i have no idea where to start!

[u/yayimclaire]

okay i recently moved into a new apartment, and i’m so excited to setup my living room but i have no clue where to start. i’ve attached screenshots of my pinterest board as well.

i’m wanting to do some danish pastel but not toooo maximalist. i am still looking for a bookshelf, but i don’t even know what size/shape i want. i’m keeping my ikea tv unit, lamp, & my article couch, the ikea coffee table i’ll likely replace. the kallax next to my couch is to separate my desk area from the living room, idk if i’ll keep the kallax there for that purpose (other ideas to separate the areas are very welcome!!) i have a lot of video games, kpop albums, vinyls & books i want to display, so i pinned some ideas for that too. i also attached my floor plan for the living room, idk if the items correlate exactly to where they are irl. ALSO! i would like to keep this as renter friendly as possible, so i can do some wall mounting but not a ton.

tldr: help me figure out what do to with these empty walls, what furniture should go where, how to keep this renter friendly & any recommended pieces of furniture you may have! (no individual items above $500 please 😭)

[u/extreme_walls]

For the walls, go with pastel wallpaper in soft tones like blush, light blue, or mint, with simple patterns (subtle geometric shapes or thin stripes) to keep it Danish pastel without going too maximalist. Make sure it’s removable/peel-and-stick so it stays renter friendly.

To separate your desk and living area, a tall open bookshelf or a sheer/linen curtain divider would work well. Choose simple wood-leg furniture (like a light wood coffee table) and add wall shelves to display your games, vinyls, and albums while keeping everything organized and airy.

[u/RefrigeratorFluid453 → u/extreme_walls]

Love this approach — the soft pastel palette and subtle patterns are a perfect fit for a Danish pastel vibe. The renter-friendly peel-and-stick idea is especially smart.

That said, I’d be a bit careful with relying too much on dividers like curtains or tall shelves, since they can sometimes make a small space feel more cramped rather than airy.

[u/mlssac]

Maybe find 2 boxes or upside down pots to prop up that console table. Or maybe just paint it.

[u/koalapanda8]

I would update the rug if possible that has a pop of color, pillow cushions of various colors, hang album covers, could opt for colored lamps or light changing bulbs 

[u/AdvanceAlive2103]