Apartment

Johnny Coleman is an interior architecture BFA candidate at Columbia College Chicago and a bargain hunter. He was able to furnish and decorate this rental apartment with mostly upcycled and revamped furniture.

Megan Zietz is a content creator and designer, and shares this small NYC rental apartment with her husband, three kids, and two cats.

TV writer, actress, author, and producer Franchesca Ramsey moved to Los Angeles fall of 2020, decorating this rental apartment with DIY murals, color, and more.

Stefania Talento and Andreu Font are the co-founders of the blog "In and Out Barcelona," and In and Out Studio, where they handle social media strategy and content curation for international clients. They share a 590-square-foot home in Barcelona’s Gracia neighborhood.

Meng and his husband, Andrew, gorgeously transformed this outdated two-bedroom co-op, which they say hadn't been updated for almost 60 years. There was worn green carpeting, an odd layout, and a very dirty bathroom, to name only a few of the things that would need remodeling.

Emily Greene runs Foodie Snitch, an account about the food and design scene in Portland. The rental apartment she shares with her partner, photographer Bryan Daugherty, beats gray and gloomy Portland weather with a mix of Danish pastel and Japanese minimalism styles.

Amber Cabral is an inclusion consultant, DEI Strategist, speaker, and published author, and lives in this "refined glam" rental apartment in Midtown Atlanta.

Tim and Ravi's condo is located on the top floor of a building built in 1897, so it needed a lot of work. The remodel lasted two months and was completed in January 2020.

This renovated apartment in a bustling Barcelona neighborhood feels like a totally relaxing sanctuary surrounded by trees.

Illustrator Gica Tam shares this 760-square-foot rental apartment with a roommate, but thanks to smart storage ideas and lots of light, the space doesn't feel too cramped or cluttered at all.

Photographer Kat Malo only had a few plants when she moved in, but when she saw how well they were doing in this light-filled space, she fully embraced being a plant parent and now has over 50.

Janelle and Spencer's apartment is in an old Victorian house (built in 1883!) that’s been broken out into units. Their space has a ton of character, including original molding and ceiling medallions, chandeliers in every room (even the kitchen and bathrooms), a working fireplace, a large verandah, and big, lovely bay windows not overlooking someone else’s condo balcony.

"There’s always something going on within the four walls of my apartment — whether it’s testing a new recipe for my blog, tinkering with the interior design of the apartment, an art or DIY project, hosting friends for a mandoo (Korean dumplings) party, or simply cranking away at my computer," writes Christine Han, a Korean-American recipe developer and food blogger who founded the blog, Dear Saturdays.

Ineke Nordt used to rock bright colors in her previous homes, but found that light, natural colors calm her down. Her home in The Netherlands is light, bright, natural, Scandi, and bohemian.

Emma and Henrik's home style is heavily influenced by the patterns and colors of the 1970s — particularly orange and brown, hence the name of Emma’s Instagram, Home of Orange Brown.

Rebekah Love, a professional organizer and the owner of company, Organize For Love, shares this Staten Island home with husband, Olushola Bashorun, a fine arts photographer with AQut Photography, and their daughter, Loren.

Hester Vogelzang's retro interior-themed Instagram tagline is “Born in the nineties, living in the seventies,” and that applies to the home shared with boyfriend, Jens, and newborn son, Wobbe.

Designer and vintage Instagram shop owner Giovanna Macejka leaned into a "maximalist 1970s retro vibe that relies heavily on mixing patterns and textures, going bold with color, and creating movement throughout the space."

Josie says that limitations breed creativity, and that certainly applies in the home she shares with her partner, Alec. "I have never gotten more ideas for a space than for this tiny apartment."

Color makes Rita feel, happy and peaceful, which was her #1 goal when decorating. "My second goal was staying on budget, so everything may look very extravagant but in reality my furniture is from Target and Walmart!"

Everything in Jessica's apartment is thrifted or found on Facebook Marketplace.

This 1970s Bauhaus-Inspired Munich apartment — which is completely round shaped, by the way — was transformed into a pastel-colored, Memphis-inspired home filled with vintage gems, modern finds, and custom-made furniture designed by the homeowner.

Emily Brinkley is an illustrator/designer working for a small company that designs games, toys, books, greeting cards, stationery, and gift wrap. She describes her London flat as being a totally beige, blank canvas when she first moved in.

Interior decorator Dani Klarić lives in this large, loft-like apartment in Miami with her boyfriend, Bello. Dani pulls a lot of her home's interior inspiration from the Art Deco era, but you'll also find nods to the 1960s, 1990s, and even some mid-century modern vibes, too.

A love of slick classics paired with minimalist and maximalist design choices — and a desire to wake up to the smell of coffee daily — led Ian to his apartment's design.

Reed Van Dyck used her time in the pandemic to turn her apartment into a sanctuary for a peaceful night in with her cat and dog. She mixes thrifted and new items to create a space that feels truly hers.

Shannon and her partner David have filled their New York City apartment with color and cheeky elements that make them feel at home.

Scientist and educator Laurel Bristow's Instagram is a wealth of easy-to-digest and scientifically accurate information on COVID, vaccines, boosters, variants, and so much more. And her Atlanta condo she shares with her cat and axolotl is full of cool art and "cheeky little items."

When the NYC housing market dropped during the pandemic, Kimberly and her partner decided to buy. They worked with an architect to turn a two-bedroom apartment into a one larger bedroom with home office.

Artist and art teacher Laina Weiss is the creative director of L’or de Seraphine, an artisanal candle brand, and calls home this cozy and colorful East Village apartment, sharing it with her cat, Abby.

