Renting an apartment in New York City poses its own unique set of challenges.
New York City can be a little wild, but that’s part of what makes it unforgettable. Perhaps your neighbors upstairs sound like they’re shifting furniture at 4 o’clock in the morning; perhaps the sirens do double duty as your evening lullaby.
That’s the beat of the city, unvarnished, honest, and perpetually humming. Each honk, hallway aroma, and street-corner surprise is just another reminder that you’re not only living in New York, you’re living the full New York experience.
You didn’t make a bad decision. You just leveled up yourself. Welcome to the city that never sleeps, where every block has a story and every day is an adventure.
We can’t help you with the smells or noises. But we can help make your home a welcoming respite from all that outside chaos.
Here to show you how is Jamie Hord of Horderly, a professional organization company that serves the greater New York City area. Jamie shares her expert tips on NYC interior design, such as organizing, decorating, and personalizing the types of apartments you’re likely to find in NYC house design.
The best part? These smart design tips are budget-friendly because we know city living isn’t cheap.
5 Challenges of Creating a Stylish NYC House Design
1. Limited Space
One of the greatest challenges to interior design is maximizing minimal spaces. So many apartments contain small square footage, making each inch valuable but not cramped.
2. Not Enough Storage
Closet space is a NYC luxury, and most apartments just don’t have enough of it. The most effective NYC apartment decorating ideas involve innovative storage such as under-bed storage, wall shelves, and multifunctional furniture.
3. Unusual Layouts
New York apartment decorating ideas often involve coping with odd layouts. From a long, thin living room to an awkwardly positioned radiator, furniture placement can be tricky.
4. Inadequate Natural Light
With all the skyscrapers, many NYC apartments receive little sunlight. One of the best NYC apartment ideas is to utilize mirrors, sheer drapes, and light-colored furniture to create the illusion of more light.
5. Rental Limitations
Most tenants are unable to make long-term alterations, such as painting walls or replacing fixtures. The best NYC house design concepts have renters in mind, involving renter-friendly upgrades, including peel-and-stick wallpaper, temporary backsplash tiles, and removable hooks to hang the decor.
Read on for Jamie’s 20 NYC apartment decorating tips and NYC house design ideas for turning your place into a home for crashing in the city that never sleeps.
Moving to New York? Whether you need storage services or expert moving services in New York, Clutter has you covered. Experience seamless solutions tailored to your needs. Explore our moving and storage services here!
Click any of the links below to jump to decorating tips for your apartment type:
Studio apartment
Railroad apartment
Micro-apartment
Shared apartment
Studio apartment
You might instantly cringe at the thought of a studio apartment, but some of my all-time favorite apartments are studios.
If you set your studio upright, it can be the perfect little living space. Here are some tips on how to decorate your small NYC studio:
1. Use curtains to make the room look taller
Instead of hanging your curtains at the top of your window, hang them as far up as they can go — think ceiling to floor. Making use of vertical space like this creates an illusion of height and will make your room feel taller.
Learn more: 11 Best Home Design Ideas 2025
2. Use rugs to divide the room
I always recommend to clients to use trays to categorize items on tables. You can use this technique basically the same way when it comes to your studio apartment. Simply use rugs as your “trays” to designate distinct areas: dining, living, bedroom, etc.
3. Light the walls (without breaking your lease)
Instead of taking up floor space with a floor lamp, or table space with a table lamp, use a wall lamp. Apartment Therapy has a roundup of the best wall-lamps that don’t require a lease-breaking foray into rewiring your apartment’s electricity.
4. Get extra space under the bed
Maximize space in a small NYC apartment by utilizing under-bed storage. Put your bed on bed risers for an instant storage boost. Use storage bins, bed risers, or a storage bed with built-in drawers to keep essentials organized. This simple NYC apartment decor idea helps reduce clutter, making it one of the smartest NYC interior design ideas for compact living.
5. Downsize your furniture
In a small NYC apartment, opting for downsized furniture enhances both space and functionality. Choose a loveseat instead of a full sofa, a compact dining table, or a wall-mounted desk. Prioritizing NYC apartment decor ideas that maximize space ensures your home feels open, stylish, and perfectly suited for NYC apartment design ideas. Purchase smaller furniture pieces. Consider a love seat sofa instead of a full, and make sure it’s comfy.
