Ok, the biggest reason it doesn't feel homey is the lighting. The tall lamp in the living room is giving off a lot of glare, and seems too bright and clinical. I'd move the sofa more to the right (it seems to get in the way of the closet door), and add a couple of end tables with lamps and shades to diffuse the lighting. In the dining room, replace the fan/light with a chandelier. In the bedroom, get night stands with lamps instead of using the overhead light on the fan.

The second reason it doesn't feel inviting is the window treatments. I'd replace the short vertical blinds with shades and curtain panels. Natural woven shades add nice texture and warmth. Then hang plain sheer linen curtains on metal rods to finish the look.

Thirdly, there is little color in the rooms. The brown carpeting does nothing for the spaces. What is under it? If hardwood, then use the opportunity to remove the carpet and add area rugs to define the spaces and add color and pattern. If there is no hardwood, then replace the brown carpet with a more sophisticated wall to wall in a sisal or seagrass.

Your furniture is a good start. I especially like the dining chairs. But it all looks like it was placed by the movers and never really organized. Center the sofa on the wall and pull the chair up so that it relates to the sofa in a conversation group. Angled toward the front door.

The dining area area is stressing you out whether you realize it or not. You actually have space in the living area for a small desk. If you could set up your work space in the living area, you could ‘set’ the dining table with a pair of candles and a crystal or ceramic bowl and it would make you feel at home.

Is is there any type of view outside the windows? The windows would look a million times better surrounded by soft drapes or layered over with sheer curtains.

YES! Hang your art. When I move, art is the first thing to get placed. It makes me feel like I live there.

Id move the bed to the wall that doesn’t have the window. And watch the flea markets for a bigger set of nightstands.

I agree, if possible definitely move the bed to the wall without windows.

Also, for the living room - I cannot understand the layout from this one picture, and don’t know if there is another wall that the sofa can be relocated to, so that it is not on window wall.

Your photos are dark so it is also not easy to see your furniture and understand your color scheme, etc. I am not clear if it is dark wood or dark carpeting on the floors.

I think a softer floor lamp may help, or if you can dim the one you have there - that might be a possibility. There seems to be harsh light and glare from current floor lamp - but it could be photo quality.

The light from ceiling fan in bedroom also seems a bit harsh. Don’t know if that can be dimmed, or replaced with a dimmable fixture and or maybe bring in a night stand or two with some lamps for more ambient type of lighting.

One example:

Quinn 1 Light Table Lamp in Walnut · More Info

Greenery would help. Maybe just start with a small succulent plant on coffee table.

If you bring in another floor lamp, maybe along these lines

Tripod Rust Black Metal Floor Lamp, 64" · More Info

The bare blinds on the windows are making the space look institutional. Are you allowed to put up curtain rods? As mentioned above, simple, full curtain panels would make a big difference in your space. They would add a nice layer of texture to your rooms.

Hanging them with the blinds wouldn't be optimal but if you can't take down the blinds curtains would still help.

Brown and black, black and brown. I get you don't want to go too feminine, but you need color to perk up the space, otherwise it will feel one-note and boring. Get yourself a flat weave area rug, perhaps a kilim style, to bring in some rich reds, oranges, and sage greens. Then pick up those colors for sofa throw pillows.

Also, if your landlord will allow you to ditch those vertical blinds, please do. Replace them with either fabric or woven wood roman shades. If not, get drapery panels for either side that go to the floor. Add framed artwork, perhaps some graphic art, and that will do wonders for the space.

Agree with the above comments, too, that the lighting needs to be addressed.

Pacific Heights Vintage Modern · More Info

Modern Masculine Living Space · More Info

If these are the landlord’s blinds, chances are they won’t want them removed. There is a way to hang shades, etc. over existing blinds. There is a piece that can fit over the blinds that you can hook a shade up to. You can ask at your local hardware store or maybe do an online search. You could probably also experiment and come up with something yourself.

