Put some pictures in your idea books that show the kind of styles you like. Tell us how many people will be living in this space, and how you want to use it. For example, will you entertain? If so, how many people at once? Do you work at home and need a home office space? etc. Do you have a lot of stuff that needs storage?

What is your budget - I assume from your comment that you have no furniture now.

Your rugs can cover up a lot of the floor and should compliment your furniture. Any specific furniture that you're interested in?

Area rugs, to cover flooring, available in many sizes & price ranges.

Added some pics to my idea book.

How many people living in the house?

- Just me for now.

Work from home?

- Occasionally. Although I don't need an office space to work from home. A couch is sufficient.

Stuff for storage?

- No, I do not have a lot of stuff. Also, the apartment includes a storage locker so I have all my stuff in there.

Budget?

- Flexible but ideally under $500-$1000 for everything excluding bed, mattress and sofa.

and yes, I do not have any furniture ATM.

Specific furniture I am interested in?

I've only started looking at IKEA stuff and these looked interesting:

- https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/knislinge-loveseat-samsta-dark-gray-70345838/

- https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/solleftea-floor-lamp-oval-white-white-50300119/

Something like this?

Bedroom:

Living room:

Budget permitting, for the living room consider either brown or black leather for a sofa and/or chair/recliner and/or any ottoman -- but only the better leather (not the thin bonded stuff); otherwise, choose a solid color you like rather than a busy pattern -- but no more than two solid colors -- since the flooring has a "busy" pattern all its own.

Covering the floors with rugs means cleaning rugs. Definitely wouldn't do that in the bedroom where dust beneath beds is inevitable. The "swiffer-like" mops work well on bare floors and save you the considerable cost and storage space of using a vac ... required for carpet/rugs. Also, a Roomba (robot vac) works far better on bare floors than carpet/rugs.

Black or silver metal (such as for lamps and/or table legs) tend to go with anything other than, perhaps, the most formal furnishings.

You don't have a lot of storage space so you might want to "go vertical" -- get the maximum storage for the minimum footprint -- and have your furnishings do dual duty. You want a tall chest of drawers rather than a low, wide dresser -- you could add a full length mirror to the back of the bedroom door o bedroom closet door rather than having a shorter cabinet with mirror on the wall over it.. Don't forget to make any ottoman a storage ottoman.

Have bedside cabinets instead of bedside tables. For the living room, either use cabinets or tables with drawers and shelves for adding more storage. Some filing cabinets can work well for either of those purposes and lockable ones can provide a bit more security/privacy for when you have guests over.

What do you guys think of the colour combination in the above photo? Grey rug with a black couch, a natural wood coffee table with white paint and white curtains. It feels like a lot but I figured since they are all neutral colours, they would go with each other?

The colors are fine. A larger sofa would be best to help fill the room. Along with a larger rug and a console under the TV.

No black or brown leather honestly there are 100s of colors why black or brown. A nice rug spend a little more and get a good sofa you can take it with no matter where you go. A good mattress and IMO right now a cheap bed frame. If the budget can’t move then Ikea fabric sofa that you know will not be forever. Do a sofa not a loveseat you will need lamps , lower the TV to proper viewing height , a coffee table . Treat the parquet floor like any other wood floor it works with most furniture. Cover what you can with rugs . Light fixtures can be changed and then put back when you move.

do You need a dining table?

Your place will be very dull and depressing if it is all black, gray and white. Start with a rug with some colour. Ask at the store which colurs go with it.

Check out Offerup and other selling apps for good used furniture to stay in your budget.

You would be surprised at what is available and the pricing. It's pretty much at give away prices.

Of course, you will need to sift through the awful stuff - but there is plenty of decent furniture for good prices.

Get area rugs for your apartment. Use the rug as a starting point for your colors.

Patricia is right - don't just stick with black or brown.

One mistake we see often on this forum is the assumption that all neutral colors work together. Someone posts a pic with light gray sofa, black coffee table, oak floors and tan walls and wonders why the space looks off.