Learn more: 15 Seriously Genius Space-Saving Furniture Ideas For Every Room In Your Apartment
Railroad apartment
Railroad apartments can be tricky because of their awkward, narrow shape. But they can also be a gorgeous and very uniquely New York home.
Here are some tips for organizing and decorating a railroad apartment:
6. Keep the space visually clear
Because of the fact that you can look across your apartment and literally see every room, keep the tone minimal, reduce as much clutter as possible, which will calm the space and leave it feeling less cramped.
7. Set up the space according to any natural light
If you’re tasked with balancing and designating the apartment rooms, take note of the lighting. The living room tends to feel best at the end of the apartment because it gets the most sunlight.
However, this means you’ll have to accept the fact that your bedroom is in the middle of the apartment.
Learn more: How to Incorporate Lagom into Your Home Design
8. Take down any unnecessary doors
Remove doors to open up and brighten your long apartment. This will also help with ventilation. Removing unnecessary doors in a small NYC apartment can create an open, airy feel and improve NYC apartment design ideas. Eliminating doors between living spaces enhances natural light and ventilation while making the layout more functional. This simple NYC apartment decor idea helps maximize space and makes your home feel larger.
9. Keep the color palette consistent
Paint the apartment in either one color or in neutral shades for continuity. A consistent color palette enhances the flow and spaciousness of a small NYC apartment. Stick to neutral or complementary shades to create a cohesive look. Light tones make spaces feel bigger, while accent colors add personality. This NYC apartment decor idea ensures a harmonious, stylish, and well-balanced NYC apartment design.
10. Think outside the closet
Closets in railroad apartments tend to be limited. Try transforming one room into your “closet” by putting a wardrobe, dresser, and mirror in it. This will also clear tons of space in your bedroom.
To clear even more space in your home, schedule a Clutter pickup.
Clutter will pick up the stuff you don’t need in your home right now (like your summer and spring clothes) and store it in their secure storage facility. When you need something back from storage, they’ll deliver it to you.
Learn more: 53 Insanely Clever Bedroom Storage Hacks And Solutions
Micro-apartment
No need to fret over a tiny apartment. Have you ever heard the saying “less space, less stuff?”
In a micro-apartment, you’ll actually end up accumulating less, simply because you won’t have anywhere to put new stuff. There is nothing wrong with living with less.
In fact, it is said that with less you can enjoy more. You might find your smaller space allows for a bigger life.
Here are some ways to maximize your small space:
11. Use mirrors to visually expand your space
Don’t be afraid to go big when it comes to using mirrors in a small room. This will create the illusion of depth.
Use mirrors even in the bedroom and kitchen. Some great areas to place a mirror are mirror facing a window, in the entryway, along a narrow hallway, or above a fireplace.
Learn more: 15 Amazing Multi-Purpose Entryway Storage Hacks And Ideas That You’ll Love
12. Pick mirrored and acrylic furniture
Mirrored and acrylic furniture is also brilliant when it comes to decorating small NYC apartments. I recently used this mirrored dresser and this acrylic desk for a few clients, and we were obsessed with the overall look it gave their apartment.
Mirrored furniture can make the floor space look bigger. However, you don’t want to use mirror furniture if you already have a lot of patterns going on in the room.
As for the acrylic desk, it’s almost like it isn’t even there.
13. Position the bed foot-first
The bed always looks best head-on when you enter a room, even if that means placing it in front of a window. Facing the bed foot-first—so the foot of the bed is nearest the door—creates a less cramped and visually more balanced room in a tiny NYC apartment. This NYC apartment design concept optimizes flow, expands space, and makes the room welcoming. It’s a low-key yet practical NYC apartment decor concept for maximizing studio and small bedrooms.
14. Maximize any and all vertical space
Take advantage of all vertical space. Use shelves and over-the-door hooks wherever possible. In a small NYC apartment, maximizing storage and functionality is achieved by making use of vertical space. Mount wall shelves, employ tall bookcases and incorporate hanging organizers to create floor space. This NYC apartment decor concept maintains your home tidy while optimizing NYC apartment design concepts in small living.
