Journal · Updated 16 July 2026
Small Apartment Decorating Ideas for Dublin Renters
Dublin rental apartments have a specific set of problems: they're small, they're often north-facing, the kitchen is in the sitting room, and you can't change any of the fixed elements. Here's how to make one feel bigger, warmer and genuinely yours — without a drill and without losing your deposit.
Start with the layout, not the shopping
Before you buy anything, walk the flat and mark where the light comes in, where the radiators sit, and where the doors swing. Most Dublin rentals get the sofa position wrong because the tenant follows the previous tenant's layout.
In a one-bed apartment, the sofa should face the main light source, not the TV. You'll spend more hours in the room in daylight than in front of a screen.
In a studio, use a rug and a low bookshelf as a room divider. It's cheaper than furniture, entirely reversible, and defines a 'bedroom' zone without building a wall.
Make a small flat feel bigger
One large mirror does more than three small ones. Lean a full-length mirror against the wall opposite the main window — it bounces light and roughly doubles the perceived room size.
Choose furniture with legs. Sofas, beds and sideboards raised off the floor let the eye read the full floor area, which makes the room feel larger than the same piece sitting flush.
Keep the palette tight. Two or three tones across the whole flat (not per room) makes small spaces feel considered rather than cluttered.
Hang curtains high and wide — 20cm above the window frame and extending 20cm past each side. Even in a small room, this makes the ceiling read as taller.
Storage without built-ins
Under-bed storage is the single most underused space in a Dublin flat. Bed risers plus canvas boxes buy you the equivalent of a small wardrobe.
Vertical storage above door frames — a slim shelf runs above most Dublin rental doorways and is invisible from the room. Ideal for books and boxes you rarely open.
One tall, narrow bookshelf beats two low ones. Vertical lines make the ceiling feel higher and the footprint stays small.
Ottoman coffee tables and storage benches replace a coffee table without adding another piece of furniture to trip over.
Lighting for small dark Dublin flats
North-facing Dublin apartments need warm bulbs (2700K) and at least three light sources per room. The single ceiling downlight your landlord installed is not enough.
Plug-in wall sconces (yes, they exist — no drilling needed) mimic hard-wired lighting and free up floor space.
A floor lamp behind the sofa costs €60 and does more for a small flat than a €600 sofa upgrade.
Avoid cool white bulbs anywhere you relax. If the room already feels cold, cool light makes it feel clinical.
Colour and pattern in small spaces
Dark walls work in small rooms — but only if you commit fully and only with landlord permission. If you can't paint, achieve the same feel with a dark peel-and-stick wallpaper on one wall and remove it before you leave.
Repeat one accent colour across three touchpoints per room (cushion, art, throw). It reads as intentional rather than random.
Pattern belongs on soft furnishings, not on rugs, in small rentals — you can swap a cushion in a minute if you tire of it, but a bold rug becomes the whole room.
Renter-friendly quick wins under €200
Warm-white bulbs for every fixture: €25.
One floor lamp and one table lamp: €80–€120.
Large leaning mirror: €60–€100 (IKEA, Woodie's, second-hand).
Wool or jute rug for the sitting area: sale prices from €70.
Three cushions, one throw, one framed print: €80–€150.
Add all five and most Dublin rentals feel unrecognisable — for less than one month's rent.
FAQ
Frequently asked
- How can I make a small Dublin apartment feel bigger without renovating?
- One large mirror opposite the window, furniture raised on legs, a tight two-to-three colour palette, curtains hung high and wide, and warm layered lighting. All reversible, none require landlord permission.
- What's the best layout for a one-bed Dublin rental?
- Face the sofa toward the main window rather than the TV, keep circulation paths at least 60cm wide, and use a rug to anchor the sitting area away from the kitchen if the flat is open-plan.
- How do I add storage to a small rental without building anything?
- Under-bed boxes on bed risers, one tall narrow bookshelf, ottoman coffee tables, over-door shelves and vertical hooks. All portable, all reversible, all deposit-safe.
- What lighting works best in a north-facing Dublin apartment?
- Warm white 2700K bulbs in every fixture, three light sources per room (overhead, mid-level floor lamp, low table lamp), plug-in wall sconces where you can't drill, and a plug-in dimmer on the main sitting-room lamp.
Small Dublin flats reward planning, not spending. Fix the layout, add mirrors and lamps, and treat storage as vertical. Do that first and any further shopping becomes optional rather than urgent — and every piece you buy is one you can take with you.