really use you and your roommates’ extravagant ideas, and especially not with all the Landlord’s strict rules. But guess what? Plot Twist. I am here to tell you that if you plan wisely and prioritize your necessities with style, you can decorate your apartment in a cute, affordable way.

Here are the first steps to decorating your apartment (you don’t have to buy everything at once):

1. The Entryway

The entryway is one of the first places to consider when decorating your apartment. Your entryway sets the mood of your entire home and gives your guest their first impression of your apartment. To make the entryway look its best, add a multipurpose coat rack or a tray or a catchall so that you have storage to put your keys, or coats, or mail when you get back after a long day. The storage will make your entryway more organized so that the first thing that you and your guests see is neat, versus messy, clutter. Consider adding a table or bench so that people have a place to take off their shoes and for more storage. Once you have these essential pieces, you can add the décor little by little without spending all your money.

2. The Kitchen

Most rental apartments have a less than average kitchen, with the oldest furnishings and supplies…the kitchen looks tired. It is almost scary to look at, makes you think that the house could be haunted. But there are some simple, cheap ways to add life to your kitchen. If you are feeling up for a weekend project, you can add new paint color which will give your kitchen a completely new look. If your landlord doesn’t allow you to paint, consider adding decorative containers on your countertop that will spice up your kitchen. To anchor the space and give it some style, consider adding a dining table. ZUO has an endless collection of affordable dining room tables that can add a fun twist to your apartment. Later, you can add your favorite cactuses or art for the finishing touches.

Ta Da… your kitchen is no longer haunted.

3. The Bedroom

If you don’t want to spend much of your budget on your bedroom, I get it. But let me help you decide on the priorities of a bedroom. First and foremost is a bed frame so that your mattress doesn’t just sit on the ground. A bed frame can help decide the style of your room; If you decide on a statement making bedframe, you do not need to add much else to your room. Check out ZUO’s bed collection for ideas. Next, add a nightstand for your bedtime essentials. Once you have these two essential pieces, you can maybe add a rug to anchor the space, lighting, and other décor that will personalize your room.

4. The Bathroom

The bathroom in your apartment is also most likely as boring and dull as your kitchen. The most important thing to do to improve it is to add accents and décor that are cute but also functional. Functional accents will allow you to store some of your bathroom essentials so that the small space isn’t as cluttered and feels more spacious. Wall storage can also help you clean up the clutter. LESS IS MORE in a bathroom. Add a vanity mirror if your bathroom space doesn’t already have one, this will also add style to your bathroom. Once you have the essential pieces, you can add more bath accessories to stylize the bathroom (when you have recovered some extra spending money)

5. The Living Room

The living room is likely where you will spend most of your time in your apartment so you will likely want to spend most of your budget in this space, unless you are splitting it with roommates. Start by decorating with the things that you absolutely can’t live without. Make sure you get an aesthetically pleasing, but mostly comfortable sofa. You want your sofa to be a cozy and comfy spot to watch a movie or your favorite show. If you have multiple roommates, you might want to consider getting a sectional sofa so that everyone can be comfy. Every sofa needs a coffee table to complement it, and a lighting source to set the mood of your living area. ZUO offers endless sofas, lighting, and coffee tables so check out ZUO’s websitefor potential options. Once you have these essentials, you can later add art, wall décor, or even a rug to personalize your space.

Don’t push it off until move in day, using these tips, start planning how to decorate your apartment in the cutest, most affordable way!