Apartment Therapy| Saving the world, one room at a time

This Small Rental Is Pastel, Playful, and Full of Incredible Marketplace Finds

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

After years of tiny studios and too many moves, renter Michelle Walker turned a 1929 one-bedroom into a pastel, pop-culture-filled retreat with a $150 pink velvet sofa, cat-friendly upgrades, and plenty of fringe. READ MORE...

A Light-Soaked Chicago Apartment Went from Gray to Quietly Colorful

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

Adam and Alexa focused on “maximizing storage with smart layouts and full-height cabinetry rather than expensive finishes,” and were able to keep Chicago apartment renovation “practical and budget-conscious.” READ MORE...

This 100-Year-Old Rental Has the Coolest DIY “Cloud” Dining Room Light Fixture

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500

This art-filled apartment is bursting with a colorful, creative spark, thanks to an eclectic collection of paintings, textiles, and photography. READ MORE...

This “Lifelong Maximalist” Transformed a 120-Year-Old Chicago Rental Apartment

Adrienne Breaux — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Designer Johnny Coleman loves color drenching and period mixing, and he designed his Chicago rental apartment “as a modern take on the east wing of a country house.” He's also been collecting antiques since he was 14 years old! READ MORE...

This Moody 100-Year-Old Chicago Home Has Practical Magic Vibes

Adrienne Breaux — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400

There’s eerie and magical wallpaper and candlelight makes the home glow at night. This house is a little bit spooky and very cozy. READ MORE...

A 100-Year-Old Rental Has an Accent Wall in Every Single Room

Adrienne Breaux — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 -0400

"When I first toured this apartment it was absolutely disgusting. A hoarder was living here. Every inch of the unit was covered in furniture and clutter. It smelled bad. But at 23 it was the only apartment I could afford to rent in the city that was in my price range," writes Joyce Caldwell. READ MORE...

See Why This Colorful, South Asian-Influenced Chicago Loft Is a Redemption Story

Adrienne Breaux — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0400

The home is extremely bright and colorful, and there is so much South Asian influence everywhere. READ MORE...

A Renter Made a Basic Apartment Designer-Level Chic (Without Credit Card Debt)

Adrienne Breaux — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Alex Hinand moved into this “basic in a good way” Chicago rental apartment “with nothing but a coffee table” and “a promise to myself that I wouldn’t go into credit card debt to furnish this home.” READ MORE...

This Home's an “Homage to the Idea That to Be Trans Is to Be Holy, and Also Hot"

Adrienne Breaux — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

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

A Chicago Rental Brims with Vintage Charm and an “Excessive Amount” of Storage

Adrienne Breaux — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

Lexy instantly fell in love with this rental’s vintage charm.” When I first toured this apartment, the sun was streaming through all the windows, reflecting off the mirror doors in my living room.” READ MORE...

This Home’s Furniture Is Twice as Old as the Owner (and Absolutely Gorgeous!)

Adrienne Breaux — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

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! READ MORE...

See Inside a Chic, Colorful Chicago Apartment That Rents for $1,500 a Month

Adrienne Breaux — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500

This McKinley Park apartment is full of art by BIPOC artists, plants, and lots of earthy and grounded colors. READ MORE...

A Once Dusty Apartment’s Dreamy Glow-Up Includes Murals on Nearly Every Wall

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 12:00:00 -0500

This Chicago apartment went from “dusty humid roly-poly graveyard” to “dreamy plant-filled bohemian artist’s sanctuary.” READ MORE...

Chicago Renters Created an “Eclectic Modern Haven” in Their 1920s Factory Loft

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This historic loft came with restrictions on paint and remodeling, so this renter “embraced creative, nonpermanent solutions, like playing with textures, statement pieces, and utilizing the built-in shelving to craft a homey atmosphere without altering the architecture.” READ MORE...

I Can't Believe How Good This Rental's Color-Drenched Blue Bedroom Looks

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 12:00:00 -0400

It’s taken Hollie just over a year to design her colorful and maximalist rental home. READ MORE...

The Solarium in This Grand Historic House in Chicago Is Stunning

Apartment Therapy Submissions — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 23:35:00 -0400

There's both historic charm and a surplus of color. READ MORE...

This 350-Square-Foot Chicago Apartment Rents for $960 a Month

Layne Dixon — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 13:05:00 -0400

It’s small but has a mid-century modern fireplace, hardwood floors, and retro bathroom tiles. READ MORE...

I’m So Impressed with the Many Art Pieces That Are in This Cool Rental Loft

Cullen Ormond — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 12:00:00 -0400

This $2250-a-month, open-play rental loft was the first and only apartment the couple toured before moving in. READ MORE...

You Won't Believe Where the Sofas in This Stylish Chicago Apartment Came From

Adrienne Breaux — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0400

The sofas aren't the only incredible free find in this home either! READ MORE...

This IKEA-Filled 410-Square-Foot Studio Looks So High-End

Adrienne Breaux — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0400

Steven Russell describes his Chicago studio apartment's decor style as "Frasier, but a studio." READ MORE...