Budget Tiny Apartment Makeover: 15 Decor Ideas Under $100 You’ll Want to Steal

Your tiny apartment is a treasure chest waiting to be styled—without emptying your wallet. I pulled together 15 complete looks that feel designer, live beautifully in small spaces, and each stays under $100 with smart swaps, thrifting, and DIY magic.

Picture us walking through your place, coffee in hand, turning corners into moments. Ready to transform your home on a dime? Let’s start the tour.

1. Sun-Washed Scandinavian Window Nook

This corner is all about light, air, and quietly beautiful simplicity. Think a palette of crisp white, pale birch, and soft gray that makes your window feel twice as big.

Layer sheer curtains to soften the view, a jute rug for texture, and a petite bistro table topped with wood-grain contact paper for warmth. Add a linen cushion and one minimal art print—calm achieved.

• Key pieces: Sheer panels, jute mat, thrifted stool, linen pillow
• Lighting: LED tea lights in a clear jar
• Under $100 tip: Thrift the table; upgrade the top with contact paper

2. Moody Midnight Micro-Lounge

Create drama in a footprint the size of a yoga mat. A deep navy peel-and-stick accent or sample-pot painted panel behind your seating instantly sets the mood.

Add a velvet pillow, a thrifted brass lamp with a warm bulb, and two bold abstract prints. Finish with soft string lights tucked along the baseboard for a low, cozy glow.

• Palette: Navy, charcoal, antique brass
• Texture: Velvet, matte paper, warm metallics
• Under $100 tip: Shop lamp + frames secondhand

3. Desert Boho Studio Corner

Bring sun-baked color into your space with terracotta, sand, and rust. Start with a compact kilim-style cushion and a woven throw draped over your chair.

Anchor the vignette with pampas grass in a bottle vase, a rattan tray for remotes, and one small cactus. If you want pattern, a slice of southwestern peel-and-stick wallpaper framed as art does the trick.

• Key pieces: Kilim cushion, rattan tray, pampas stems
• Finish: Terracotta pot + warm LED bulb
• Under $100 tip: Use wallpaper offcuts as “art”

4. Japandi Calm Floor Lounge

Low and serene, this look blends Scandi minimalism with Japanese warmth. Keep it neutral with greige, inky black, and natural fiber accents.

Lay a jute rug, stack two plush floor cushions, and hang a simple bamboo blind to filter light. A paper lantern pendant and black line art complete the zen.

• Materials: Jute, bamboo, paper
• Storage: Low crate doubles as tea table
• Under $100 tip: DIY lantern from a plug-in cord + paper shade

5. Industrial Graphite Galley Kitchenette

Give a rental kitchenette edge with zero drilling. Wrap counters in concrete-look contact paper and add matte-black adhesive “hardware” overlays to doors.

Mount a wire grid with removable hooks for mugs and utensils. A cage-style LED bulb and a vintage tin sign tie together that factory-chic vibe.

• Palette: Graphite, black, steel
• Organization: S-hooks, label jars, magnetic timer
• Under $100 tip: Buy contact paper by the roll to cover multiple surfaces

6. Pastel Pop Breakfast Bench

Make mornings happy with mint, blush, and lemon accents. If you don’t have a bench, line up two sturdy crates and top with a foam cushion in a pastel cover.

Use peel-and-stick tile decals behind your cafe corner, hang a tiny café curtain, and display mismatched pastel mugs. A checkered cloth seals the diner vibe.

• Key pieces: Crate bench, tile decals, café curtain
• Accent: Polka-dot napkins as placemats
• Under $100 tip: Source mugs at thrift shops—adorable and cheap

7. Coastal Breeze Window Seat

Use white, sea glass blue, and sandy beige to fake an ocean view. Dress the sill with striped cotton cushions and a lightweight throw.

DIY a rope-wrapped mirror, cluster glass bottle vases, and hang a watercolor print. Keep curtains airy so the whole corner feels like a breath of fresh air.

