Lindsey Swedick’s vision for this 1920s rental apartment in Brooklyn was organic modern, Parisian, Art Nouveau, and mid-century modern, and she accomplished it with lots of DIYs.

“I hear all the time that there’s a three-color-maximum rule,” Brat Magdalena writes. “I don’t follow it. For me, decorating is first and foremost a feeling, a sense of well-being, and a state of mind. I like to change things according to my moods and I don’t listen to certain dictates.”

This creative couple – floral designer and landscape designer – took inspiration from both their love of horticulture for their renovated home’s stunningly unique kitchen backsplash.

By combining dark furniture, natural wood, white textiles, and plaid accents, Yuan Tian created a balanced, minimal, and warm home. “The result is a studio where every inch is functional, and the contrasts in materials and colors define its distinctive style.”

There’s eerie and magical wallpaper and candlelight makes the home glow at night. This house is a little bit spooky and very cozy.

Rosaline Elbay has added paint to nearly every inch of her Boerum Hill apartment; she describes the home’s style as “lapsed archaeologist.”

This apartment built in 1894 was outdated, worn, and lacking in personality. But now it’s a mix of old charm and modern touches, with bold colors, vintage details, and art.

In just 484 square feet, designer Nataliia Lymar created a space that feels calm, spacious, and deeply personal — complete with mirrors that multiply natural light and a dining table made from a tree that once grew in her family’s yard in Uman.

There’s a viral blue couch in the living room, and in the bedroom there’s the most envy-inducing vintage IKEA furniture gem I’ve ever seen.

This 675-square-foot Los Angeles apartment is warm and moody, and proves even renters can have designer-level lighting.

The colorful and retro-modern bathroom is honestly the hippest space to shower I've ever seen.

When Laci Mosier first started renting this one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment, she slept on an air mattress for six weeks while she waited for her things to arrive from Texas. Four years later, and she’s filled the rental with art, color, books, plants, and sunshine.

When Heather Pardieu first saw this small Hollywood studio apartment 14 years ago, it was under construction and covered in debris. But she was able to see the small space's potential.

After a long-term breakup, Emily Sermons rented this 130-year-old apartment near Central Park and designed it just for herself, filling it with velvet, vintage finds, and an utterly fantastic marble mantel.

Lou Crane has DIYed nearly every inch of her historic home in the U.K. She's lovingly restored gorgeous architectural character like ceiling roses, coving, paneling, sash windows, stained glass, fireplaces, and wood floors, but has also added tons of color, pattern, and personality.

In just 500 square feet, painter Josh Ayala created a warm, stylish space that’s part art studio, home, and place to show off personality.

This bungalow in Austin “honors its 1939 roots while feeling fresh, intentional, and tailored for modern living, with a seamless flow between indoors and out” thanks to the brilliant remodel by the homeowner and interior designer Ali Burgoon Nolan.

Lauren and Nathanael were picky buyers and this house checked NONE of their boxes. “It was outdated, a little quirky, and did not match anything on our wish list.” The couple balanced updating this 1950s house with keeping its original charm while also weaving in three generations of heirlooms.

Hee Yeon Hwang loves the colors lavender and green, art, trinkets, daisies, and her dog, Doo Yoo. And she’s managed to showcase all of these elements and more in her tiny rental on the Upper East Side.

When these renters first moved into this bungalow, it was stuck in the 1980s, with stage red velvet curtains/drapes in the living room, a "tired kitchen" and the original 1980s pink bathroom suite.

Designer Hollis Loudon’s New York City home is just as patterned, energetic, gorgeous, and bold as you’d imagine!

Every inch of Brian’s Vancouver rental was designed by Jennifer Bassett, cofounder of Twobytwo Architecture Studio, to have tons of personality with an all-blue bedroom, floral wallpaper, and killer built-ins holding a vintage record collection.

Painter Holly Salerno lives in a 94-year-old former factory turned into a dreamy loft. Despite it being an open space, she's been able to create a cozy home using romantic vintage furniture and curtains to divide the space.

Packed with art, vintage treasures, and personal touches, this 400-square-foot Manhattan apartment is an incredibly cozy, warm, and personal home for a creative couple and their cute dog.

The vibe of the place is giving plantsy! Artsy! Booksy!

Audrey Rogers is an American fashion designer living and designing in this gorgeous Paris apartment. "My priority was to not buy anything new. I love vintage clothing, I collect vintage clothing, why would I ever go and buy brand new furniture?”

“It was a true blank canvas!” begins Tess Roy (@tessandteddy_ on TikTok) of this brand-new 500-square-foot studio apartment she’s been renting for two months, paying $3,015 a month. “I’ve been living in NYC on and off for about eight years, and in June, I finally hit the jackpot — I got an apartment through the NYC housing lottery!

Despite being built in the 18th century, this rental apartment feels fresh thanks to clean lines, art, light, plants, and vibrant statement pieces.

“Renter-friendly” doesn’t have to mean boring! This family of six’s apartment went from “cookie-cutter” to absolutely unforgettable — and on a budget, too!

In this 550-square-foot Nob Hill rental a cute window seat offers jaw-dropping city views, and the rest of the apartment is a plant-filled, maximalist wonderland.

Jennelle Mendes' 450-square-foot Brooklyn rental apartment came with absolutely zero closets — so she had to get creative with storage solutions in her small space. And she created an incredibly cozy bed cocoon, too!

Gail pays $2,700 a month for this gorgeous 375-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in New York City.

You've seen this artist and illustrator’s work everywhere, but now you see her gorgeous home in Slovenia and all her gorgeous IKEA hacks, like a customized living room bookcase and bedroom wardrobe.

"When I first toured this apartment it was absolutely disgusting. A hoarder was living here. Every inch of the unit was covered in furniture and clutter. It smelled bad. But at 23 it was the only apartment I could afford to rent in the city that was in my price range," writes Joyce Caldwell.

Han Santana-Sayles is the Senior Director of Artist Collaboration for Meow Wolf, so, yes, her 600-square-foot rental bungalow in Pasadena is full of shapely art and furniture. (There’s even a tapir-shaped desk!)

Mary Martha Meyer-Hill, a floral designer, filled this historic house in Smithville, Texas, with floral motifs, soft colors, and antiques to highlight the beautiful original features like stained glass, tall ceilings, and hand-carved wooden trim.

This builder-grade new build in Oslo had white walls, a gray kitchen, and 0 character, but the owners added warmth and personality to the 475-square-foot apartment with incredibly cool custom plywood furniture.

The all-pink living room feels straight out of “The Grand Budapest Hotel.”

Plants and animals bring Najah so much joy that she’s surrounded herself with them in her botanical Atlanta home that “feels like a cool bar, coffee shop, or a library lounge.”

“I think social media is great, but I often see different iterations of the same home over and over on there (and lots of white and beige!), and I wanted my space to stand out,” writes Amanda Mactas.

Lina has only been renting the space for nine months, but in that time she's managed to take what was an all-white, run-down space and turn it into an incredibly cute and cozy home.

It’s only 700 square feet, but this renovated NYC apartment feels much larger thanks to two key elements.

After getting divorced, selling her house, and moving across the country, Elle was pretty much starting from scratch when it came to furniture, decor, and her "whole outlook on life! So I leaned into everything that makes me happy and feels like me."

Breaker Novogratz's small Lower East Side rental apartment has no closets. Like, zero. So he had to use the space wisely.

Mario and Maxime’s apartment is an airy and joyful space surrounded with plants and is filled with rugs, textiles, tables, and a couch all handmade by local artisans or vintage.