When you first move into a new apartment in New York City, it's important to make it feel like home without cutting back on style or breaking the bank.
Here are some simple ways to personalize your apartment and make it yours.
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Display Photos of Your Favorite People and Places
In the digital age, people typically have a bulk of photos stored online and on a smartphone. Take a few moments to scroll through and pick out a few of your favorites to print, frame, and arrange on your walls and countertops. These can be photos of yourself in beautiful places, sentimental ones of your friends and family members, or scenic shots from favorite vacations. -
Highlight Your Hobbies
If you have a 2-bedroom apartment with a little more space, a great idea is to put your hobbies out for display. Whether you enjoy playing guitar, sewing, or are a die-hard sports fan, show off your personality through apartment decor. Save the storage spaces for things that won't easily double as statement pieces.
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Find Accessories You Love
Personalizing an apartment is all in the details, which is why every NYC apartment deserves fun accessories to liven up each room. Surround yourself with things you love to look at, such as candles, vases, baskets, throw pillows, and unique art from local vendors. Your nearest thrift store can be a treasure trove for unique items that are brimming with personality.
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Switch Up The Lighting
Lighting makes a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of an NYC apartment, and you can make your space warmer and more inviting with a few strategically placed lamps. Lamps are a great alternative to harsh overhead lights, and both modern and vintage designs come in creative shapes and colors to suit your style. Pro tip: add a small lamp to your kitchen space for a cozy vibe. -
Swap Out Some Hardware
While you may not be able to do major renovations to your new apartment, landlords are often fine with you making minor updates that are reversible. Consider replacing old door handles and drawer pulls with more decorative versions to personalize your space. Just make sure to keep the original hardware, so you can return it when you move out. -
Bring in Some Plants
An easy and affordable way to brighten up a new apartment is to bring the beauty and bliss of nature inside. Stop by a local florist, home improvement shop, or even grocery store to buy a few plants to decorate your tables and windowsills. Having a little greenery in your space makes it feel cozier, healthier, and uniquely yours. -
Use a Neutral Palette with Colorful Accents
Too much color can be overwhelming and make your apartment feel cramped. Go with light colors on a neutral palette when painting walls or for large furniture. The neutral tones coordinate more easily and reflect light, making your apartment feel larger and brighter. Accent these soft tones with splashes of color and statement pieces with your style—small tables, art, and decorations will pop against their neutral backdrop. -
Decorate with Curtains and Rugs
Rugs and curtains give an apartment a homey, luxurious feel. A medium-sized rug is a relatively small item to splurge on and will pay off in making your one-bedroom apartment feel like home. Similarly, replacing flimsy blinds with real curtains gives your home more privacy and an opportunity to add more color and texture to your walls. Floor-to-ceiling curtains are ideal, as they lengthen the look of your windows to make the apartment feel massive.
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Repurpose Thrift Store Items
Bare walls are exceptionally dull in a one-bedroom apartment, where you have more wall space and plenty of nooks and crannies. Purchasing pieces of art from local vendors helps keep your décor budget-friendly and creates opportunities for ornamentation. You can transform a simple bulletin board by displaying jewelry from pegs, add interest to a wall by draping string lights across it, or add aesthetic storage options by mounting hooks to store scarves and other accessories, repurposing baskets as basket storage or as plant holders, or using cute trays to display items on your tables or bathroom shelves.