From Drab to Fab: 10 DIY Apartment Decor Hacks for Stylish Living

Beige walls. Brass fixtures. Glaring, overhead lights.

No, we aren’t describing a high school cafeteria circa 1982. We’re talking about the default decor in most apartments.

Apartment living doesn’t mean you have to settle for outdated fixtures, bland walls, and empty bathrooms. Get creative with apartment decor. You’ll be amazed at how much a few touches here and there can change your apartment.

Check out these 8 DIY apartment decor hacks to change your apartment from dull to stylish!

1. Plant in Style

You might be surprised at how creative you can get with plants. And how refreshing it is to have something green in your home.

Remember, not all plants are made to be inside an apartment. Ask your local florist for some suggestions. They can give you ideas for which plants might work best in which rooms.

Mix up your plants so that you have a great variety. Make a collage of small cacti in pretty colored pots to go on your window sills. Add a large fern to your desk.

Hang some hanging planters full of colorful flowers on your patio or balcony. And keep an apartment-sized herb garden in your kitchen window.

2. Light Makes a Difference

Lighting offers you a ton of ways to break up a small space and make it feel larger. It’s also great for creating little, relaxing corners of space.

Ask if your building will let you change out light fixtures. Many places allow you to make these types of changes. Changing fixtures can change the whole look of your apartment.

Also, add lots of accent lighting. This may include floor lamps, table lamps, and string lights. Try creating a piece of wall art by weaving a beautiful string of lights into a pattern on a large wall.

3. Paint the Town Red

Or your walls! Check with your apartment for permission. But most apartments will allow you to paint as long as you stay within a designated set of colors.

Give all of your walls a fresh coat of neutral paint. You’ll be amazed at how much fresh paint makes a difference in the look and feel of your home.

Then pick out an accent wall to paint in a bolder color. If your kitchen cabinets are dingy and old, paint those too! Fresh, white cabinets open up and brighten any small kitchen.

4. Get Creative with Photos

Don’t get stuck in the “pictures must be in frames” mindset. Get creative with how you display your pictures.

First, don’t only display pictures of people. Develop some of the beautiful landscape photos on your phone. Or go out to a park and take some pictures of grass, trees, and flowers.

Create a wall hanging by running string across your wall and clipping pictures to it. You can do this in crisscrossing patterns to make something cool and interesting.

Or try decoupaging pictures onto your furniture. Adding this touch makes your furniture unique and interesting. And gives you a great way to display those pictures without having to spend money on frames.

5. Make Your Art

You don’t have to be rich to have some seriously cool wall art. Make your own!

Buy canvases from your local craft store and start painting. You don’t have to be an artist to do this. Even something as simple as a geometric design makes a beautiful piece of wall art.

Try creating art made out of wood. Pallet art is super trendy and is a beautiful addition to any space.

The great part about making your own art is that you can create any color scheme you like. Make your art so that it matches the rest of your decor.

6. Add a Mirror with a Frame

Mirrors that come in a frame can be spendy at the store. But with the right tools, you can make your own.

Buy an inexpensive wall mirror without a frame. Then buy the wood to surround the mirror. If you don’t have access to tools, your local home store can cut the wood for you if you ask them to.

Now paint the wood or stain it however you like. You can paint it all one color, or add decorative details to it. Or distress it and then cover it with a stain for a more rustic look.

Now that you’ve done that, attach your mirror to your wall. And fix the frame around it by sticking that directly to the mirror with Command strips. It’s a great, custom alternative to an expensive mirror.

7. Make Your Own Shelves

Many apartment dwellers suffer from lack of storage. But you can make your own shelving and put a creative spin on it while you’re at it.

Find a shelving design that you love on Pinterest and recreate it. Again, your local home store will cut the pieces of wood for you if you bring in all your measurements. Then you just need the tools to screw it together.

By making your own shelving, you can make a work of art that works as storage too. Paint or stain it any color you like. And build it to the exact specifications you need.

8. Give Your Bathroom an Overhaul

Upgrading a bathroom is not as complicated as you might think. Check with your apartment manager to see if they’d be okay with you adding some peel and stick vinyl flooring.

This isn’t the old linoleum your grandmother had in her kitchen. Today’s vinyl flooring options come in every shape, color, and size you can imagine. And they’re super simple to install.

Get some new towels, mats, and a matching shower curtain. Hang up some of the DIY art you made. And if the mirror doesn’t have a frame, frame it yourself as we mentioned earlier.

There are so many options out there for bathroom decor. Learn more from Stephanie Kratz Interiors about luxury bathroom ideas.