There are warm neutrals - tans, browns and beiges and cool neutrals - grey, grey tinged whites, black. You can make them work together but if you are a decorating novice it is easier to make the space look cohesive if you concentrate on one neutral - warm or cool.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I went to IKEA today to check out the returned Items section as per Partim’s suggestion and got a sofa for 50% off! It’s light grey but has a removable cover with a lot of color options.

I also like deegw’s suggestion of trying to stick to warm or cool neutral. Gonna go for a cool neutral look with hints of yellow.

Going to look for area rugs and sofa cushions now.

I’m thinking of getting yellow cushions and one of those black and white striped area rug. 🤔

Sounds like a good start. Which Ikea sofa did you buy?

Some rug suggestions.

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/kroenge-rug-low-pile-handmade-multicolor-00372359/

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/skarrild-rug-flatwoven-in-outdoor-white-black-50435199/

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/vonsbaek-rug-low-pile-green-60450033/

larger and a great price for this size. price https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/vonsbaek-rug-low-pile-green-40450029/

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/skarrild-rug-flatwoven-in-outdoor-white-black-50435199/

On parquet flooring, would use area rug with NON-linear pattern (e.g., round shapes, NOT lines or stripes).

I would look for a solid broadloom remnant that you can have bound for an area rug. Something clean and simple. Can you show a pic of the sofa in the space?

This is the couch that I got:

https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/vimle-sofa-gunnared-medium-gray-s29284753/

Regarding the rug, I tried the striped pattern on the simulator and to me it doesn't seem coherent. I think the striped pattern is too modern looking for the parquet flooring or maybe like mdln suggested, a linear pattern doesn't go well with this flooring:

I also tried one that looks similar to partim's suggestion:

Your rug should be at least as wide as the sofa, which would be 7'10". Ikea has quite a few rugs that are exactly this size. But IMO wider would look even better. And obviously Ikea isn't the only place to shop for rugs, although their prices are pretty good.

What you can't see in a simulator is the texture of a rug. Some are flat-woven and others are more textured and fluffy. Depends on the look you want.

I have 2 flat-woven Ikea indoor-outdoor rugs in my hallways and I like them because they are machine washable and very practical for muddy boots. But they actually look pretty good too. The Ikea site shows a textured rug as an example with your sofa, since your sofa fabric is quite smooth and the contrast is nice.

This rug has a nice texture, and what I like is that it has a bit of the brownish-orange color of your floor in it. To tie things together. A good size for $179. 6 ' 7 "x 9 ' 10 " They have a good selection in this size

I think this is the one they show online with your sofa. $199, smaller at 6 ' 7 "x 8 ' 10 " Comes in other colors too.

Notice layout: TV has a console under it. Chair next to sofa. You can also have 2 chairs facing the window - since it appears that you have the space.

Chairs:

@shanth, you got a very good buy on the sofa. Congratulations! Would you like to use a dark green as your
other nice neutral color. I think the
dark green would also look very nice with the floors. Recommend a solid color rug so it will not fight
with the pattern of the floors. Maybe
limit any patterned materials to sofa pillows and wall art.

Here are some color palette ideas for your consideration:

I do like the idea of using a green palette since it will make it coherent with the plants. So, perhaps green cushions and curtains?

Like the sofa style. If/when you choose side tables, make sure the height of the cabinet or table is as high as the arms of the sofa. Choose tall lamps with mid-sized white shades.

If you're on a tight budget, and especially if you'll be living alone, you need not necessarily invest in a "bed" yet. You could sleep on an inflatable mattress until you can afford the bed you actually want. Alternately, if you have budgeted for a mattress and box springs or already have those, remember that you could put those atop a metal wheeled adjustable (twin/full) frame and wait about choosing a headboard.

If by ...

"Budget? - Flexible but ideally under $500-$1000 for everything excluding bed, mattress and sofa. and yes, I do not have any furniture ATM."

... you mean you have set aside or have already gotten or will be getting a bed and mattress from somewhere and are not in the market for them, then what do you "need" -- not what do you want for decoration -- what will be most useful? Privacy will matter, so ...

