You have the basics. Now add soft textiles (throw pillows, cozy blanket), art, live plants, books/magazines, table lamps, etc... to make it look lived in and more inviting.

Oh, a blank canvas, what fun!

"The living room for example could use some paintings, colorful pillows and perhaps some plants. Not so sure about which style would be best suited."

Yes, yes, it would. What style? YOUR style. This is the fun part. The hunting of accessories and bits and pieces that will make your heart sing and call this apartment home.

What are your favourite colours? Your furnishings are neutral. The rainbow is yours for the taking. Do you prefer muted or bright colours? A monochromatic palette or complementary colours? There's no right or wrong answer. Look through Houzz pics or Pinterest pics for inspiration. Collect pictures of whatever resonates with you.

Art. Yes, yes, you need it. Etsy, ebay, online art galleries, thrift shops (? depends on city), street murals - look, look and look some more. Discover what you like and find something that makes you smile. Doesn't have to be expensive. Figure out the sizes you need by taping out shapes on the walls or cutting out newspaper rectangles and squares and taping them to the wall.

Start with plants if it's easier. Buy whatever you think you can keep alive. Heck, I saw free plantings on Craigslist yesterday. That might be an option too if you're not wary of the site.

Set your budget for everything and have fun creating a home for yourself. Don't be intimidated by the process. No need to rush or worry about "naming" your style or anything like that. This is your place. It should reflect you. Congrats on your new place, btw!

You can add large, striking art. Something like this or with a streak of color. Pick a color and use it in accessories.

This one shows the difference a rug, pillors, art and plants makes in a space. They add life.

Even within "scandinavian design" idea, there are a lot of different ways to go. (I just did a google image search--lots of ideas). Can you post a few inspiration photos so we know which way you are leaning?

Wow! What a great first apartment. Love your selections so far. The first thing I would do is find a great piece of art for either the wall behind the sofa, or on the same wall in the dining area. Then a great rug working with colors from your art. I would look for a shag because all your surfaces are flat and clean, so some additional texture would create a warm feeling without loading up with unnecessary pillows or accessories. One tall plant could work, but again, find your art next. What colors are you drawn to. Would purples work with your sofa? What color is the sectional? It looks kind of lavender on line.

A pair of art could add some interest as well and might be easier to use given the fact that you have to use basically the upper portion of the walls in the spaces.

Another thought. You might want to focus on one room at a time. (Perhaps obvious but wouldn't be my natural inclination so thought to mention it.) If any of this process overwhelms, start with the bathroom. It needs little to come to life and once you've made that space cohesive and to your liking, you'll have an easier time with the bedroom, etc.

Good luck! Hope you'll keep us posted with your progress. Really great looking place you have there.

Do your research before trying to hang art on those block walls. Color will be your friend!

@girl_wonder

I'm quite open minded. I do however like to keep things simple. A couple of examples which I've quickly grabbed of Pinterest:

Looking at the comments above, I think adding some colorful art, as well as some pillows and other accesoiries which bring back the same (vibrant) colors would definitely be a great start. I like orange / red.

What about the bedroom & bathroom? Any ideas there?

What everyone else said above. In the meantime while you're collecting your accessories, find a colorful bowl and use it to store fruit or vegetables (onions, etc.) on the countertop. Then next payday, treat yourself to a bouquet of flowers -- $4 at Trader Joe's. Take your time and have fun.

If you add some pendant light/minimalistic but cozy chandelier it would add vertical lines to horizontally long space and help create visual zones (one in the dining, one in the living area).

I would add tall plant between kitchen and that tall cabinet.

A big, landscape oriented, artwork on the wall in dinning area would add visual interest to that area.

Maybe a gallery wall with minimalist frames around tv..

