12 Apartment Living Room Ideas That Make the Most of Small Space

Figuring out how to style an apartment living room can feel like a game of Tetris. But once you unlock exactly where to put your furniture, you’re faced with another challenge: how do you decorate it?

Whether you rent or own, there’s no shortage of stylish apartment living room ideas that can make it feel intentional and personalized to your preferences. Some styling tricks are deceptively simple yet transformative (a good piece of art can change a lot) and others can help you make the most of the space you have; it’s always a fine balance between form and function, but you can certainly have the best of both worlds.

No matter where you stand on the spectrum from minimalist to maximalist, traditional to contemporary, these apartment living room ideas can help you to dream up some new possibilities for your own space. Here, Havenly designer Kelsey Fischer shares some of her favorites.

1. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Gallery Wall

Here’s one of the easiest ways to make a rental look polished: install a gallery wall. This small space-friendly decor idea livens up a room without sacrificing any square footage. In this mostly cream interior, it also brings in ample pops of color.

2. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Wallpaper

Dark colors and bold patterns aren’t just for expansive spaces — in fact, sometimes, they work best in more restricted areas. This deep green St. Frank wallpaper makes this apartment living room more intimate and elevated.

3. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Bold Colors

Never underestimate the power of a good jewel tone (or two) to have an outsized impact in a space. Vibrantly colored upholstery gives this light-filled living room a playful vibe, while the neutral rug and white walls offer balance and contrast.

4. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Multifunctional Elements

When you don’t have a ton of room to work with, it’s important to get creative — and practical. In this living room, a coffee table with a pull-out ottoman does double duty, providing an extra surface and a spot to sit that’s perfect for when company comes over.

5. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Playful Patterns

Just one pop of a pattern can shift the overall tone of your space. A set of pink floral drapes lend a romantic feel to this lively blue living room, and they make a softer contrast to sleek mid-century style furniture.

6. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Curated Palette

Vivid hues aren’t everyone’s thing, but a few select colors can make a space more thoughtfully curated. A grey Burrow sofa and a dark brown coffee table are a solid foundation for a simple, yet stylish space; small pops of green and rust make it even better.

7. Apartment Living Room Ideas: All-Over Boho

Another way to make your living room feel more considered is to align your decor with the space’s architectural details. Brick walls are naturally suited to more eclectic, boho details like the earth-toned decor in this space.

8. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Vibrant Eclectic

A hodgepodge of varied, bright patterns makes for an energized space — no matter how big or small it is. A mixed collection of textiles is the key to achieving this cool, eclectic look. Best of all, you can achieve this aesthetic with furniture and decor only — no paint or wallpaper that you’ll eventually have to remove in your rental.

9. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Textured Relief

There’s something serene about a neutral-toned space, but the right details can make it feel even more elevated. The cream sofa from The Inside in this living room adds a refined touch, while a woven pendant lamp brings in an unexpected organic feel.

10. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Open Concept

If your living room and dining room technically exist within the same exact space, you can use pieces of decor like art and rugs to create a sense of division. The expansive dining room table in this room is simple, yet elegant — so it doesn’t compete with the more varied pieces in the “living” area.

11. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Clean Consistency

This space may not be a true open concept space — but it does create a seamless flow from kitchen to living room. All-over cream walls and rounded edges, of a coffee table, arched doors, and pendant lamp, create a sense of consistency throughout the rooms.

12. Apartment Living Room Ideas: Large Artwork

In a modern, streamlined living room, a large-scale piece of art has a transformative effect. A simple, small coffee table, neutral sofa, and neutral textiles helps to anchor this bold canvas in a largely white interior.

Want expert advice on your own space, straight from an interior designer? Get started today with ourstyle quiz.