There's nothing quite like getting the keys to your first place. Maybe it's an apartment near campus, a little rental with questionable carpet, or the first house you've ever owned. Whatever it is, it's yours. And now you get to make it feel that way.
Here's the thing nobody tells you: A home that feels styled has nothing to do with how much you spend. It comes down to a few simple rules, a handful of pieces you truly love, and the patience to let a space come together over time. You don't have to finish every room the week you move in. In fact, the homes that feel the most like the people living in them almost never happen all at once.
We put together our favorite tips for styling your first space, room by room, using pieces from our shop. Let's make it feel like home.
The 3 Rules We Style By
Before we get room by room, these three rules will take any space from "I just moved in" to "wait, did you hire someone?"
- Group things in threes. Odd numbers feel natural to the eye. Three objects on a shelf, three candles on a table, three frames on a wall. It works every time.
- Mix your heights. Put something tall, something medium, and something short together. A ginger jar, a candle, and a small decor piece look intentional instead of lined up.
- Repeat a color. Pick one or two colors you love and repeat them in a few spots around the room. It ties everything together without making it feel matchy.
Start With a Few Statement Pieces
Every room needs a few things that make people stop and say, "Where did you get that?" These are the pieces we always come back to.
Ginger Jars
If you buy one thing for your first home, make it a ginger jar. They're the little black dress of home decor. They look beautiful on a bookshelf, a mantel, a kitchen counter, or an entry table, and they work with every style from classic to colorful. Start with the Pink Textured Ginger Jar ($52) for a pop of color, or go with the Green or White large jars ($52). Pair a large jar with the Small White Ginger Jar ($36) and you've instantly got two of your three heights.
Round Top Collection
If you've been in our shop, you've seen our Round Top Collection pieces. They're some of our favorite things we carry: colorful, a little whimsical, and full of personality. They're the kind of pieces that make a shelf feel collected instead of bought all at once.
- Mini Art Cowboy ($17.99): A small art piece that adds character to a bookshelf, a bar cart, or a stack of books. Every Western-loving Oklahoma girl needs one.
- Round Top Collection Bright Pumpkin Stack ($65): Bright, cheerful, and the kind of seasonal piece that makes fall feel festive without going full orange.
- Small Black Stake Stand ($9): The secret to using Round Top stakes indoors. It lets them stand on a shelf, a mantel, or an entry table instead of only in a planter.
Our tip: Round Top pieces shine when you rotate them with the seasons. Keep your base decor (ginger jars, frames, candles) the same all year, then swap in a Round Top piece for fall, Christmas, spring, and summer. It keeps your home feeling fresh without starting over. For more fall ideas, read our Guide to Fall Decor with Round Top Collection.
Room by Room
The Coffee Table
The coffee table is the easiest place to make a big impact. Use our three rules: something tall, something medium, something small.
- A candle as your centerpiece, like the Hello Fall Soy Candle ($48) or the Mistletoe + Holly Glass Tree Candle ($24) for the holidays
- A Tart By Taylor Match Striker ($54) right next to it, because lighting a candle should feel a little fancy
- A set of coasters, like the Best Buds Coaster Set ($68), so your new table stays nice
- A stack of two or three of your favorite books underneath it all
The Bookshelf
Bookshelves look best when they're about one-third books, one-third decor, and one-third breathing room. Lay some books flat and stand some up. Tuck a small ginger jar on one shelf, a Pearl Mini Acrylic Picture Frame ($38) on another, and a Round Top piece on a stack of books. Leave some space empty. It's not unfinished. It's styled.
The Entryway
The entry is the first thing you see when you walk in, so make it happy. A small table or shelf with one ginger jar, a candle, and a dish for your keys is all you need. Outside, add a seasonal doormat and the Here Comes the Sun Garden Flag ($19) for a little charm before anyone even knocks.
The Kitchen
Kitchens in first apartments are usually small, so keep the counters clear and pick one or two pretty things to leave out. A Fall Cream Pumpkin Coffee Mug ($24) by the coffee maker or a Rainbows + Smiley Faces Glass Cup ($24) makes your morning routine feel special.
The Bedroom and Nightstand
Keep it calm. A frame with a photo you love, like the VIVA 4x6 Layered Picture Frame in Pink ($57), a candle, and something meaningful. The Create Your Own Happy 4x4 Block ($15) is a sweet little reminder to wake up to.
The Dining Table
Set the Gold Cast Iron Taper Candle Holder Set ($50) in the center and your table looks dinner-party ready, even if dinner is takeout. Add the Mirrored Disco Ball Ice Bucket ($80) when friends come over, and you'll officially have the most fun apartment in your group.
First Apartment on a Budget? Start Here
You don't need everything at once. If you're starting from scratch, here's the order we'd buy in:
- One statement piece for your main room, like a ginger jar
- A candle and a match striker for your coffee table
- One frame with a photo of your people
- One seasonal piece you can swap out, like a Round Top piece
Add one or two things a month, and by the time you've lived there a year, your home will look like it was pulled together on purpose. Because it was.
Moving In? Come See Us
Home decor is so much easier to shop in person, where you can see the colors and sizes side by side. Stop by our shop at 2302 N. Interstate Drive in Norman, and we'll help you pick the pieces that feel like you. Or browse our Home + Gift collection and our Round Top Collection online.