This is an interesting article with various resources for shades, blinds, etc.; if you are interested in bringing in some other treatments, article may be helpful.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.apartmenttherapy.com/style-on-a-budget-10-sources-for-good-cheap-blinds-curtains-204076%3famp=1

What's your budget for changes? Those are a lot of big windows to add blinds or curtains to.

The first thing I would do is move the sofa to the other window wall and put the t.v. across from it. Add framed prints around it to make a gallery wall. That should give you room to add a small desk for your computer while you're working at home. Add a tray to the coffee table with a vase of greenery. Then, take down the ceiling fan as suggested and add a light fixture. Check YouTube for a video on how to do that-it's quite simple, I've done it myself. Add a wonderful colorful print to the wall behind the table, even a poster if you don't have the budget for large framed art. Find a pretty centerpiece bowl for the table in a color pulled from the art. What type of art are you drawn to?

If the lamp is adjustable, turn it so the shade is facing down and get a half chrome bulb to reduce the glare.

Add a pretty throw to your sofa and pillows with a bright print.

As for the bedroom, I agree with moving the bed away from the window. It's bad feng shui to have it under a window. Get bright white sheets and lamps for the night stands as suggested. Look for ceramic lamps with a colored base. Then add artwork over the bed. Add matching pillow shams and make your bed up to feel like a bed in a luxury hotel. Add a pillow for color and texture.

You need to surround yourself with things that give you enjoyment when you look at them. Even though it's an apartment, make the space yours, fill it with your personality!

I think you have great advice above. I am not a huge fan of a rug over a rug but in your case I might get one from a garage sale. flea market or anywhere I can find them cheaply to place over rug for color. Also plants can really add a lot of life for a little money. Good luck and enjoy the process

Thanks for the responses so far! Lots to add to my to do list & will keep me busy changing everything up.

Moving the bed to the wall with no windows puts the bed directly in front of the entrance to the bedroom if I center it on that wall with nightstands on either side. The door would open up inches away from the nightstand. I'm also planning on lamps for the nightstands to change the lighting coming from the ceiling fan.

I forgot to mention is that this is an apartment and can't make any drastic changes like removing carpet or any fixtures. Seems that taking the blinds down and adding curtains will make a vast improvement, and it shouldn't be too big of an issue. this is all great!!

Here's a daytime photo of the living area, the previous photos were taken last night with not the greatest light. Closet door opens well enough and avoids the sofa. This picture is taken practically from my front door, which opens to the wall the tv is on. Opposite side of that is the kitchen.

Small issue with the sofa placement is where the television currently resides. I've centered the sofa on the television layout. If I could figure out a creative solution, I'd be all for it.

Do something naughty on the kitchen countertop. You'll never forget it every time you enter the room. That'd make it feel like home to me.

@Joseph Corlett, LLC Helpful, thanks.

Can the TV be on the entry wall where the big framed piece is now? If you did that, then you can float the sofa in front of the tv and set up an office space behind the sofa. You also get the advantage that you can see the tv when you peek around the corner from the kitchen.

This rug does not bring in so much color, but it brings in texture, and complements your larger, framed piece.

https://www.roomvo.com/share/kgpa6y

And then you could bring in a bit more color in some pillows for sofa. A couple of velvets and maybe some linen, too, would be nice for texture.

This is link for that rug. Black Venetian Pinstripes.

https://www.rugsusa.com/rugsusa/rugs/rugs-usa-venetian-pinstripes-indooroutdoor/Black/200OWDN27A-P.html

Some pillow ideas

You don’t necessarily need to bring in a lot of color, it is whatever you prefer. A little splash of color can go a long way.

Or you could stay more neutral, and just bring in more texture. Below, velvet + linen.

This cognac color is nice. One of these in the mix would tie in browns in the space. Comes in other colors, too.

https://www.crateandbarrel.com/brenner-velvet-cognac-pillow-with-down-alternative-insert-20/s325754?st=Brenner%20Velvet%20Cognac%20Pillow%20with%20Down-Alternative%20Insert%2020%22