20 Little Things That Will Make Your Small Apartment Feel Like Home
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Let's talk about the little things that make the small apartment you rent feel like a home that you own.
It's those daily small things that, on their own are quite simple (maybe even a bit mundane) but they add up. And by their powers combined, they create a homey experience in your apartment and improve your daily life.
In this post I'm sharing 20 things that will help you make your apartment feel like a home! And these are things that you actually use, not just look at. So none of these things are decor because, first of all, it goes without saying that decor will help your apartment feel like a home, and second of all, I've already made over 100 videos all about apartment decor, so you can always watch those for that kind of inspo.
No, today is all about the things that you use. The little things in your apartment that make your life easier, comfier, and more enjoyable!
Would you rather watch than read? Here’s the video! ↓
Homey Things for the Bedroom
1. Super soft sheets
In my opinion, one of the most important things when it comes to feeling at home in your bedroom is super soft sheets. I myself am very particular about sheets… Call me a princess, but a lot of sheets that I have tried have just not been soft enough for me.
But Charter Club sheets have never let me down. I have not switched to any other brands for over a decade because these sheets are simply perfect. There's just no need to venture out! These sheets are so soft, they pass my princess test, and they just make getting into bed every night feel like a luxurious experience.
2. Hair & Makeup Setup
For me, an organized, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing hair and makeup station in my bedroom is crucial for me. I like to have my makeup and hair products arranged in the way that works for my brain so that I can move through my morning routine as smoothly as possible. And the items pictured above are what comprise my hair and makeup situation!
So if you want to feel more at home in your bedroom, definitely take the time to make sure that your hair and makeup routine and setup feels comfortable and intuitive for you. This way, every morning you’ll feel nice and settled in, as opposed to feeling like you’re getting ready in a hotel!
3. Bedtime skincare routine
Another thing that makes me feel more at home in my bedroom a little mini skincare routine I do when I get into bed, and it's just two quick steps:
Applying this moisturizer that I absolutely love; it's the COSRX Snail Mucin Moisturizer. Yes, it literally has snail mucus in it, but I swear this moisturizer is absolutely incredible. And by applying it right when I go to bed, I feel like it gives my skin a final supercharge of moisture before falling asleep for the night.
Applying LilyAna eye cream under my eyes. As someone who has tried soooo many eye creams, I can say this one is truly the best. Seriously, it’s kind of a miracle worker. I put it on right when I get into bed for the same reason as the snail mucin moisturizer; it's one last burst of moisture for under my eyes.
So for me, having a bedtime skincare mini routine definitely makes me feel pampered right when I get into bed, and that makes me feel very at home!
4. Bedtime Entertainment
Another thing that helps me feel relaxed and at home is my bedtime entertainment routine. And for me, it’s all about my iPad Mini. My iPad Mini is such a crucial part of my bedtime routine! Every night when I go to bed, I either read on my Kindle app or I watch a show.
I know a lot of people say you shouldn't be glued to a screen in bed, but honestly… ever since I was a little kid, I have always read in bed. And I would drift off to sleep while reading. Falling asleep to a story is kind of a sacred time for me.
I also really love watching animated shows in bed. There's just something about cartoons and anime that really soothes me. They rock me to sleep like a baby. It's like they tap into some internal child mind or something, and make me feel safe and at home.
5. Home Fragrance
When it comes to feeling at home in your bedroom, I think it's very important for it to smell wonderful. And really, this applies to every room in the apartment.
I know I have a bunch of videos recommending my favorite candles and reed diffusers, but specifically, I want to recommend the Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser. I really, really love this thing, and it's something you might not have heard of yet.
We've all heard of candles and reed diffusers, but the Pura diffuser a new technology of home fragrance. It has an app where you program the times at which you want it to diffuse the scent, as well as the strength of the fragrance at any given time. And really, I just think it's cool that you can change these settings in the app. You can't do that with other home fragrance mediums.
And a lot of the big home fragrance brands out there sell the little cartridges for it, so it's very easy to find beautiful scents for this!
Homey Things for the Bathroom
6. High Pressure Shower Head
My first recommendation for feeling at home in your bathroom is, honestly, one of the most important things in my life. And that is a shower head with excellent water pressure. This is another thing that I'm a bit of a princess about. I need good, strong, hearty water pressure. I cannot stand a weak trickle coming from the shower head and trying to wash my hair in that; I'm just very annoyed by such a thing.
So based on my own experience, I recommend a shower head that has great water pressure. There are many that you choose from on Amazon, and I recently just got this one and I love it. One if its settings has a really strong pressure, and it's just perfect for really getting in there when I'm washing my hair.
This is such a great way to improve your whole bathroom and showering experience, and it's renter-friendly because all you have to do is take off the shower head in apartment and store it away until you decide to move out, then just put it back on. It's actually a very low-lift, renter-friendly way to improve the bathroom in your apartment!