Thanks for posting pics. What jumped out in the first one was the tall plant, the textures, and the fun shapes (round + the triangles on the vases and the angled lines on the rug). If it were me, I'd start by blowing like $100 on a variety of plants, a tall one for the living room (to put by the patio door?) and ones for other rooms. (Last week I put a $10 Trader Joe's orchid in my needs-to-be-remodeled bathroom and was surprised how much it perked things up.) FWIW, the last two photos you posted feel too sterile for my taste, almost like an office building. I agree with tartan: start with one room first. Bathroom: nice rug and towels will be a good start. Get a color you love. And an orchid ;) or other plant. For the bedroom, have you considered different bed linens and a rug next to the bed? (FWIW, most stores have a good return policies, so you can bring them home to try out, and return if you don't like them). This can be fun! ;)

I've had the same problem! I hate paintings and weird decorative stuff so I found this idea on Pinterest with decorative panels. I am still missing some and not sure if I should paint it in some color, but I like what I see. What do you think, should I paint them? Was thinking maybe some light color?

Following

Less is more.

And a bedroom idea:

following

Here's one idea for the bedroom.

You really don't need to add all those pillows if you don't want. It's just to give you an idea of how to add some colour to a space, in this case orange and charcoal. You can do a small narrow picture ledge above the bed for (colourful) art.

Do you need more storage in the bedroom? A dresser? Thinking of the third bedroom picture with the door and empty wall. Consider getting a (light) wood one to complement the white bed and nightstands.

I liked the soft aqua wall, and even adding muted green. I'm not pro but with texture of rug and art, etc. I could picture a striking light over dining table right in middle of room [esp. if you keep the one in kitchen] -

Clear Crystal Spike Light Fixture, Chrome Hardware · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/clear-crystal-spike-light-fixture-chrome-hardware-prvw-vr~122127139

Very striking, everdebz. Love it! Must admit such fixtures scare me though. How easy are they to dust? I can't figure them out, irl. Do you use a blow dryer? They look fragile and daunting to me, like a glass porcupine.

Where do you live? I have pillows and throws on my couch because I get cold and sometimes I just veg out on it. YMMV. I use colorful, washable placemats to protect my wood table, some folks use chargers. That would be a way to add some texture or color to your space. I also like to eat fruit for health so I have a big decorative pottery bowl of fruit on my dining table plus a decorative napkin holder and salt and pepper shakers.

As for art, you can find it almost anywhere. Even my small town has galleries and antique shops. I used to use framed posters and calendars and still have some of the nicer ones if you're into graphic art.

I personally hate overhead lighting so I would want some lamps. I also like to have a big clock to help me time manage. Again, YMMV, but that is a way to add some artistic features to your space, there are many cool artistic wall clocks, but only if you like clocks, I wouldn't do it just for show. I also like decorative mirrors because I need to check out my look at lot, I don't have the knack for looking fabulous right out of the gate. I found a few really nice framed ones I like for my decor.

I'd go mad without some color and art to look at on the walls, but you may find it soothing.

Wow, thanks for the many suggestions.

I must say this is all a bit overwhelming. I'm not quite sure where to start.

Perhaps starting with a smaller room (like some people mentioned) might be a bit easier. Placing a (fake) plant in the bathroom, together with a small rug and perhaps some other bits might get me rolling.

Any ideas on what I could place on top of that mighty long dresser in my living room (2.30m)? I'm thinking about placing 2 small lamps on either end... or will that look cheesy? The large open wall behind the dresser definitely needs a painting or some sort of canvas.

About the bedroom: perhaps adding a plaid might be a good idea? Not sure which color would be best suited.

You can start by getting a plant. Get two or three orange pillows and one throw. Place one pillow in the corner of the sofa and one/two on the bed. Drape or neatly fold the throw on the sofa. Get a medium tall orange vase and put two fake fans palm leaves or split leaf philo leaves in it. Place the vase on the TV stand.

This photo shows how to place the pillow and the orange vase(s) on the credenza. I like the shallow dish look on the coffee table and it would also work on your dining table. They have a few too many items in this one view for your style, but the items would be nice place around your apartment.

