I recently celebrated my one year anniversary of moving into my apartment and I decided it was the perfect time to share my ultimate apartment decor guide!
Before moving in February 2023, I dedicated so much time to finding decor that suited my taste. I spent countless hours scrolling on Pinterest, TikTok, and various websites exploring my options. I probably went to HomeSense every day for a month. It was all worth it in the end because I found exactly what I was looking for.
I knew from the start that I wanted everything to be perfect and I didn’t want to settle for placeholder items, which is how I ended up going three months in my apartment without a couch or TV stand. Was it ideal? No, but it was worth it in the end when my furniture finally showed up and it was just right.
It took a few months for me to completely finish decorating my apartment and I’m so excited to share my finds with you! I’ve listed everything I can and I hope it inspires you, whether you’re moving soon or just want to add some new pieces to your home
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Front Entry
My front entry is extremely small. You walk right into the kitchen and around the corner is a coat closet, however, I wanted a place to put my keys. For the longest time, I was just placing my most used purses and keys on my kitchen island, but this wasn’t sustainable long-term.
I knew I needed some kind of hooks for my front entry, but I didn’t want to settle for anything boring. I have a rattan theme going on throughout my living room and kitchen, so I was on the hunt for rattan hooks.
I found my rattan hooks at Michaels last year, but similar ones are available on Amazon! These hooks aren’t sturdy enough to hold anything heavy, but they’re perfect for keys, small bags, and light jackets.
Kitchen
I love my kitchen so much and I could not wait to decorate it. My counter space is small, but I knew my Nespresso Vertuo Next would be the highlight. The left side of my counter is dedicated to coffee, while the right side of my counter houses my gorgeous Sabatier Knife Acacia Forged Block Set.
When I was shopping for kitchen appliances and utensils, I really wanted everything to be aesthetic. The white knife set matches my white Nespresso perfectly. I could have gotten a cheaper knife set, but it wouldn’t have looked as nice, which is important to me.
Another area I could have saved money was glassware. As soon as I started searching for home decor inspiration, I immediately knew I wanted ribbed glassware. Specifically, the ribbed glasses that Pals in Edmonton uses. I went to the restaurant in December 2022 and fell in love with them, so I DM’d the account on Instagram and found out that the glasses are from Crate & Barrel.
At the time, the Crate & Barrel Atwell Ribbed Glasses were completely out of stock in Edmonton and weren’t expected to ship until April 2023. I moved in February 2023 and didn’t want to go that long without glassware or spend money on placeholders. So, I did the insane thing and purchased them over the phone from the Toronto Crate & Barrel and paid $30 for shipping. It was 100% worth it.
Finishing off the kitchen are my Rattan and Metal Bar Stools from Bouclair.
Dining Area
The highlight of my dining area is what I call my bar shelf. I wanted a bar cart, but I had this concrete feature wall and a bar cart felt too small for the space. I also knew I wanted more storage than a bar cart would offer, so I bought this gorgeous arched black metal and glass bookcase (Adrianne Etagere Bookcase) from Wayfair and turned it into my dream girly bar shelf.
I change out the decor seasonally, but I always keep my alcohol, bar tools, and glassware on the shelf. Here are some of my favourite pieces:
IKEA SÄLLSKAPLIG Champagne Coupe Glasses
Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon
We Only Dated for 11 Instagrams
Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker
Finding a dining table that fits in a small apartment was a challenge, however, I immediately fell in love with the Structube Eiffel Table. It’s compact yet big enough to comfortably sit four people. I also bought the matching Structube Eiffel Chairs.
To add colour to the space, I bought these gorgeous Haus and Haus travel-themed art prints from Amazon, which came with the frames!
Living Room
Before I even planned on moving out, my dream was always to have a pink couch. So, when I signed my lease, it wasn’t even a question. I started my search for pink couches, which was more difficult than I thought it would be. There are a lot of pink couches out there, but most of them are expensive or they’re not the right shade of pink, not the right size, etc.
I narrowed my search down to Structube because they offer a lot of fun colours and budget-friendly apartment-sized furniture. I bought the Structube Lorette Velvet Sofa without even testing it out. None of the stores near me had one on display, but it was the only couch that matched what I wanted perfectly.
I was a bit nervous, but it worked out. It’s not the comfiest couch I’ve ever sat on, but it is comfy, especially for naps. One day I’ll upgrade to a comfy couch, but for now I’m happy with my aesthetic pink couch.
Before I moved out, I fell in love with this Anthropologie Nathalie Lete Velvet Throw Blanket and always imagined I’d have this on my dream pink couch in my dream apartment. I received it as a birthday gift and it feels like I manifested it. It’s my favourite blanket.
I wanted a colourful pink rug to match the couch and I spent hours finding the perfect one. Rug shopping is difficult for me because it’s hard for me to envision it in my space and I find most rugs ugly. I found my rug on Overstock (which has since bought out Bed Bath and Beyond) and it’s a great rug.
The colour scheme was exactly what I wanted and I didn’t hate the pattern. I am on the hunt for a new rug now because my cat has clawed this one up, but the quality was decent and I would recommend it.
My coffee table is the Ikea VITTSJÖ Coffee table and my drink coasters are the Anthropologie Gilded Agate Coasters.
My apartment lacks storage, so I knew I wanted to add storage in my living room. I bought the Jett Sideboard from Structube to use as my TV stand and I also bought the Jett Dresser to put in the nook in my living room. I use the dresser and the drawers in the sideboard for extra clothing storage, and the shelves in the sideboard are great for miscellaneous storage.
I already owned the Structube Birdy Upholstered Chair, so I brought that and put it in my living room for extra seating. It’s super comfy and has lasted for 5+ years now. I also bought the Structube Petal End Table as a fun accent piece. The adorable Squirrel Lamp is my favourite thing I’ve ever bought and it’s from HomeSense. To store my Vogue magazines, I bought the Ikea TRUMMIS Magazine file.
I turned my nook into my personal library and it’s my favorite space in my apartment. My books are my prized possessions and the area is just so cozy! I hate having my big lights on and wanted to add some mood lighting, so I bought this Amazon Candle Warmer Lamp.
To add to the library ambiance, I bought Emily Henry themed art prints, which I framed and placed on the dresser. And, of course, I have my cherished Taylor Swift Folklore vinyl on display, as well.
One of my favourite purchases in the living room is my Bessie Fabric Cow Ottoman. She’s been with me from the beginning and her name is Carla. It’s such a fun piece and adds some personality to the room.
I wanted to turn the hallway leading to my bedroom and bathroom into a gallery wall, so I bought 12 of the Ikea LOMVIKEN Frames. It turned out so good and it adds a personalized touch to the space.
Bedroom
My bedroom is small, but it has everything I need. To maximize on storage, I bought the Ikea MALM High Bed Frame with two storage boxes underneath. It’s the perfect storage for my pajamas, sweatshirts, and other comfy clothes. My closet is pretty small, so I bought a White Metal Clothing Rack for more hanging storage. In my closet, I added the Ikea Alex Drawer Unit for accessories, undergarments, and miscellaneous storage.
I love my Ikea MALM Dressing Table, so I brought that from home. It’s narrow yet the drawer fits so much makeup. I added a Gold Circle Mirror above it and I brought my Standing Makeup Mirror. For a hint of colour, I bought the Structube Polly Chair in pink for my vanity.
I recently bought an Amazon Jewelry Box to put on top of my vanity and it’s the perfect size for all of my accessories!
I hope you enjoyed and found some home decor inspiration! What does your dream living space look like?
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