Grace Zhang chronicles her many home improvement efforts personalizing this "boring new construction” 650-square-foot apartment she shares with her boyfriend.

When NYC rents lowered in the pandemic, children's book editor and author Anna Membrino took the opportunity to live alone for the first time. Mirrors, white walls, and lots of plants help make the small space feel much larger.

"I love color," Dominique, who rents this New Jersey apartment with her fiancé, says. "I feel like a lot of homes I see that are on the higher end are so white/gray and boring... It's been a dream to freely decorate and just be ourselves here. I think we did a good job making it cozy but still elevated and adult without being too boring."

Tessa started Tessa Ariane Design, which focuses on affordable design work, in "response to how out of touch the interior design industry can be with what most folks actually need. We are all impacted by our environments, and I really believe we need to prioritize providing solutions for renters, folks in small spaces, and within realistic budgets that don’t leave anyone behind," she says.

Meg Quinn, author of "THE CHEESE BOARD DECK" and the popular website, "Ain't Too Proud to Meg," rented this LA apartment for 10 years.

Scott and Brian's apartment blends many styles. "What started as a mid-century motif evolved into a very unique living space that surpasses a definitive style marker," Scott writes. "We are very much into warm tones and comfort. We have a love for vintage glassware that can be seen in our decorating style... We have a mix of old and new, high-end and low cost."

Amanda Holden, also known as "Dumpster.Doggy" on Instagram, is an entrepreneur, educator, and the founder of Invested Development. She aims to answer the question: “How do I teach dusty investing topics without making my students want to stick needles into their eyeballs?”

Creative director, prop stylist, and set designer Melissa Cripe says to "create your own world" in your home. "Send yourself secret messages of love and support through your space and what you choose to fill it with," she says. In her New Orleans shotgun, this mantra manifests in whimsical upcycled furniture, rental-friendly murals, and family heirlooms.

Grace Atwood has written the lifestyle blog, The Stripe, for twelve years now, and is also active on Instagram and has a weekly newsletter. She worked with designer and Elements of Style blogger Erin Gates on decorating this Charleston, South Carolina rental apartment.

It's a fusion of mid-century modern and boho with pops of leafy greens.

Sekile Nzinga is the Chief Equity Officer for the State of Illinois and the founder of The Nzinga Collective, and rents this 1200-square-foot condo in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood.

Renter Sydney Callands finds a way to make her 660-square-foot apartment's odd layout work. "Sometimes it almost feels like I'm Carrie Bradshaw living her best life in the West Village — emphasis on sometimes," she says.

Tessa is a freelance writer and photojournalist who contributes to food and lifestyle publications (like Apartment Therapy!). She shares this rental apartment in Springfield, Missouri with her husband.

Behavioral scientist and science communicator Vanessa Hill shares a look inside her stylish Brooklyn rental AND reveals why she keeps old technology in her bedroom, what kind of mattress she sleeps on (under $500 from Amazon), and other smart secrets to getting better sleep.

"I create moods with scents, colours, sounds, lighting, and so on," renter Tia Dumoulin says of her 800-square-foot apartment.

"I love how even in a smaller space I've been able to create several distinct zones that I can enjoy for different reasons, whether I want to lie in bed and nap, spread out on my couch to read and look out on the street below, or get some work done on my computer at my little bistro table corner," SF renter Lydia says. "I've managed to fit many rooms into one!"

...including an IKEA bookshelf built into a wall!

Senaida's monochromatic studio has "pockets of space for sleeping, doing work, and hanging out" and a genius DIY light fixture to boot. All in 295 square feet!

Misella and Angga run Lumalamp, a handmade origami lampshade business, out of their home, this 700-square-foot apartment they renovated themselves and share with their three young kids.

It also has many thrifted finds and original artwork made by renter Jordan Lauf's friends and family.

Sensi editor-in-chief Stephanie Wilson's apartment is "maximalism to the max" and FULL of wild decor ideas — like contact-paper-covered doors, neon-painted door jambs, and a carefully curated bar-cart-turned-bong-cart.

This "contemporary eclectic" apartment blends clean lines with lots of vintage and mid-century modern pieces.

Casting assistant Rosie Dart loves old and antique things, and her 390-square-foot, one-bedroom flat in London's Notting Hill neighborhood is colorful and maximalist despite the small size.

"I wanted something that was a less-murderous 'American Psycho' vibe with a focus on sustainability and minimalism," renter Wayne Burns says of his cool minimalist pad.

Emily Auffrey describes the rental apartment she shares with her family as a NYC dream space. “We truly feel like we moved into our dream NYC apartment. In addition to being the dream home; the area is just absolutely ideal for a family," she writes.

Taylor and her fiancé celebrate the perfectly imperfect in their space. They believe it's important for a home to look lived-in. Their apartment has parquet floors, neat archways, black hexagon tile floors, and intricate art-deco touches — and of course, books lying around, mugs left out from that morning's coffee, and all its familiar dings and quirks.

Renter Heather Luciano's advice when it comes to decorating is to be unabashedly you. "Being yourself never goes out of style," she says. "I know a lot of people who worry about what’s in or trendy when it comes to fashion and design, and I’ve just never lived that way. I have always over-accessorized, lived in color and pattern, and have been shopping for antiques since I was in grade school."

Content creator, blogger, style lover, YouTuber, and Instagram strategist Marikah shares this one-bedroom apartment with her husbae and their baby. The apartment has lots of clever organizing tip and renter-friendly decor ideas, including a very cute nursery nook in the bedroom.