Love your space! When choosing art, take your time and find a large piece for over the credenza wit depth and movement in it. That will bring a lot of life to the room. Enjoy, you will have fun. Try all sorts of things and make sure what you try you can return until you get it right. Looking forward to seeing your choices!

I think a pendant lamp would make a pretty big difference...if I were you I'd pick up a pendant you like from some place where they have return option and see how does it look in your place.

I would pick cozy over shiny material for your living room.

looks like you like things kind of minimalist, have you tried going and getting a plant or 2? plants will automatically add life without looking too fussy. if you have 0 experience with plants, go to a good local plant store and get advice, you need to consider how much light it will get and how much maintenance you will honestly do, I like Norfolk Island pines for the simplicity of their care but there’s lots of options. crotons are nearly always colourful and typically come in shades of pink, red, orange etc.

Plants are wonderful and some even help eliminate indoor air pollution. When I first got my house I bought air pollution controlling plants for every room. Then I ended up getting rid of all live house plants. They require a lot of care and when I would go away on vacation I had to always figure out how to keep them watered. You have to re-pot them every year or so, give them fertilizer, and they get dusty. Plus they grow and end up taking up more space as time goes by. A lot of people enjoy taking care of plants so don't mind this, but keep this in mind before investing in a plant. Or if you don't mind spending money on new ones every year, you can usually keep them going for a year or two running on the soil they have from the shop.

For a minimalist, think about how you can combine utility/function and decorative elements. For example, hubs and I have a low decorative pottery bowl on the credenza inside the back entrance. It sits on a pretty lace doily that protects the wood on the credenza from getting scratched by the bowl. Inside is where we keep our car keys and it is very handy to put them there every day when we come in. Using the beautiful pottery dish for that purpose combines a decorative and useful function.

When I got my first home, I shopped some of the home stores, but also found a lot of things at antique and art galleries. You might find similar inspiration by checking out a few local places. IKEA has display rooms as do other home store places, they can offer inspiration, as can perusing photos on magazines or online, places like Houzz and apartmenttherapy.com. Etsy.com is wonderful but might drive you insane!

I myself hate overhead lighting so you have a lot of opportunity to add cool features to your place with lamps. You can use the search function on Houzz to search for lamps of modern and scandinavian and every other style imaginable. Look for lamps that offer both light and artistic form, and some color or texture if you like that. Having said that, you're more likely to find deals on Craigslist or a local Facebook sale site, at a nice Goodwill or antique shop. But perusing Houzz might give you an idea of what to look for. Same with Wayfair or any of those other online sales site. Search "scandinavian style" on google and you'll find lots of tutorials. Form and function together is a key component. Here's a great article I just found following my own advice, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2019/01/03/home-touch-scandinavian-style-just-right-winter/2463903002/

by that token, why do anything? you either enjoy having a couple of plants around or you don’t, sure if you are gone 6 months of the year it could be too much bother, even a “non waterer” can usually keep a snake plant alive, or a cactus, provided they get the right amount of light, and it’s not like they are going to outgrow your ability to grow them too too soon esp. with all the limitations they face indoors, some plants grow fast, some slow, some need coddling, water misting, constant feeding etc, and others only ask to be watered periodically and to be protected from harsh conditions they weren’t built to handle, I’ve never dusted my cacti also, by the way, if something leafy is dusty it gets a shower in the tub (maybe once or twice a year at most) and when warm, it goes outside, gardening is something you learn by trial &error as well, nobody starts out in life an expert, you either find it satisfying enough or you don’t, personally I like the life they bring indoors

if you ever watch Netflix shows, they do have TV series from Europe, it can be interesting to see the interior decor

Light is a pretty porcupine. ;-)

Not near a kitchen though - is that meant for feather duster? [where's the housekeeper at] I think you have idea with hair dryer - but try compressed air.