• Texture: Rope, linen, weathered wood
• Decor: Shells in a bowl, coastal print
• Under $100 tip: Upcycle a basic mirror with rope and glue

8. Vintage Eclectic Reading Den

Lean into personality with jewel tones, brass, and collected finds. Create a quirky gallery wall with thrifted frames in different finishes.

Add a pleated-shade lamp, a small patterned rug, and a stack of old books as a side table. A velvet scarf thrown over the chair brings cinematic drama.

• Key pieces: Frames, pleated lamp, mini rug
• Art: Postcards or book pages in frames
• Under $100 tip: Mix gold spray paint to unify mismatched frames

9. Monochrome Art Gallery Hall

Hallways can be showstoppers with black-and-white everything. Use washi tape to create a clean grid for prints and fill with typography or line sketches.

Drop in a slim floating ledge for keys and a geometric runner underfoot. One oversized calendar print becomes the graphic punch.

• Palette: Black, white, one pop (maybe foliage)
• Lighting: Plug-in sconce with fabric cord
• Under $100 tip: Print art at copy shops; use inexpensive clip frames

10. Urban Jungle Plant Perch

Turn a dull corner into a lush mini-forest. Build vertical interest with a ladder shelf or stacked crates, then layer pothos, snake plant, and a fern.

Hang a macramé planter, add a moss-green pillow on a stool, and style botanical prints above. A simple spray bottle and tray keep watering tidy.

• Texture: Terracotta, rattan, greenery
• Color: Deep greens with warm wood
• Under $100 tip: Propagate cuttings; grab planters from dollar stores

11. Spiced Terracotta Café Kitchenette

This is cozy barista energy with cinnamon, paprika, and terracotta hues. Paint a small chalkboard menu panel and cluster herbs in clay pots on the sill.

Corral coffee gear on a wood tray, add striped café towels, and spray old jars in a copper finish for sparkle. Warm bulb lighting makes it feel like a neighborhood cafe.

• Key pieces: Chalkboard paint, clay pots, wood tray
• Detail: Copper-coated utensil canister
• Under $100 tip: Repurpose jars; buy a small sample of chalkboard paint

12. Smart Entry Drop Zone

Even a sliver of wall can be mighty. Install a removable peg rail for bags and jackets, a narrow mirror to bounce light, and a tray for keys.

A woven basket hides shoes, while a slim wall file tames mail. Keep the palette clean: warm wood, matte black, olive for a tailored welcome.

• Organization: Peg rail, wall file, key tray
• Floor: Low-profile boot mat
• Under $100 tip: Use command strips for the mirror and file

13. Textured Neutrals Sleep Sanctuary

Create hotel calm with layers of oatmeal, cream, and taupe. Drape a soft throw as a faux headboard, add waffle-knit pillows, and a chunky knit at the foot.

Clip-on reading lights eliminate bulky lamps, and a seagrass basket corrals nighttime essentials. A small dried bouquet finishes the hush.

• Texture: Waffle, knit, seagrass
• Lighting: Clip-on lamps with warm bulbs
• Under $100 tip: Refresh pillowcases instead of replacing bedding

14. Color-Blocked Workspace Niche

Make productivity pop without a full paint job. Roll on a two-tone color block behind your desk—say sage and cream—to define the zone.

Add a floating shelf for notebooks, cork tiles for pin-ups, and a clamp task lamp. A bold desk mat and cable clips keep everything crisp.

• Key pieces: Paint sample pots, cork tiles, clamp lamp
• Accent: Contrasting chair cushion
• Under $100 tip: Use painter’s tape for sharp edges, sample sizes for paint

15. Mirror & Metallic Glam Corner

Small space, big sparkle. Start with a thrifted mirror to bounce light, then scatter gold peel-and-stick decals for instant glam.

Layer a faux-fur throw over your chair, add a metallic pillow, and perch a clear acrylic tray (or stacked clear boxes) as a side table. Finish with fairy lights and a chic candle for glow.

• Palette: Soft neutrals, gold, glass
• Texture: Fur, satin, mirrored surfaces
• Under $100 tip: Spray paint old frames gold to match the decals

Most importantly, have fun with it. Your budget-friendly makeover is going to look anything but cheap.