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Who says you have to spend thousands of dollars all at once to furnish and decorate an apartment? As someone who already pays way too much money on rent, I try to spend as little as possible on decorations.
When the average rent in the U.S. is $1,713, there isn’t much money left to beautify your space. You aren’t doomed to only stare at white walls.
I’ve compiled a list of 13 cute and affordable apartment decorations. To curate this list, I searched Amazon and multiple thrift stores. The items cost less than $50, and some are even free!
So, if you haven’t decorated your place because you thought it was too costly, check out the items on this list for some lower-cost options.
1. Stain Glass Window Decal
One of my favorite and cute apartment-friendly decorations is window decals, especially those with stained glass designs. Just adding a few window decals can completely transform your space.
Sometimes, you only need a pop of color and some natural lighting to make your place feel like home. I’ve found window decals for as low as $5.
2. Curtains
Curtains are another way to transform your space and add personality to your apartment while on a budget. You don’t need to spend a fortune on curtains—I’ve never bought them for the full original price.
Instead, I recommend asking your friends and family or hitting thrift shops. So many people donate gently used and even brand-new curtains.
3. Peel and Stick Wallpaper
Peel-and-stick wallpaper is very similar to window decal designs. It is cheap, holds strongly, and is easy to peel. However, there is always a risk of using any kind of decal or sticker on the wall because of the paint.
Still, it’s much easier and cheaper than buying buckets of paint. Wallpaper stickers also come in many designs. In my apartment’s bathroom, I’ve added tile peel-and-stick wallpaper. Honestly, it looks exactly like tile.
4. Couch Covers
Do you need a more reusable decoration idea that you can use on your furniture? Personally, I’m a sucker for couch covers. Not only do they keep your couch clean, but they also add some personality to a room.
They come in all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. You can even use seasonal prints for the Holidays! Last year, I wrapped a snowflake cover on my couch to get into the spirit.
5. Decorative Pillow Covers
Another cover makes our list of cute and affordable apartment decor. You can reuse and constantly change the look of your couch and pillows.
Pillow covers are affordable. You can find them online for less than $10. To save more money and have more options, I recommend buying a double-sided pillow cover.
6. Fake Plants
Everyone has their own style, but invest in some fake plants if you’re into greenery, nature, and plants. They don’t have to be super expensive or big.
All over my apartment are both real and fake plants. The real ones are mostly gifts, while the fake plants were bought in Five Below.
7. Rugs
Do you know what else can transform your apartment on a budget? Rugs. They don’t have to be overly expensive or large, either. They add color and texture to your home without much effort.
At least four of them are scattered around my home. To give you ideas, I have a small round rug underneath my desk and a slightly larger one in the living room. Both were found on Facebook Marketplace.
8. Cute Storage Containers
One of my least favorite parts about renting an apartment is how small the units can be. I’ve never lived in an apartment with plenty of storage space.
My husband and I recently started storing things in affordable and cute containers. You can find clear bins and cheap storage containers in Family Dollar and Dollar Tree. To give it some more flare, I like spray painting them.
9. Natural Lighting
Instead of spending money on decorations, you can use what you already have. If you have an apartment with plenty of natural lighting, open up your windows!
Sometimes, just letting in bright, natural light can make your space look bigger, better, and even cleaner. I work better when my curtains and blinds are open.
10. Vintage Decor
I’m a huge fan of vintage decorations. Not only are they chic and cute, but they are also pretty affordable. Of course, this depends on the piece and place, as some thrift stores sell vintage items at a high cost.
I recommend going to yard sales. You can find many hidden gems at yard sales with significantly lower prices.
11. Tapestry
I don’t blame you if you don’t want to stick anything in your apartment’s walls. Some peel-and-stick wallpaper leaves sticky residue and even chips the paint underneath.
If you still want a splash of color or designs, I recommend using tapestries. They are reusable, easy to clean, and come in many sizes. I have one in my office that looks like a window pointing to the sea. I paid maybe $18 for it.
12. LED String Lights
Something that really frustrates me about living in apartments is the lack of light. Maybe it’s just me, but most of the apartments I’ve lived in have poor and dark lighting. Sitting in a darkly lit room can make me feel gloomy.
To do something about this, I recommend looking into LED string lights. You can put them against your wall, around your TVs, or anywhere you please. They even come in patterns and shapes. During Christmas, I have snowflake LED lights in my kitchen.
13. Pictures
Are you a sentimental person? Why not print your favorite photos instead of buying expensive art pieces or prints? My apartment has a wall dedicated to pictures of my friends and family.
If you have a printer, it costs very little, but even printing $50 photos at CVS is inexpensive. You could push-pin them to a wall, but I always tape them.
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