Lots of good suggestions above. I think you'd see a big difference with the addition of lamps rather than using the overhead lights. Lamps immediately add a warmer vibe while overhead lighting (other than decorative chandeliers or island pendants) seems cold and empty, IMO.

Some neutral ideas for texture

I didn't say don't bother with plants. I just cautioned to be aware of what you're getting yourself into. I actually make a living caring for plants. Not everyone wants to have that hobby. I feel the same way about any element of home decoration, plan for cleaning and maintenance as well as how it might look in a photo or look just out of the box. Same way with outdoor landscaping, consider how the plants will grow and how they will need to be maintained before buying and installing. You'd be surprised how few people consider upkeep when embarking on projects. Same goes for computer networks, fencing, etc.

The article I posted pointed out that the key to Scandinavian design (or any design imho) is that you thoughtfully consider the purpose of the items in your home, and that many things in Scandinavian design have multiple functions (like plants adding texture and color but also helping control indoor air pollution) due to homes being small so space is at a premium. Having lived in small spaces most of my life, I found it very helpful to think about decorating my spaces in such a way--how can I get utility and beauty out of my everyday use items. I love plants so I started out with tons of them. I then began to streamline my life and realized that I wanted to use my limited indoor space for other things, in my case my book obsession. But I could just as well have not chosen that. Ciamican is looking for suggestions on how to decorate, and I'm suggesting to start by carefully considering what kinds of activities are going to take place in the rooms, what functions you want, and how can they be artfully enhanced.

Edited to add that we don't know these things about most posters, what they might like doing and puttering with. IMHO, that is the first place to start when answering a "How should I decorate" question. Start with asking yourself, "How do I want to spend my time in this space and how can my decorating enhance that?"

There are some very good artificial plants with height that would be great for your lifestyle. But, they are not cheap. Well worth the price for my money, because if you replaced just one good large plant, you pay for the artificial one. A little occasional dusting and no problems. No bugs, no disease, no watering. Although, I once got one of these botanically accurate plants for a client, and she actually watered it! lol We still laugh about that today! Plan on spending $300-400 for a good one and do put in a designer pot for authenticity.

Yes two of the same lamps are corny ;)

Arched floor lamps look great in minimalist space. I guess they provide visual contrast with surrounding straight lines.

Open to kitchen means more visuals for the eyes to scan - so I'd pick a stand-out, and that's a reason I'd try a chandelier. Sometimes rustic / industrial has a fancy chandelier, but your design could have similar to what I posted: a material that's striking and also a modern shape [globe]…. or a typical globe maybe?

Pick a color, any color haha.... and you'd have a palette. Not so noticeable texture in pillow, etc....?

What color are curtains? if grey-ish maybe adding silvery-cool neutrals....

You're off to a great start and you know what you like...what is it that stopped you so suddenly?

Art could add lively contrast with splash of orange, nice with any greys in room too.

I like how this strengthens caramel-warm dining chairs - yeh, maybe you need warm colors!

Crewel embroidered / 100% Cotton exclusive of decoration, Lining 100% Polyester. Machine Wash Gentle. Coordinates with rug BD8860. Also black/navy // green.

A 'smart' fashion look to me is houndstooth, and some in other colors. If you like eggplant, and if sofa has the mauve-y undertone, and not a yellow/amber... this rug? and with art/pillows of similar?

Idk if you even want DR rug, but I like how this repeats 'insets' in wood pieces:

Obviously, this is a slightly biased opinion, but there is a science behind it - 1000% get some house plants!

We just covered this in one of our last blog posts. While the blog focuses on the step up to landscaping from caring for plants, it also covers a lot of the science behind caring for plants and why that is a good choice! https://floresartscape.com/blog/house-plants-and-happiness 

You don't have to spend a lot of money on plants, and you can focus on succulents or other hardy plants that don't need as much water or special care.