Looking for new york city apartment inspiration that goes beyond a skyline view? Think little dining corners, colorful living rooms and bookshelves filled right to the top.
These images have plenty of details worth saving, whether you love a simple white kitchen or a room full of pattern.
You can keep things simple or go all out. Start with a corner you want to change, then borrow a color combination, a furniture arrangement or a pretty lighting idea from the rooms below.
Apartment ideas worth saving
brick walls and globe lights
We’re starting off strong with this gorgeous brick-walled living room. I love the hanging globe lights and the little plants lined up along the windows.
That black-and-white checked throw is such a fun detail.
Try a few small lamps around your seating area if you want to borrow the evening look without changing your ceiling lights.
yellow seating and french doors
How pretty is this mustard-yellow seat? The patterned rug and tall vase of flowers give it plenty of company, with a little dining area visible through the open doors.
I especially love that you can still see the rug beneath the clear coffee table. Keep that idea in mind if your rug is the part you want to show off.
black and white galley kitchen
If you are looking for a kitchen with a simple color palette, this one is for you. White cabinets sit above dark counters and a dark square backsplash.
The little black shapes across the white floor make it anything but plain.
The gold-tone cabinet handles and wall-mounted faucet are my favorite finishing details.
a living nook beneath the bed
I am obsessed with this little sitting area beneath the loft bed. There’s a sofa, a wall-mounted TV and shelves of books, all framed by tied-back plaid curtains.
Read also: 17+ Stunning Loft Apartment Ideas Industrial Chic Transforms
The irregular brown panels across the upper railing are such an unusual detail. If you already have a suitable loft setup, patterned curtains are a decorating idea worth considering.
a window with a neighborhood view
Looks like someone has claimed the window spot! The cat, little potted plants and rows of buildings outside make this such a sweet apartment snapshot.
For your own version, keep plants on a secure indoor ledge and use a properly fitted pet-safe screen. Leave fire escapes clear rather than copying the pots outside.
checkerboard floor and a little table
This is a lovely way to give a plain white kitchen a little personality. The brown table sits right in the middle of that bold checkerboard floor, with flowers and a bowl on top.
If your kitchen has enough clearance, try a small freestanding table instead of a large island. The hanging shelves are a cute detail too.
arched doorway and green fringe
This green sofa may just be one of my favorites here. I love the long fringe around the bottom and the red pillow against the green.
The dark arch frames the room so beautifully. You can borrow the red-and-green pairing with a rug and pillows even if your doorway looks nothing like this one.
olive walls and mustard pillows
Who says your bedroom has to stay white? The olive walls look so pretty with mustard pillows, striped bedding and black-framed art.
I especially love the playful portrait above the fireplace. Choose one unexpected print for your own room if you want a similar little twist.
books and a bright window nook
If you love a reading corner, this one is worth saving. Books fill the shelves beside a white daybed tucked into the bay windows.
Those colorful little pillows are adorable.
Read also: 20 Game Room Ideas With Arcade Games, Board Games and More
There’s even a keyboard along the left wall and a chessboard in front. This is a lovely reminder to leave room for the things you actually enjoy.
a bookshelf beside the dining table
Don’t want to cover your dining area in wall art? No problem!
This tall bookshelf brings in plenty of color on its own, with a gold-tone picture light above it.
The pink flowers in that green vase are so pretty. Try a bright arrangement on your table if the rest of your dining space is fairly simple.
Read also: 13+ Stunning Thanksgiving Room Decorations That Steal the Show
teal accents and tall windows
I love this pale gray seating with the teal floor cushion. The teal and mustard pillows give you another little bit of color without covering the whole room in patterns.
The branching ceiling light is gorgeous too. Keep the low rectangular coffee table in mind if you like this straightforward seating arrangement.
a reading spot above the city
With a view like this, I’d keep the window corner simple too. A pale seat, white pillow and chunky-looking gray throw sit beside the skyline, with an open book ready to pick up.
Read also: 20 Cabinet Color Ideas for Yellow Walls, From Cream to Lavender
You don’t need the same view to borrow the idea. Choose a spot by your window and leave a little space for your current read.
white bathroom with little gold details
If you’re looking for a bathroom that keeps the colors simple, go with this white-and-cream combination. The gold-tone mirror frame and globe light add just enough decoration.
I love the narrow shelving unit beside the sink. Folded towels, a basket and a small flower arrangement make use of that little gap.
a bookshelf between bed and sofa
Trying to give your bed its own corner? This low open bookshelf separates the sleeping area from the sofa, with a ceiling-track curtain beside it.
The oversized portrait is the part I’d keep if you love bold art. Everything else stays fairly quiet with cream bedding, a pale sofa and blush-colored pillows.
plaid chair and a gallery wall
If you are looking for lots of art inspo, then this one is for you. There’s so much to love, from the mismatched frames to the fringed lampshade and plaid chair.
Start your own version with a few larger pictures, then add smaller pieces around them. You don’t have to make every frame match.
pale seating and yellow tulips
Don’t want to go overboard with color? No problem! This pale sofa and low chair keep things simple beside the large windows.
The yellow tulips and green-stemmed glasses are my favorite little details. Try a few colorful tabletop pieces rather than changing your whole seating area.
bags and art in the entryway
This narrow entryway has plenty going on without filling the middle of the floor. Bags hang from hooks along one wall, with framed pictures fitted around them.
A slim dark cabinet sits opposite beneath a little mirror. If you try this in your own hallway, leave enough room for the door to open fully and for you to walk through.
a dining bench beneath the art
How cute is this dining corner? The brown bench sits against the wall beneath a row of pictures, with two open-backed chairs across the table.
I love the trailing plant beside the refrigerator. A bench along the wall is an arrangement worth testing when you’re planning a dining spot in your new york city apartment.
mint seating and pink swirls
I am obsessed with this colorful living room. The mint sectional, pink chair and orange accents are so fun together.
Even the column has a swirling pink pattern!
You can go all out like this or start with one bright chair. I’d keep the flower-shaped pillow either way.
a terrace surrounded by greenery
Last but definitely not least, we have this pretty terrace inspiration. Pale chairs sit around low tables, with rounded shrubs and climbing greenery all around them.
The little lights among the plants are gorgeous.
If you have outdoor space, borrow the pale seating and grouped planters on a scale that fits. Keep the walkway open rather than filling every corner.
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Giulia