42 Easy Living Room Upgrades for Your Tiny Apartment

You don’t have to navigate how to make your apartment living room feel like home, or spend a lot of money. With a few practical and smart ideas, any size can look fantastic. Whether you are working with an entire room, or just a corner, below are 29 easygoing ways to make a cozy, stylish, and “you” space.

Basic Apartment Living Room Design for a Beautiful Beginning

Let’s keep it simple. An easy couch, a solid coffee table, and a good light source can go a long way. Best of all, the best compromise is to find things that are multifunctional, like an ottoman that has storage for several blankets or a couple of tables that go under one another.

Cozy Apartment Living Room Ideas That Feel Like Home

Do you want your place to feel cozy and laid back? Soft area rugs, cozy throw blankets, and a ton of pillows help! Warm light will also help to give that welcoming home feeling; add layers of curtains too.

Apartment Living Room Inspo Straight from Pinterest

Pinterest is a great resource, anything called “apartment decorations” yields some amazing finds. Think neutral colors, clean lines, a few plants, and solid furniture. Grabbing a tip: hang your curtains at least a foot higher than your window frame, to give the appearance of he’s ceiling height in your apartment. Seriously, this works!

Smart Lighting Ideas for Your Apartment Living Room

The atmosphere is determined by the light sources you use. Use a combination of floor lamps, table lights, and other types of lights (like string lights). Perhaps LED strips btwn your TV (if any) and rack on shelves? *Chef’s kiss.*

Neutral Color Schemes to Maintain Calm and Style

Keep it chill and simple with neutral colors- white, beige, and light gray. You can still add a couple of small muted colors here and there with little patches of green or pastel orange.

Minimalist Apartment Living Room Vibes You Will Love

Keep it organized and uncomplicated. Use only a few colors and find furniture that is sleek not bulky. Use wall shelves and/or hidden storage to make less visible mess.

White Apartment Living Room Designs That Shine

White is nice because it feels fresh and open especially if you are limited space. Mix textures like fluffy rugs, shiny (opposite of fluffy) tables, and soft throws to make everything not look so bland.

Creating an Economical Cozy Apartment Living Room

Ballin’ on a budget? You got this.There are a ton of options with thrift stores, secondhand apps, or even DIYs to create a super cozy space on a/every small budget

Dark Apartment Living Rooms That Still Seem Inviting

Dark colors can feel refreshing and just a little moody, in a good way! Try some deep navy or dark green, but make sure to pair it with light pillows, or a warm rug or gold accents.

Small Space Apartment Living Room Designs

Go vertical!Choose wall-mounted shelves and lighting so your floors are free and open. Fewer bigger pieces will feel much more open than lots of smaller pieces.

Sofa Options That Clearly Define the Whole Room

Your couch sets the vibe. Sectionals are great for open layouts, while smaller sofas or loveseats work wonders in tight corners.

Accent Chairs That Add Style and Comfort

Want to level up your space? Add a fun chair in a cool shape or bold color. It adds instant personality.

Choosing the Ideal Desk for Work-from-Home Life

Are you working from home? Choose a desk that matches your vibe *and* your space. You could use a corner desk, a ladder desk or something that folds up when you’re done.

Coffee Table Style Guide for Apartment Living Rooms

Clear tables (like glass or acrylic) help your space feel bigger. Want extra storage? Grab one with drawers or shelves. Add a little tray and a plant, and you’re good.

How to Design Small Space Open Shelves

Shelves can quickly become messy! So mix up your shelves—books, cute candles, a framed picture, a plant— and leave some space so your shelves don’t feel cluttered.

Mirrors That Increase the Size of Your Apartment Living Room

Mirrors = magic. They bounce light and make the room feel bigger. Try a big one in a corner or hang a few small ones on a wall.

Recliners Not Ruining Your Look

Modern recliners exist—and they look good! Go for a sleek design that matches your style. Bonus: they’re great for reading or movie nights.

How to Handle Things Around Keeping a Bed in Your Living Room

Is your bed in your living room (shoutout studio life)? Use bookshelves, curtains or a screen to separate your space. A daybed is a great option; it functions as a couch and a bed.

Selecting a Table for Flow and Function

Round tables save space and make it easier to walk around. If you like to entertain, try one that folds out or extends when needed.

Armchairs That Immediately Improve Your Room

An accent chair that pop or has a pattern will change things up in your room instantly. Throw in a little side table and a lamp, and you have a great place to gather for a reading nook.

Loveseat Styles for Comfy Corners

Loveseats are great for small rooms. Pick one with thin arms and legs off the ground—it makes the room feel more open and airy.

Bohemian Apartment Living Room Inspiration That Is Simple Effort

Are you a bohemian look lover? Use rugs on (layer) top of rugs, throw pillows with prints of different colors and patterns, and a lot of plants around your space. Using floor cushions or poufs can a good way to be comfortable and stay relaxed.

Urban Flair Farmhouse Apartment Living Rooms

Mix rustic with modern. Think distressed wood pieces with clean, simple furniture. A sliding barn door TV stand? Totally works.

Easy Apartment Living Room Ideas That Work

Keep furniture purchases simple and stick to the same color tones and use your walls for storage. Ask yourself the question “Does this help make the space more usable or just take up space?”

Vintage-Inspired Apartment Living Room Additions

Vintage stuff = instant character. Hunt down cool finds like old phones, retro lamps, or mid-century chairs. A little goes a long way.

Dreams in a Cottage Core Apartment Living Room

Softer colors, lighter prints, and vintage pieces feel dreamy cottage style. Consider using lace curtains, floral pillows, or an old-style lamp will add to that charm.

Contemporary Apartment Living Rooms with Slick Edges

If modernism is your favorite, you can keep things clean and crisp! Use surfaces that are shiny, black and white wall art, and pieces of furniture have straight lines.

Craftsman Style Apartment Living Room Decorating Ideas

This style is easy to identify, with warm tones, wooden, homemade touches. If at all possible, invest in built-in looking shelves and solid accommodations for those who have no problem with a little bit heavier chairs.

Do-It-Your-Own Apartment Living Room Projects to Try

Feeling crafty? Try painting an accent wall, framing your own art, or updating an old table. There are tons of fun tutorials online.

Conclusion

Your apartment may be small, but your style doesn’t have to be! With these easy, no-stress ideas, you can transform your apartment into a space that is completely you—comfortable, cool, and full of personality.