Your apartment feeling more ice box than inviting? We’re calling it now: warm apartment aesthetics are having their moment.
Think of a space that feels like a warm hug—that’s what 2025’s design landscape is all about. According to Apartment Therapy’s designer survey, we’re seeing darker, moodier finishes and coziness taking center stage. We’ve rounded up 15 swoon-worthy ways to transform your rental into a sanctuary that’ll make you never want to leave. (Seriously, your friends might start charging themselves rent.)
1. Layer Textures for Depth
Forget flat surfaces—texture plays a vital role in making a space feel grounded. We’re obsessed with mixing bouclé throw pillows with chunky knit blankets and rattan accents. Interior designer Mark Cunningham notes that “a combination of texture, soft patinas, warm woods, and old stone mixed with down-filled furniture creates spaces that are easy, comfortable, and warm”. The vibe? Sophisticated marshmallow meets elevated cabin chic.
2. Use Earth Tones on Walls
Leading the charge in 2025, earthy colors are transforming homes into sanctuaries of warmth and serenity, with chocolate brown taking center stage alongside deep reds and burgundies. Paint your walls in cocoa bean or layer in rust-colored velvet cushions. The plot twist? These rich hues actually make small spaces feel more intimate, not smaller.
3. Install Ambient Lighting
Playing with warm lighting sources is the way to create a more inviting vibe—opt for different shapes of lamps and select warm hues. Ditch those overhead lights for sculptural table lamps (try the viral mushroom lamp trend) and install dimmer switches everywhere. Pro tip: Layer at least three light sources per room for that professionally designed glow.
4. Mix Vintage and Modern Pieces
History is repeating itself, as traditional design elements and vintage furniture bring soul to spaces of all sizes. Scour Facebook Marketplace for that perfect mid-century sideboard, then style it with contemporary ceramics. Think ’70s wood tones meets millennial pink—unexpectedly perfect together. (File under: obsessed.)
5. Add Natural Wood Elements
Adding oaks, birch woods, baskets, tans and beiges into your home will never fail to create a comfortable setting. Install floating walnut shelves or bring in a live-edge coffee table. The natural grain adds instant warmth without trying too hard. Consider us influenced.
6. Hang Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains
One trend gaining momentum is curtain-draping the entire wall behind the bed, which grounds the space and creates an enveloping atmosphere. Floor-to-ceiling linen curtains in warm neutrals transform any room into a cozy retreat. Even budget panels give luxury vibes with the right installation.
7. Create a Reading Corner
Creating cozy nooks that serve purpose within your apartment creates a more inviting space—pair a knitted pouf with textured pillows and warm woods. Add a curved floor lamp and stack your favorite coffee table books nearby. The result? Your own personal sanctuary that screams “main character energy.”
8. Switch to Brass Hardware
Bring in humble and genuine feeling by incorporating warm metals like brass or gold. Swap out your chrome fixtures for brushed brass hardware. These golden touches catch candlelight beautifully and add that expensive-looking detail everyone notices.
9. Fill Spaces with Plants
In the warm aesthetic apartment look you need plants, and plenty of them—creating curated areas with plants on stools, hanging from ceilings, or on sideboards. Mix heights and textures: trailing pothos, sculptural snake plants, and fiddle leaf figs create visual interest while literally bringing life to your space.
10. Include Jewel Tone Accents
Color experts agree that jewel tones like sapphire, plum, and emerald pair perfectly with warm neutrals, creating an inviting atmosphere. Try a deep emerald velvet ottoman or sapphire throw pillows against your neutral base. The contrast? Chef’s kiss.
11. Display Candles Throughout
Whether real or fake, adding candles creates a homely feeling—there’s nothing that adds more warmth than glowing candlelight. Cluster various heights on your coffee table or line them along your bathtub edge. Battery-operated options give the same vibe minus the fire hazard worry.
12. Layer Multiple Rugs
Try layering two rugs on top of each other under the coffee table for instant warmth. Start with a larger jute base, then add a smaller vintage-style runner on top. This designer trick adds depth and that collected-over-time feel everyone’s after.
13. Style Books as Decor
Picture a cup of tea and a nice display of your favorite coffee table books—they add a homely vibe while serving a practical purpose. Color-coordinate your spines or turn them backwards for that neutral aesthetic. Stack them on every surface: nightstands, consoles, even the floor beside your sofa.
14. Design a Hobby Corner
Create a creative nook catered for your hobbies—whether it’s your computer area, sewing space, or paint corner, having a cozy creative space makes you feel untouched from the normal world. Even a small desk corner becomes special with the right lighting and personal touches. Wall-mounted pegboards keep supplies organized and double as art.
15. Upgrade Bathroom Ambiance
Nothing screams warm aesthetic more than a cozy bathtub mode—make sure you have nice interior to support a cup of tea and candles. Add a wooden bath tray, eucalyptus bundles, and plush Turkish towels. Transform your basic rental bathroom into a spa-worthy retreat that’ll have you actually looking forward to self-care Sunday.
