Midcentury Modern

There's so much character in this cozy home.

Dinesh Pandian’s rental is a warm blank canvas with light wood floors and the “Dallas skyline as a beautiful backdrop.”

This raw industrial studio is now a warm, smart home, thanks to a stylish vintage furniture curator turning it into a light-filled, multifunctional home with storage hidden in plain sight. Every piece in this Bushwick studio pulls double duty — proving small spaces can live much larger than they are.

Lauren’s cat, Mabel, even has her own little sleeping nook.

Original (and stunning) plaster moldings, delightful Facebook Marketplace finds, and one very joyful kitchen make this Montreal home truly unforgettable.

11 people applied for this East Village apartment in one day and Alysse Mazakian still had three months left on her previous lease — but this small rental was so special it was worth the fight.

There's an intoxicating blend of creative-meets-contemporary vibe in Gloria's Palermo apartment, which features original ceiling frescoes from the late 1920s.

Hadley Campagna likes to use warm earthy tones in her Los Angeles house to give the space a “homey feel.” She pairs those warm earthy tones with well-loved pieces to make one seriously cozy rental.

“Every design decision was made with intention, focusing on affordability, practicality, and aesthetic appeal. The result is a cozy studio that feels both modern and inviting, proving that great design doesn't have to come with a high price tag.”

Creativity flows in this calming home.

Rather than rip out all the retro charm of this apartment that’s been owned by his family for three generations, Octavio honored the home’s 1950s roots and added his own touches of contemporary style.

Every object in this 646-square-foot Paris apartment was chosen with care, and the vibe is "nonconformist, bold, and full of character." There's an impressive mix of vintage gems, but some solid IKEA finds blended in beautifully, as well.

This 675-square-foot Los Angeles apartment is warm and moody, and proves even renters can have designer-level lighting.

Lauren and Nathanael were picky buyers and this house checked NONE of their boxes. “It was outdated, a little quirky, and did not match anything on our wish list.” The couple balanced updating this 1950s house with keeping its original charm while also weaving in three generations of heirlooms.

Every inch of Brian’s Vancouver rental was designed by Jennifer Bassett, cofounder of Twobytwo Architecture Studio, to have tons of personality with an all-blue bedroom, floral wallpaper, and killer built-ins holding a vintage record collection.

“Renter-friendly” doesn’t have to mean boring! This family of six’s apartment went from “cookie-cutter” to absolutely unforgettable — and on a budget, too!

Gail pays $2,700 a month for this gorgeous 375-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in New York City.

This builder-grade new build in Oslo had white walls, a gray kitchen, and 0 character, but the owners added warmth and personality to the 475-square-foot apartment with incredibly cool custom plywood furniture.

Dan Trumble and his wife wanted a clean, cozy, art-filled oasis when they moved into this blank Upper East Side rental apartment. With a small budget, they had to get creative.

The bedroom is giving serious magazine vibes, thanks to green limewashed walls and a six-foot-tall DIY mirror. And the owners made a design choice that everyone (even the painters!) was skeptical about at first.

When Sophie moved into her cabin, she found lots of hidden treasures from the previous owner that she has since given a new life. Through the power of DIY, Sophie has turned her cabin into a cozy haven for her and her dog Lucy.

There are so many unique, renter-friendly DIYs in this apartment.

$70K plus a lot of blood, sweat, and tears turned this garage into a tiny home with a sleeping loft, full kitchen, walk-in closet, and “fairly sizable” bathroom.

Discover all the cozy gemstone colors and global bohemian style in this 550-square-foot Manhattan studio apartment.

See inside a charming 1920s apartment with vintage bathroom tiles, a pedestal sink, a tiny stall shower, and crank windows.

La Carmina is a blogger about “Japan cute culture, travel and design” and her small apartment’s design puts a “personal kawaii (cute Japan) spin on Mid-Century Modern.”

With only 290 square feet and one closet, Elizabeth created functional storage out of thin air with $300 (and a few tears).

When Bachelor Nation alum Katie Thurston and husband, comedian Jeff Arcuri, first moved in together, they decided to start with a blank slate and design their home together to match both of their personalities.

Kit and John love this apartment’s vaulted ceilings, French doors, and outdoor space (and more!) so much, they’ve rented it for 14 years.

Sam’s rental apartment is partially underground, so some parts don’t get a lot of light! Along with dealing with dark corners, he’s also had to get creative with creating privacy, storage solutions, and more.

“I got creative with fun ways to add color and personality to blank walls — DIY fabric wallpaper, gallery walls, vintage plates, pennants, and book pages have been some of my favorite paint alternatives,” explains Marissa Zingg.

Ben and Leon “have intentionally curated a space that feels calm and cohesive.”

“I think the most unique aspect of our home is how we've managed to create storage spaces that are discreet and unobtrusive,” writes Alan of his small, renovated apartment in Barcelona.

This rental came with dust, grime, and even cigarette butts in the kitchen sink, but Elizabeth “looked past all of that for the great layout and price!”

Gunn enjoys the challenge of maximizing a small space. For example, the space doesn’t have a kitchen, but Gunn’s set up a movable cart for warming food and making drinks. “It’s just enough for what I need,” he shares.

“Our apartment is a vibrant reflection of our identity as African American gay men with a deep love for art, culture, travel, and food,” writes renter Brandon Lightfoot.

To bring in personality and charm to this rental, Sonja used “a lot of color, paint, art, and features that can be removed if/when needed ... so basically nothing can be a permanent change.”

Caitlin Maestrini is the curator of Teak New York, a Scandinavian design store in Brooklyn, and has styled her rental apartment according to “Scandinavian design principles and aesthetics."

Railroad apartments definitely come with some floor-plan challenges.

I can’t get over the kitchen cabinets.

Most of the renovation was DIY.

Nestled in the busy city of Bangkok, Nor and Fon’s 700-square-foot condo is a serene retreat that seamlessly blends their shared passion for design. Nor, a set and graphic designer in the film industry — with a background in architecture — who recently worked on the new White Lotus series, and Fon, a creative force with a passion for interior design, have created a space that feels both personal and inspiring.

In just 400 square feet, this renter carved out a sun-drenched, personality-packed home that’s equal parts cozy and stylish.

Full-time food and lifestyle content creator Gwyneth Yuma’s 695-square-foot Brooklyn rental apartment is warm, cozy, and eclectic, and has a little tropical flair.

This apartment was a blank slate in a 1920s building with plenty of charm, but also plenty of room for Kate to add her own personality.

Katherine and Jess’s rental is like the “apartment of your favorite lesbian aunts who always give you books for your birthday.”

Bumpy and Aubrey try to “avoid buying retail furniture,” instead furnishing their Chicago loft with vintage originals and a couple of famous pieces, too: The sofa was featured in American Hustle!

After the roller coaster of driving cross country to start their new life in LA., William and Kevan’s goal was to create a “collected, layered, laid back home through blending styles and design periods.”

“Deep blue for the endless night or sea, terracotta white and brown for the sandy desert, cactus green for a muted botanical touch,” Ze writes about the color influences in her Brooklyn condo.

In studio apartments, you have to get creative when hosting!

The main feature of this 700-square-foot apartment is a "huge brick wall with a hand-painted advertisement for an old market that used to be in our neighborhood," writes renter Brandon Corcione.