7 Ways To Make Your Apartment Look More Sophisticated

By Elise Nelson on June 1, 2018

This article is brought to you by CORT Furniture Rental. We take the hassle out of furnishing your new place so you can do more important things like read this article. Learn more about why furniture rental is the best way to get a great looking apartment.

Moving into a new apartment means that you’re on to a new phase in growing up. Gone are the stuffy dorm room days when it was nearly impossible to class up your living space. Now’s your chance to finally add some elegance. Try these 7 tips for making your apartment look more sophisticated.

apartment, desk, computer

Image via Pexels.com

1. Add artsy décor. Ceramics and fancy framed pictures may have seemed pointless to you in the past, but you’ll be picking up new house accessories all the time now that you’re older. One of the easiest ways to make an apartment look more elegant is to add art.

Find your favorite photos or paintings and frame them. Hang them on the walls of your apartment for an instant upgrade. For the sake of unity, make sure the frames match in some way.

Vases, jewelry dishes, throw pillows, and patterned glassware are just a few of many small trinkets that can add sophistication to your home. Whatever you choose will offer a touch of personality and character. It’s for the aesthetic.

2. Choose lighting wisely. The right lighting can do wonders for your apartment. Toss that dingy, dim floor lamp in the trash and find a nice chandelier, if you can budget for one. Chandeliers and ceiling fixtures open more floor space and light up a room evenly.

These should be supplementary sources of light, though. The next step is to find smaller lamps for side tables. You have the chance to get really elegant with these, so think about the style you’re going for. Either the lamps themselves or the shades should have some embellishments for added flair, whether it be carved designs or bright paint colors.

A well-lit bathroom is always sophisticated. Consider adding Hollywood-style lighting around your mirror to brighten up your morning routine.

3. Organize the clutter. Clutter is the easiest way to make an apartment lose its appeal. Everything should have its own place, even if this means downsizing a bit. Do you really need all 25 of those mugs you’ve collected? Go through small spaces like countertops, drawers, closets, and cabinets, and clear out what you don’t need. (Those trinkets I mentioned earlier can stay though … remember the aesthetic!)

Once you’ve downsized, invest in some organizational tools like storage bins, baskets, and three-drawer organizers. Don’t leave anything small laying out in your apartment. One great organizational idea is to add a “drop-off station” to your entryway. Put a small basket or dish on a table near your front door and drop things like keys, headphones, or change off as you walk into the apartment.

4. Upgrade the appliances. Ditch the 90’s-style refrigerator that you borrowed from your parents’ basement and throw out the food-stained microwave you kept throughout college. It’s time for some beautiful stainless steel. Upgrading will get expensive, so this might take a few years to accomplish. But, new appliances will instantly make your entire kitchen feel upgraded.

You can also upgrade your furniture as well in the meantime. This can be as simple as refinishing a few tables, so it’s much more affordable. If you have an old bedside table, you can turn it into a tall nightstand by repainting it, adding a design, and replacing the legs. Throw one of your classy lamps on it for the finishing touch. Living room and dining room tables just need a simple sanding and a dark wood stain to be completely transformed.

5. Add some green. Any home improvement magazine will tell you to add plants to every room in your apartment. Not fake plants—real ones that you actually take care of. Remember to water them!

Plants and bouquets of flowers are a quick and affordable way to spruce up your home. Adding sunflowers to a vase on a side table or putting a potted fern by the doorway will “draw visual interest to any room,” according to Huffington Post. Bonus: your apartment will smell amazing.

If you don’t quite trust yourself to take care of your plants, you can also try using a bowl of fake fruit as a table centerpiece.

couches, apartment, bookcase

Image via Pexels.com

6. Make a home for your alcohol. You’re too old to have bottles of liquor strewn across the apartment. They don’t have to take up kitchen counter space, either. The solution: add a bar cart! You can purchase one from stores like Bed, Bath, & Beyond or Target. Alternatively, there are also a few DIY ideas.

Stock it with a few bottles and glasses and tuck the cart way in the corner of the living room. Roll it out when you have guests!

7. Keep it tidy. A dirty apartment will bring your sophistication level down. Try to keep it as clean as possible even when you aren’t having guests. Make the bed, dust the tables, Windex the mirrors and windows, and put everything where it belongs.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your apartment look more sophisticated. Try some of these other DIY projects!

Looking for an easy way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Renting furniture from CORT saves you time and money. See how easy it is to get great looking furniture without breaking the bank.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format