... If your rental does not have mini-blinds for privacy and light control already in place, then add those relatively inexpensive items first. That way you can save for some quality window dressing for later and/or take your time to choose.

If you like plants, Habitat for Humanity Restore Stores are often a great place for used flower pots in various sizes. Don't crowd a small home with them but having at least one in any room with a window will be a good idea. Choose plants that look good year round ... not just when they bloom. Heart leaf philodendron can begin with a cutting in water and moved to a pot when you find the right one at the right place and/or the right cabinet/stand to set it on.

Would really hesitate to buy upholstered anything used -- be very careful about that; however, you could enjoy some thrift store shopping (Habitat for Humanity Restore Store and local charity thrift stores) for a size appropriate wood and/or metal table and chairs and cabinets ... and even lamps (but you'll likely need to buy a new shade).

For an apartment, choose a "breakfast" sized dining set that is light weight and easily moved about in a small space when cleaning and for when you move. You don't need a more expensive formal table, etc., until you have a formal dining room. You can add relatively inexpensive cushions -- perhaps even make your own -- rather than buying upholstered dining chairs.

If you have sufficient cabinets for kitchen/dining items, wait about getting a china cabinet until you find just the right one at the right price.

Beware clutter. Don't crowd a small space with "stuff" you'll need to dust in the name of decoration.

I think this rug might be a nice choice to blend the color of your floors with your new sofa. https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/lohals-rug-flatwoven-natural-00277395/

Are you able to fit a mattress into that budget?? Mattresses can easily be $1000 by themselves. Our first mattress we purchased as a couple was a futon that had had an “accident“ and was steeply reduced. Lol. We have picked up furniture from everywhere, off the curb, abandoned in apartments, from dumpsters, hand me downs.... some thrift stores have some good solid stuff. I also got a bookcase from a yard sale. Parquet flooring is pretty classic and a standard feature of many older apartments.

Thanks suezbell for the suggestions.

Regarding the bed situation, I already spent $500 on bed+mattress hence why it's excluded from the budget. I didn't want to cheap out on the mattress since I know how big a difference it can make.

And yes, I am trying to buy only the bare minimum but I also want it to look homely at the same time hence the dilemma.

I definitely need some blinds since the window is fully transparent and I am on the first floor + street-facing. There are no curtain rods either so IKEA's stick-on blinds seems like a good option for me (https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/schottis-blackout-pleated-blind-dark-gray-90369507/)

The plants and rug seemed like a cost-effective way to add some life to the unit.

Also, I am not going to buy cabinets/storage/dresser since I have plenty of storage and very little stuff. I'm also questioning the need for a dining table since I'm already getting a coffee table.

J Williams, that's $500 excluding mattress, bed and sofa. So, basically coffee table, a TV (hopefully), rug, plants, blinds and lamps.

Grey and warmwoodleather could be 'urban loft' vibe.

2 could add ok warmth-

Safavieh Madison Square Ottoman, Saddle Leather · More Info

Success Manuka Distressed Vintage Floral Lattice 8x10 Area Rug · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/success-manuka-distressed-vintage-floral-lattice-8x10-area-rug-prvw-vr~144407557

"Hide dirt"...lol

That green chair that I posted is 189.00 and the yellow one is 163.00.

Figure this: TV - about 200.00(since they are very cheap)

Rug - about 200.00

Coffee table - about 120.00 to 200.00

You are already over 500.00 and this does not include the plants, blinds and lamps.

How long are you going to be in this rental? If a year or more - do yourself a favor and buy a small bistro dining set.

Do you have a local “antique” store? Sometimes deals can be had. You should check out thrift stores in your area for art or frames, I have honestly found original paintings and wall art that would be perfectly ok just about anywhere, but my home is chock a block with art I already like. I once got an original painting I love from a seniors home rummage sale, and a hand carved wooden portrait bust from a yard sale, garage sales, charity sales, estate sales etc. can be places to find interesting things. If you find magazines or coffee table books, posters, advertising, wallpaper sample books, or albums with pictures you like, you can frame them up as if they were art. Having a low budget can mean getting creative And having an open mind.