7. Shower Curtain Weights
Now, my next suggestion is actually a direct result of the shower head that I got, because an unexpected problem happened: the pressure of it created a weird wind tunnel situation in my bathroom, and that caused my shower curtain liner to billow a lot. So during my showers, I would feel it up against my naked body… and it felt horrible. Imagine your shower curtain liner blowing into your wet, naked body; it's a very violating experience.
So I found some shower curtain weights! I had no idea that this even existed, but in a state of desperation, I typed into Amazon "shower curtain weights," and lo and behold, they are very much a thing.
So if you have ever struggled with this very specific problem of your shower curtain liner blowing in the wind too much, then definitely look into shower curtain weights. They fixed the problem for me! Now I don't have to worry about feeling assaulted by my shower curtain liner every time I take a shower…
I’ll admit this one is a pretty random, mundane recommendation, but it's one of those things where they seem silly until you need them. And then they're a godsend.
8. Luxurious Soaps
Another thing that will enhance your bathroom experience is, of course, nice soaps and body washes. I'm a big lover of high quality soaps. I've mentioned before that L'Occitane is one of my favorite stores, and I religiously buy my body washes from them, specifically their almond oil. I have had that in my shower for the majority of my life. It smells so wonderful and it makes your skin feel so soft!
These types of soaps are definitely not going to be as affordable as a drugstore body wash, of course. But if you can swing it in your budget, I say treat yourself to a luxurious showering experience that really will help make you feel at home and pampered in your bathroom!
Here are a few of my favorite body washes:
9. Reed Diffuser
My next recommendation for enhancing your bathroom experience is to get a reed diffuser. Of course, I couldn't make an apartment recommendations list without recommending a reed diffuser. But honestly, I would be remiss if I didn't include this in my list of suggestions for a bathroom.
Because to me, having a reed diffuser in a bathroom is a non-negotiable. I'm sure I don't need to go into detail, but we want our bathrooms to smell as good as they possibly can. And a reed diffuser really will make your bathroom experience feel so much nicer and enhance its overall sensory experience.
Here are some of my personal favorite reed diffusers:
10. Skincare
And finally for the bathroom is having a good skincare routine. Of course self-care is going to make you feel more at home and comfortable in your apartment.
In my opinion, you can just keep it very simple when it comes to skincare. The important thing is to figure out the skincare routine that works for you and have it organized and ready for you in your bathroom. For me, there's just something about routines that makes me feel at home, especially self-care routines.
And if you're not sure about what skincare products you should look into, I highly recommend a YouTuber called Dr. Dray. She’s a dermatologist who has tons of super helpful videos. So check her out if you want to improve your skincare routine!
These are my skincare staples in my bathroom:
Homey Things for the Kitchen
11. Ello Coffee Thermos
One thing that is an absolute must-have for me is a good coffee thermos. I also recommend cute coffee mugs, and I have a few that I love, but the problem is that I hate lukewarm or cold coffee. I absolutely detest it. And I got sick of microwaving my coffee 50 times a day, so I switched over to using a thermos.
I'm very particular about my coffee drinking situation, and this Ello thermos is the one that I love and recommend. The drawback is that it's not as cute as a mug, but for me, this is an absolute must-have in my kitchen. Coffee is a very important part of my day, as it is for many of us, and having the right vessel to drink it from is a big part of the experience!
12. Simple Modern Water Tumbler
The next thing is absolutely essential for me in order to feel at home: my Simple Modern water tumbler. I need it near me at all times. I am incomplete without it. No joke, this thing makes it so I drink water. It keeps the water cold, it makes drinking water very convenient, and it’s also cute. I love the matte, dusty pink color of the one that I have.
You know, if something's going to be sitting out in my apartment with me all day, I want it to be aesthetically pleasing. It almost becomes a piece of decor. It may not be a Stanley Cup, but honestly, this is better than a Stanley Cup, in my opinion. I don't want to feel like I'm lifting weights every time I need a sip of water. My bones are too feeble for such things. And those big ass Stanley Cups that everybody's raving about just won't cut it for me, so I prefer this more lightweight and stylish tumbler from Simple Modern.
13. A Cute Little Toaster
There's something about making something as mundane as a toaster aesthetically pleasing. These little details really do make me feel more at home in my kitchen. Seeing my cute little toaster and how it coordinates with my kitchen decor is so satisfying. It acts as a piece of decor on top of being a functional kitchen tool that I use.
So believe it or not, a toaster is actually a great opportunity to put your style stamp on your kitchen. And Amazon has so many adorable toasters that look kind of like Smeg dupes. Smeg is that really nice, expensive brand that looks so pretty on a countertop, but if you're not willing to spend the Smeg money, there are a bunch of really stylish toasters on Amazon that give off a similar vibe.