15. Keep backup tables without wasting room
Nesting tables are a great way to store additional side tables for guests. In a compact NYC apartment, nesting tables or collapsible side tables offer additional surface area without filling up the room. These functional NYC apartment decorating ideas enable you to host guests or work in style while keeping your space sleek and open. Intelligent NYC apartment design concepts focus on functionality without compromising style.
Shared apartment
Living with roommates is hard, but I think almost everyone in NYC has to experience it at least once in their crazy Big Apple journey. Here are some ways to manage sharing a space:
16. Compromise with a shared wall
Who doesn’t love a gallery wall?
What’s best about a gallery wall is it can pretty much be as random as can be and still look good. Try putting together your and your roommate’s favorite pieces and see how much you both love it.
17. Try a touch of DIY
If you’re both bringing in furniture and decor that you each already have, you may have to pull it together by adding a little DIY. Try covering pillows with different pillowcases, painting furniture, and changing dresser and door knobs.
18. Add some (green) life
Increase your happiness and productivity by adding fresh flowers to your apartment. Placing plants by the window will improve the overall aesthetic, too.
Learn more: 7 Gorgeous Houseplants That Will Purify The Air And Make You Happier
19. Get creative when dividing the space
There are many unique ways to create a room divider:
It could be a simple 4-part screen, a bookshelf/open bookcase, slider doors, or a curtain. Or simply ask your landlord to build out a wall (yes, sometimes they will do this).
20. Be 100% yourself in your own space
When sharing a small apartment, you may have to sacrifice a few of your favorite decor ideas. So be sure to embrace your bedroom and make it totally your own!
Relocate with Confidence—Our Expert Movers Are Ready to Help!
Conclusion
Decorating an NYC apartment can be difficult, but with proper NYC apartment decorating ideas, you can have a chic and functional home. No matter if you have a small NYC apartment or a big apartment, employing multifunctional furniture, clever storage, and warm tones can change everything.
From clever storage solutions to stylish décor ideas, each tip is designed to bring personality, comfort, and functionality into your home. With a little creativity and the right guidance, your apartment can become a cozy, inviting retreat that reflects your style proving that smart, beautiful design is always within reach, even in the fast-paced heart of the city.
If you’re planning a move, Clutter can help make your transition seamless with professional moving and storage solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us today to learn more!
FAQs for NYC Home Design and Decoration Tips & Budget-Friendly Ideas
1. What are the best ways to make the most of limited space in a small NYC apartment?
Maximizing space in a small NYC apartment requires smart design choices. Opt for multifunctional furniture like storage ottomans, Murphy beds, and nesting tables. Utilize vertical space with wall-mounted shelves and over-the-door organizers. Keep the layout open and clutter-free by choosing light-colored decor and incorporating mirrors to create the illusion of a larger space.
2. How can I decorate my NYC apartment without making permanent changes?
For renter-friendly NYC apartment decor, use peel-and-stick wallpaper, removable hooks for wall art, and temporary backsplash tiles. Large framed artwork should be hung against walls instead of hanging it. Invest in stylish rugs, curtains, and decorative lighting to personalize your space without violating lease agreements.
3. What are some ways to brighten up a dark NYC apartment?
To improve lighting in a dim New York apartment, use layered lighting—combine floor lamps, table lamps, and LED strips. Choose light-colored furniture and decor to reflect natural light. Hang mirrors opposite windows to amplify brightness, and use sheer curtains instead of heavy drapes to let in more sunlight.
4. How can I create more storage in a tiny NYC apartment?
Maximize storage by using under-bed storage bins, hanging shelves, and furniture with hidden compartments. Install floating shelves and opt for multi-purpose pieces like a bed with built-in drawers or a coffee table with storage. Declutter regularly to make the most of your available space.
5. How do I make a studio apartment feel stylish and spacious?
To make a studio apartment feel bigger and more stylish, define separate living areas with rugs, open shelving, or folding screens. Stick to a cohesive color scheme and use mirrors to create depth. Choose space-saving furniture and keep decor minimal to maintain an open, airy feel.
This article was written by Jamie Hord of Horderly. Horderly is a professional home organization company serving the greater New York City area. Specializing in decluttering, organizing, and unpacking, they help clients feel a new sense of clarity with their belongings, along with maintaining a steady, functional lifestyle.
Related Articles
Clutter is more than just storage.
To find out how you can declutter your life, talk to one of our space experts. We’ll get you started with the right storage plan for you.