@shanth: Yes, green curtains would look very nice. For the sofa pillows, you might be interested in some at the following links. Tried to keep your budget in mind when searching for pillows.

https://www.amazon.com/Hodeco-Decorative-Embroidery-Monstera-Embroidered/dp/B07R65DYGR/ref=sr_1_99?qid=1579562167&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-99

https://www.amazon.com/blue-page-Banana-Embroidered-Pillow/dp/B07F668CWB/ref=sr_1_132?qid=1579562254&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-132

https://www.amazon.com/WOLUNWO-Pillow-Covers-Decorative-Bedroom/dp/B07HMWBVXK/ref=sr_1_141?qid=1579562254&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-141

https://www.amazon.com/ULOVE-LOVE-YOURSELF-Background-Decorative/dp/B07MCS5QX8/ref=sr_1_144?qid=1579562254&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-144

https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Geometric-Home-Invisible-Decorative/dp/B07GC1J65Z/ref=sr_1_200?qid=1579562446&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-200

https://www.amazon.com/KEIBIKE-Personalized-European-Decorative-Pillowcases/dp/B0785H1N2Q/ref=sr_1_235?qid=1579562514&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-235

https://www.amazon.com/BGment-Velvet-Cushion-Decorative-Bedroom/dp/B07FSPSPQG/ref=sr_1_23?qid=1579562087&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A3254108011&s=bedbath&sr=1-23

https://www.structube.com/en/osaka-coffee-table-90cm-53-14-10?pid=11623

https://www.structube.com/en/bjorn-coffee-table-62-02-28?pid=28327

https://www.structube.com/en/eiffel-chair-with-armrests-and-solid-beech-wood-legs-90-13-14?pid=10762

Here are some links to possible drapes/curtains you may like:

https://www.amazon.com/Comforhome-velvet-window-curtain-Pocket/dp/B01E4ZW3PQ/ref=sr_1_30_sspa?keywords=solid+dark+green+drapes&qid=1579562776&s=home-garden&sr=1-30-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSVdRSDE3VkdMMTJEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTAyMDg1MVc5RkVQRjZJQUlJRiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDI0NzE0MjZGRjhQVzUyWU9VTyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2J0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/Comforhome-Velvet-Window-Curtain-Grommets/dp/B01E4ZW4JG/ref=sr_1_28_sspa?keywords=solid+dark+green+drapes&qid=1579562844&s=home-garden&sr=1-28-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNVNFV0pKME5UT0VFJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzE5ODkzMVMyVkNJUTc3Vk5POCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDA0ODgxMzgxUzNINDYyOUhNSCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2J0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

https://www.amazon.com/KEQIAOSUOCAI-Blackout-Curtains-Darkening-Insulated/dp/B078JS2K24/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp?cv_ct_cx=solid+dark+green+drapes&keywords=solid+dark+green+drapes&pd_rd_i=B078JS2K24&pd_rd_r=44e2a4fc-f981-4340-b023-e7c34a0c69c9&pd_rd_w=hYxgX&pd_rd_wg=Tv3Ki&pf_rd_p=a6d018ad-f20b-46c9-8920-433972c7d9b7&pf_rd_r=SCCATHW2821NMWMWP9GC&psc=1&qid=1579562844&s=home-garden&sr=1-2-dd5817a1-1ba7-46c2-8996-f96e7b0f409c

https://www.structube.com/en/maxwell-accent-chair-02-87-09?pid=26882

https://www.structube.com/en/hayden-chair-28-35-05?pid=21096

following

These are kind of cool.

Is orange-red a contender? with www.flor.com you can buy square carpet tiles that lift up for rinsing and moving around... do people consider animal prints fun... kind of think they do.

@everdebz, like this combo with the grey - very warm and inviting.

Felted wood rug from rugsusa, with glass double layer coffee table, black metal, arc black metal floor lamp with white shade, pillows with orange/gray, gray/white curtain panel from Ikea, plant from Ikea, random artwork...