Are you graduating from undergrad soon? About to move out of dorm life and sign the lease on your first apartment? We’ve rounded up a list of looks for your initial solo pad with a cautious budget in mind. With cute living room ideas from shag rugs, macrame-inspired pillows, chunky-knit throws, gallery walls to studio-approved sectionals, your dream space can be both beautiful and budget-friendly. We’re here to show you that comfort and style doesn’t have to be compromised on a tight budget. Scroll and savior the interior inspirations we’ve gathered and where to find each look IRL.
Luxurious velvets and deep-jeweled tones create the perfect common room setting. The addition of natural greenery and simple floral prints add to the exotic yet refined feel of this space.
Neutral tones, clean lines and mismatched patterns come together in this Nordic room. If your goal is to promote no clutter and no knickknacks then this is the vibe for you to conquer. As another one of the cute living room ideas we’ve found inspiring, this style brings a subtle yet familiar homey character to any apartment.
Golden accents and pale pastels add a feminine luxury to the space. Marbleized furnishings juxtaposed with natural jute and teak chairs capture a modern take on that 70’s feel for a luxe apartment look.
Camel-toned weathered leathers, warm woods, nomadic traveler accents and patterned rugs show off a relaxed yet classic appeal.
Cultivate a lavish yet incomplex place to relax after a long day at your first post-college gig. Give your living room a lush feel with some subtle features of velvet textures, gold elements and trendy macrame throw pillows for good measure.
Give this edgy industrial look a go with iron-clad open shelving and a cozy fur throw. Keep it simple with traditional linen Aztec pillows for more texture. As one of many cute living room ideas, this specific style brings a refurbished feel to an aged space.
Transform your small space into a practical yet modern living room. This style makes the most out of a compact unit with light hues and storage ability.
Mix mauve pastels with an artsy gallery wall, mid-century modern chairs, brassy accents and a statement zebra rug for an updated version of the 70’s style living room.
Low-back couches, bold striped rugs, chunky-knit poufs and graffiti-esq walls transform a living room into a trendy space for a new renter. Add a mini-bar to double as an entertaining area.
Forego colors for staple black items that add a masculine aesthetic to a living area. Throw in a classic hairpin chair and vases filled with leafy greens for added dimension.
This look provides bright splashes of color with a faded and modernistic take on the Persian rug, along with vibrant abstract artwork. Use a convertible futon that doubles as a daybed for a multi-purpose space.
Basic and clean, this inspiring space brings warmth and distinction. Hanging shelving and grey tones supply a trend-worthy feel.
Airy and bright, modern hang lights with clean-lined furnishings and pops of gold give a tall unit a chic aesthetic. As another of the many cute living room ideas, this look captures a bright and spacious feel.
Adding wooden accessories with a neutral-toned and functional sectional brings life to a small space. Art cut-outs spice up your walls with distinct dimension.
Are you lucky enough to have a brick-wall in your space? Take notes from this colonial-takes-modern living room with mid-century inspired chairs, marble accents and simple ceramic accessories.
Standing lights, foot stool tables, blurred art and camel-toned leather give this apartment a sense of warmth and comfort. Aged and weathered furnishings add a distinct look to any living room.
Utilize those old photographs and put them on display in mixed-metal frames for a captivating gallery wall. Add in singular industrial lighting equipped with a statement Edison bulb for full effect. Black standing lights with multi-sized wooden tables give small living rooms a breath of fresh air. Dark tones bring structure to an apartment’s decor.
Do you call an old mill building-turned loft apartments home? In this living room, white-washed exposed brick, sectional seating and the addition of a modern farm table gives this space a double feature as both living and dining room. Tack on a gallery wall with animal heads accessorizing throughout for unique decor appeal.
Coat the walls with a dark hue and give your living room a refresh. The wall-lining console provides a place for both storage and display decor. Hanging bubble lighting, caramel leather and neutral grey seating gives differentiation to your place with this cute living room idea.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match elements of texture and pattern with marble, Aztec prints, velvet and linen materials. Decorating with a statement fireplace and basic white walls brings unexpected definition to your space.
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