Picking Your Decor Style Aesthetic
If you’ve recently moved into your first apartment (congratulations on adulting!), or are beginning your search soon, have no fear! You’re not in this alone! If you’re new to apartment decorating or just looking for a refresher, it will likely take time to find the right decor style option for you. I’ll be honest — apartment decorating can seem like a daunting task.
With so many options in REI and Target, each isle has a new aesthetic to focus on. One section is filled with colorful lamps and rugs, while the next aisle is all modern vases with neutral colors.
If you’re thinking “How am I supposed to know what I like,” these decor aesthetic options can help you decide which color to paint your walls! Jump to a specific aesthetic below or browse through them all!
Leave a comment at the end and tell me which one you’re going to use!
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Jump to your perfect aesthetic:
- Minimalist Aesthetic
- Moody Aesthetic
- Feminine Chic Aesthetic
- Maximalist Aesthetic
- Cottage Core Aesthetic
- Boho Vintage Aesthetic
Minimalist Decor Aesthetic
According to Engoo, “a survey of 2,000 Americans found that nearly 60% think of their home decor as minimalist.” Minimalist furniture and decor have swept the nation recently due to the ease of decorating and how clean it looks!
This option does get quite pricey though. Most modern furniture places, like Pottery Barn, charge an arm and leg for simple chairs and curtains.
Being minimalist doesn’t mean you need to throw everything away, it just means you use minimal pieces of furniture to get achieve the same ending. Also, everything is neutral colors and it’s ✨ heavenly ✨
Moody/Mysterious Decor Aesthetic
The Moody aesthetic always reminds me of Twilight and I’m SO here for it! I mean who doesn’t love Twilight? If you’re drawn to this aesthetic, then you’d probably love to shop at places like Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, and AllModern.
The bulk of this aesthetic comes from the color scheme, and not necessarily the furniture itself. This could be a good style to go with if you change your mind often! Another perk is that reusing pieces from this collection creates a more sustainable approach to decorating. Thrifting vintage mirrors or lamps from your local thrift shop is a great way to up-cycle and stay conscious of over consumption.
There’s a lot of wooden pieces like a dark wooden bed frame and dark wood floors. You can also up-cycle thrifted furnitures by adding new stain and repurpose it in your home!
These walls tend to stay in the dark grey, olive green, and black realm. If you’re a fan of natural light and open spaces, this aesthetic wouldn’t be your perfect fit. I often think of Twilight when I see this Moody Aesthetic (if you know, you know)!
Feminine Chic Decor Aesthetic
With a Feminine Chic aesthetic, you’ll embody a “NYC IT girl.” Do you see it, too? I love this style because the light pink and gold accents make me feel like Barbie or a Gossip Girl character that only wears luxury brands.
This decor aesthetic will require a lot of planning and careful execution because it needs to not only be stunning, but perfectly organized… as if no one lives there. Feminine Chic is fun and girly, which is why I’m obsessed to say the least. Give me my martini *snap snap*
To add a touch of personalization here, you can add peel and stick wallpaper from Spoonflower to really brighten up your place! They have so many fun options that won’t damage your walls and is perfect for people like me who rent still!
Maximalist Decor Aesthetic
On the other side of Minimalism lives Maximalism. This aesthetic has got to be one of my absolute favorites for so many reasons, but the main one is that no two rooms will ever look identical to another. The options are endless and limitless!
If you think maximalism is right for you, there’s no requirement other than to jump in head first!
You can slowly start acquiring furniture from estate sales, thrift shops, and online stores to build your apartment the way you want! With maximalism, there’s no set colors or furniture styles. It’s all how you make it your own.
This is a good aesthetic to go for if you don’t have a big budget and love color! You can find great items on FB Marketplace and repurpose them to make them functional for your space. You can also find really fun and unique pieces on Wayfair and Etsy.
If you’re a target girly like me, you should read my blog for Best Target Finds For Decorating on a Budget. Target has great sales during peak seasons that can help your budget go a long way.
Etsy sellers can create really cool custom signs, like the one below, and fun furniture pieces that are one-of-a-kind.
English Cottage Core Decor Aesthetic
If Bridgerton was a decor style, it would be Cottage Core, 1000%. This whimsical aesthetic is super common in European cities and really relies on well-lit rooms with light-colored furniture. Pastels and wood are normally the focal point for this aesthetic with Victorian-inspired finishes.
World Market and Wayfair have beautiful furniture pieces to add to your collection, if this style resonates with you! A lot of local decor boutiques also carry french cottage core items that are unique.
The amazingggg thing about World Market and Wayfair is that they are both always sharing sales and clearance deals. Some of their sales include Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and more! These are great times to stock up on clearance items like throw pillows and decorative baskets for your coffee table!
This style is harder to come by and isn’t mainstream so a lot of patience and research will be required to fully furnish your place. Big standing mirrors and unconventional pieces allow your guests to be transported into a small village, or so they’ll think!
Boho Vintage Decor Aesthetic
There’s a wide variety of what people consider ‘Boho’ and I picked the best inspo pics I could find to show you! Some styles of Boho rely on plants while some focus more on the patterns and colors that mesh well together.
If you could think of anyone, think of Joanna Gaines from Magnolia Homes in Target and you’ll be set. She makes ‘boho’ items for a really affordable price! She has ceramic plates for under $6 each, small plants to brighten up any room, and the softest fall throw blankets under $20! If you’re looking for more Target inspo, check out my Best Target Finds blog post for more inspiration.
A few key things to buy when you’re styling your home with this aesthetic in mind is to make everything super cozy, use funky prints together, stay within 3-4 colors in your palette, and buy lots of wooden/woven items to decorate with.
If you watch any home improvement show, this is typically the style they use to furnish the house. Typically, the aztec-style patterns are the main thing you’ll find in this aesthetic. You can use Aztec prints and fun rugs in this aesthetic, like this washable rug for under $300 from Boutique Rugs!!