14. Pretty Kitchen Things
Another thing that makes me feel more at home in my kitchen is having pretty plates, cups and glasses, and a stunning serving tray. These are just those little things that enhance your life. I mean, I know it's not just me; there's something about sipping out of a beautiful glass that just heightens the experience. There's something about eating off an aesthetically pleasing plate that technically doesn't make the food taste better, but it makes the experience better.
And that's really what we're talking about here; enhancing your apartment experience. Just because you don't live in a home that you own doesn't mean you can't enjoy some of the finer things. And these finer things don’t have to be expensive! For example, my favorite brandy glasses are just a few bucks from World Market. So when I say the finer things, I don't mean the more expensive things; I just mean the things that will make your kitchen feel like your kitchen, not just a kitchen you're renting temporarily.
15. Cute Dish Towels
Having a dish towel that looks cute when it's out in your kitchen, as well as being functional, is another one of those opportunities to make your kitchen feel like it's yours.
I really love my dish towels that I have in my kitchen. They match the vibe so nicely. They may just be dish towels, but when I see them in the context of the rest of my kitchen, it gives me that little glimmer of “Oh, that's pretty! This is my kitchen!” It's really these types of little details that make your apartment feel like your home. So definitely don't sleep on the power of the dish towel.
Homey Things for the Living Room
16. Media Setup
This one is very important to me because I am a television junkie and a lover of video games. And specifically, my tip here is to not listen to people when they say that you shouldn't have the TV as the focal point in your living room. I am just so not into that. First of all, I think it's a little pretentious. I mean, if TV isn't really a big part of your life, then sure, having the TV as a focal point maybe doesn't make sense for you. But I think most of us who have TVs… actually watch them. And if you don't have the TV as a focal point, you're probably going to be craning your neck in a weird way from your couch in order to watch your show.
This is just one of those things that I think we need to remove the stigma from. Having a television as the focal point of your living room is fine.
That being said, my personal entertainment setup consists of an Apple TV and my Nintendo Switch. I also recently acquired a PlayStation 5 because my brother gave me his old one, so I'm going to have another gaming console situation set up in here soon. Then I'll have to try to keep my life together as I resist the temptation to play video games all day every day…
Here’s my entertainment setup:
17. A TV Tray (lol sort of)
The next recommendation I have for feeling at home in your living room is a TV tray situation. I say let's bring back the TV tray! But bring it back in the form of C-tables and accent tables.
Is the concept of a “TV tray” kind of trashy? Maybe. But am I into it? Yes. A lot of us who live in small apartments do not have the luxury of space to have a legit dining table, so I personally have spent the last several years of my apartment life eating on the couch. And I prefer not to eat off of my lap, so that's where an accent table or a C-table comes in. AKA a glorified TV tray.
So don't have any shame if you don't have room for a dining table and you're finding yourself eating on your couch or at your desk or whatever works. I say we embrace this and get a C-table or accent table that looks cute but also acts as your dinner table.
This is the side table I use as a “TV tray”:
18. Foldable Yoga Mat
My next recommendation for feeling at home in your living room is a foldable yoga mat. I suppose exercise is something you can do in any room, but I personally do it in my living room because there’s more space.
The foldable yoga mat I use is so perfect for a small apartment, specifically an apartment that doesn't have the best storage. One thing I don't like about most yoga mats is I find them annoying to roll up and store away. This foldable yoga mat that I have eliminates that problem. It folds up like an accordion, and it's so much easier to store away because it lays flat like a compact stick. So I definitely recommend it! It's great for someone with limited storage and limited patience.
19. Coffee Table Books
Another thing that will help you feel more at home in your living room is a coffee table book situation that reflects your personality. And I know this is starting to veer a little bit more into the decor realm, but coffee table books are not just decor. They are actual books that can be used and read.
And I really do think they're a wonderful opportunity to display your personality and interests in your apartment, which ultimately makes you feel more at home. When you have people over, a good coffee table stack that expresses something that you're into can be a great conversation piece. This is the kind of thing that creates experiences and memories in your apartment.
Here’s my personal coffee table book collection (Rock and roll, Death Note, and Zelda is basically me in a nutshell, haha):
20. Soothing Background Music
My final recommendation for feeling at home in your living room is to have some really nice background music always ready to be played. Try making a playlist of songs that are specifically suited for creating a calm vibe in your space. Then no matter what you're doing in your living room, you’ll have comforting songs always ready to play in the background.
I have a whole playlist on YouTube cozy lo-fi music, which is what I personally love to have in the background. So check that out if you want my recommendations for the soothing, comfy vibe I’m talking about. Basically, I just encourage you to take the time to sit down and just really curate the songs that make you feel nice and relaxed. Think of it as creating sonic backdrop to your whole apartment experience.
So those were the 20 things that help me feel more at home in my apartment! And I hope they’ll help you as well.
It's all about the little things that add up to enhance our overall apartment experience. Let me know in the comments: What are some things that make you feel at home? What do you think is missing from this list? If you were to add to it, what do you personally love to have in your apartment that makes you feel at home?
