New Apartment Decorating PART 3: My Dark Boho Living Room Styling Begins!
I’m starting to decorate my living room in my new apartment!
In the video below, I walk you through my styling process for creating a cozy dark boho living room while sharing my tips along the way.
And in this post, I’m sharing my main tips and takeaways based on my living room decorating experience. So if you want some moody decor inspo, living room decor ideas, and small apartment decor tips, come join me while I decorate!
New apartment decorating tip #1: Style with decor you already own before you buy anything new
Before I even considered buying new pretty things for my new apartment, I first styled the space with decor I already owned. This initial step was crucial for identifying what additional pieces I may have needed to complete the look, without spending money blindly on things that might not have even worked for the space and existing decor.
Experimenting with existing items allows me to understand my space better and how new pieces might complement or enhance the vibe. If you're drawn to a particular style, start with what you already have then plan your purchases around filling in the gaps and achieving that style.
This approach makes decorating less overwhelming, less expensive, and increases the chances that your space will blend the old and the new together more seamlessly!
New apartment decorating tip #2: Start with a focal point to guide your styling process
A focal point is a specific element or area in a room that immediately draws attention, serving as the visual centerpiece of the space. It can be a large piece of furniture, an art piece, an accent wall… whatever you choose as the focal point basically acts as the main character in relation to everything else around it.
Choosing and emphasizing a focal point helps create a sense of harmony and order in the room, guiding the arrangement of furniture and decor to complement and enhance this central feature.
In the case of my living room, my couch acts as the focal point from one angle, while my TV and its surrounding styling is the focal point from another angle. (Focal points can change depending on where you’re standing in the room!) By focusing on styling my TV area first, I was able to get a sense of direction when decorating the rest of the living room.
This focal-point-first strategy simplifies the decorating process, breaking it down into manageable steps that gradually bring the room together. When overwhelmed by a blank space, identify one focal point to start with and let it guide the rest of your styling decisions!
New apartment decorating tip #3: Treat art like puzzle pieces
Choosing wall art and deciding where it will go is a daunting task, and in my case I have a lot of it to choose from. So I found that laying out every piece of art that I own allowed me to see how each piece could potentially fit into my new living room design. Having everything laid out in front of you is a great way to get the creative ideas flowing and visualize what could go where.
Honestly, this process is like playing art Tetris, where each canvas and frame is like a puzzle piece you want to fit together. Styling often feels like a puzzle that requires a ton of focus and strategizing, and what do you do when you first open a puzzle box? You lay out all the pieces to get a good look at them. Try the same with your artwork selection! Consider how each piece interacts with others and with the room as a whole, aiming for a cohesive look that ties the space together.
And remember, it's okay to take risks with your art choices, as they can always be rearranged or replaced if you decide to change the vibe of your room.
New apartment decorating tip #4: Create triangles with decorative items
When deciding where to place your decor pieces in a room, you can’t go wrong with grouping three items together, creating a triangle shape between them. This method is a foolproof way to create balance and interest, and makes it so that your decor feels curated rather than cluttered. It's about making intentional choices in how you display items, creating a narrative and a visual flow that draws the eye naturally.
For example, employing the triangle method in arranging objects on my new coffee table instantly made that area more aesthetically pleasing. For some reason, the human eye just likes to see triangles and it almost always guarantees visual appeal!
And remember, styling is about experimenting with different shapes, heights, and arrangements to find what looks best in your space. It always involves trial and error. Don't be afraid to rearrange until you find the perfect setup that reflects your personal style!
New apartment decorating tip #5: The small space dining conundrum
Most small apartment dwellers know that sometimes a proper dining table just isn’t an option. I personally have never owned a true dining table because I’ve never had the space for one! So sometimes we have to get creative.
There’s no shame in dining at your desk, on your couch, or anywhere else in your apartment that isn’t traditionally considered a dining area. In my case, I like to eat while cozied up on my couch using an accent table as my “dining table”. And it suits me just fine!
In small apartments, where space is at a premium, furniture that serves multiple functions is invaluable. At the end of the day, your apartment should cater to your needs, and sometimes that means finding unconventional uses for your furniture. Let your lifestyle guide your furniture choices, ensuring your home is stylish, comfortable, and functional.
New apartment decorating tip #6: Incorporate your personality & what you love
This one’s a big one! I’m a firm believer in finding ways to visually represent your personality and the things you love in your styling. This very belief is what inspired me to name my blog and YouTube channel Moda Misfit; with Moda meaning “style” and Misfit representing individuality, Moda Misfit is all about finding your authentic individual style. And a beautiful way to showcase your individuality is to work in your unique blend of interests into your apartment styling!
For example, in my case when approaching my styling process, I consciously think about the things I love, which leads to featuring my favorite musicians as wall art, my Death Note manga on my coffee table, and sound wave prints of three of my favorite songs, to name a few. All of this injects my personality into the space, and also aligns nicely with the dark boho decor vibe I’m going for. When you can marry the things you love with the interior style you want to achieve in an aesthetically pleasing way, that’s the sweet spot!
Whatever your interests are, try to consciously think about how you can work them into your styling. If you find creative and stylish ways to visually represent the things you love in your decor, you’ll find that your apartment will feel more like a home than a rental!
So those were some new apartment decorating tips based on the beginning stages of decorating my new apartment! Be sure to watch the video that goes along with this blog post to see my stying in action. ✌️
