I would brighten it up by painting the walls a more neutral color. Adding new bedding and fun pillows, artwork, etc. will add punches of color that will work nicely with the neutral backdrop. As a student I know designing in a budget friendly way is important. If you have an Ikea, HomeGoods, Gordmans or At Home to shop at, these are all great places to pick up interesting and fun pieces without breaking the bank. As far as space planning, from the picture it looks like a fairly long/narrow space- I would keep the bed at the back, back a sofa up to that and add a couple of comfy chairs and maybe an area rug. Dont forget the artwork too, this adds a very important layer to your space. Hope this makes sense and helps!

So much would depend on how much you would like to spend considering that it is a rented house,though the length of the lease would be critical and also what your landlord will permit.Pictures on the walls are a start.Maybe you could use it as a utility space.Or green it up with indoor plants.Have a small library in here with bookshelves lining the wall.Our imagination is everything And rather than buying new stuff,use what you have.Because in your own house you will want to tailor-make everything.And,hey,I am not an architect or designer,just someone enjoying doing up her own house!

Hi Julie, Today there are a number of custom made multipurpose furniture pieces that are available in the market on the one hand whereas on the other certain regular pieces if used innovatively don't hurt your pocket yet solve the purpose. .Here are a few ideas to choose from - 1] Sofa cum bed Either go in for the ready made and built in sofa cum bed as shown below - or make two different pieces - a sofa with backrest and a backless settee and join them to form a bed when necessary - 2] Trunk cum coffee table An old trunk serves as an excellent coffee table and also doubles up as a storage for your extra cushions, magazines etc. 3] Bench cum dining seat Go for a basic bench or an upholstered one, its still a cheap buy. You may use it by the dining table for seating or move it to the living or even the bedroom. 4] Settee cum storage A small ledge with drawers or a free standing box storage, all it needs is a cushioning on top and it serves as a reading nook with place to store you books or as a place to sit and wear you footwear that's stored inside. 5] Nest tables These are a blessing in disguise. They can be easily moved around and can be used as end tables for living room or side tables for bedroom or can remain stacked in a corner when not needed. Go for simple designs or ornate ones depending on you budget. 6] Cabinet cum TV Console An old cabinet can be put to use by mounting a TV on top of it while the cabinet can be used to store media accessories. Tip: Do visit Chor Bazaar in Mumbai and Lajpat Nagar in Delhi where you can find old reclaimed furniture or cheap replicas. These are open for bargain and are a good buy as far as the pricing and aesthetic is concerned. You can also find furniture online these days. Just be wary of what you are buying and from where. Hope this helps. All the best! Regards, RnD Atelier Nagpur

SInce it is a compact apartment as most apartments are, having minimal decor with maximum storage will do best justice to the flat. U can have a storage cum visual space seperator which keeps the drawing room seperate from the private areas. The bedrooms can also be kept simple with storage beds, having sliding wardrobes with mirrors which gives a feeling of space. the kitchen also can be kept simple sleek with few highlights.