Software engineer Madhav Vats and his girlfriend, Jiya Sultania, turned his generic NYC apartment into a calming amber-lit space using smart zoning, a mix of textures, and only renter-friendly updates!

By embracing leopard print as a neutral and a massive collection of thrifted stone fruit, film and television writer Leah Gauthier transformed this plain 530-square-foot Vancouver apartment into a whimsical sanctuary.

Benita and Brian downsized from a three-bedroom home into this one-bedroom, introducing lots of color to the bright space to “bring in that happy whimsical feel.”

Paola and Slava used peel-and-stick wallpaper, secondhand finds, and ‘70s-inspired DIYs to turn a "quiet and empty" apartment into a vibrant and kind of nostalgic sanctuary.

Alison Jennison spent over a decade restoring her family’s Brooklyn townhouse (that’s somehow only 17 feet wide) using salvaged materials, to complement original architectural details, and sprinkling in smart IKEA hacks.

This renter spent 10 years "stripping away decades' worth of paint that coated woodwork and fixtures” to restore the charm of this 1930s apartment to its original glory and adding her own “French Provincial” style to the space.

After moving into this tiny NYC studio apartment sight-unseen from Charleston, Macey Phillips had to make sure everything served more than one purpose — be small, stylish, and have storage.

Arielle purchased her Flatbush rental townhouse, which came with architectural charm and unique features, like a kitchen with zero built-in cabinetry.

Self-taught designer Amel transformed this neutral rental in Paris with bold paint, genius IKEA hacks, and clever DIY illusions, turning the home she shares with her daughter into a chic, contemporary, maximalist dream.

After waiting 13 years for his dream Brooklyn loft, designer Kiron Akeem finally moved into this 850-square-foot rental. His goal? To bring in "mid-century flair while adding warmth and character.“

Fabiola Paccieri thought this apartment listing was too good to be true at first. A “central box” holds the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom in one clever, compact unit, making the space feel much bigger than 323 square feet.

From a DIY chic bathroom sink solution to a poured-on-site terrazzo kitchen counter, Gabriel Yuri totally transformed his 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood.

Designer Christie Kristl had been hoping for a fixer-upper when she purchased this 1960s home with good bones and modern updates, relying instead on color, pattern, and personal pieces to turn this move-in-ready house into a lived-in family home.

Mariné and her husband added limewashed walls, statement tapestries, bold color, oversized lighting, and tons of plants to turn this "empty, all-white shell with no flooring" into a warm, nature-inspired retreat.

This illustrator's studio apartment is full of bold paint colors, handmade textiles, and a DIY pink velvet couch.

When her last home flooded after Hurricane Ida, Alison Beshai had to find a new last-minute home, landing in this Brooklyn Brownstone with original mantels, an open layout, and tons of natural light pouring in from every side.

Original sash windows, a loft bed, and smart zoning help this tiny London studio feel surprisingly spacious for two people who work from home.

An architect redesigned this 645-square-foot apartment in San Sebastián by removing a bedroom and inserting a curved mirrored wall that reorganizes the layout, turning a typical 1960s home into an incredibly cool, contemporary home.

After moving into a very beige 1990s house in the Netherlands, this creative couple transformed it with bold colors, handmade furniture, and playful DIY ideas, including a stunning art piece made from hundreds of tiny wooden blocks.

When this creative couple first walked into their Brooklyn Heights apartment, the original crown moldings were gone, the ceilings had been lowered, and every surface was gray and white — but they’ve spent years bringing the character back to the brownstone.

After a fire forced Taylor Jordan out of his San Francisco apartment of 11 years, he wanted to make his new 560-square-foot rental feel like home immediately. It took careful planning, some Etsy finds, and furniture he already owned, and he created a lived-in home in four days.

When an interior designer fell for a 1970s Vermont cabin sight unseen, she had six weeks, a tight budget, and a vision to transform it into a layered, colorful escape in time for ski season.

Ola’s biggest challenge in her 720-square-foot Los Angeles studio was making one big open space feel like it had distinct “rooms” — especially finding a place for a home office since she works from home.

This apartment wasn’t "love at first sight" for Jordan and Luke, but it had potential. After a thoughtful reno, it feels like being in the desert while still in NYC.

When Shardé and her husband bought this Boston house, built in 1885, the basement had never been touched.

This family of four wanted their London house to "spark dopamine and joy, but also feel incredibly calm," and hired talented designer Justine Guillermou to transform their home with color.

The budget was extremely limited, so owner Marko focused on “paint, styling, lighting, repurposed furniture, and handmade pieces that completely changed the mood of the space without structural modifications.”

Candace Reels is the founder of the digital community Female Collective, and lives in a 900-square-foot 1920s Los Feliz bungalow that’s styled with a warm color palette and vintage mid-century pieces found throughout the years.

Max and Becca ripped out old carpet, added cork flooring, poured concrete counters, and tackled plenty of other DIY projects in this 900-square-foot house in Casitas Springs to take it from “dated rental” to “artful oasis.”

Architect Mariana de Delás transformed a tiny, unimpressive Madrid studio apartment with a custom-designed steel gangway that made room for a stylish bedroom, study, and storage.

Chandra Hampton's loft is small, so having sliding doors maximizes her space. But instead of just looking like regular doors, they look like art!

This luxury marketing professional turned this small and basic Jersey City rental studio apartment into an intentional, elevated retreat.

Dinesh Pandian’s rental is a warm blank canvas with light wood floors and the “Dallas skyline as a beautiful backdrop.”

This 320-square-foot apartment in Brooklyn's Greenpoint neighborhood is filled with the most brilliant organizing and style ideas of all time.

Adam and Alexa focused on “maximizing storage with smart layouts and full-height cabinetry rather than expensive finishes,” and were able to keep Chicago apartment renovation “practical and budget-conscious.”

It wasn’t love at first sight when these sisters found this rental home. But after filling it with seriously cool secondhand-sourced vintage finds, they love the place as if they own it!

This raw industrial studio is now a warm, smart home, thanks to a stylish vintage furniture curator turning it into a light-filled, multifunctional home with storage hidden in plain sight. Every piece in this Bushwick studio pulls double duty — proving small spaces can live much larger than they are.

Cash Vanbuskirk is “always on the hunt for interesting objects to accessorize with, vintage furniture/lighting, and I love the challenge of making them all work together without it feeling like I'm living in an antique store.”

Alliannah Hamilton’s studio apartment is small, but it still fits a space to sleep, make hard, and even hang in a yoga hammock, proving even petite homes can be playful, peaceful, and personal.

This once-boring new build in East Harlem became a joyful, maximalist home for a family of four, all on a tight budget, too!

With glimpses of both the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory, this Melrose Hill rental apartment was the ultimate canvas for interior designer Lauren Talio.

This couple turned a bland 120-year-old London flat into a warm, vintage-filled home that feels personal and is layered with color and art.

Soft neutrals, natural textures, and vintage touches come together to create a serene, lived-in space that’s "warm, timeless, and effortlessly modern."

Wall murals, cozy banquettes, and vibrant color steal the show in this family's bold Chelsea rental apartment.

This creative couple turned their first apartment into a warm and custom home, all without adding any square footage to the 710 square feet.

Gianne describes her 1100-square-foot rental apartment as a perfect blank canvas. “A charming craftsman home with a storybook cottage feel – white walls and still full of character. It just needed an artist to honor its potential and bring it to life.”

Original (and stunning) plaster moldings, delightful Facebook Marketplace finds, and one very joyful kitchen make this Montreal home truly unforgettable.