Moving out on your own for the first time often means a small “starter” apartment, used furniture and a low budget. However, just because you’re living in a small space and trying to save money doesn’t mean you should completely give up on decorating your first home.

The great thing about any small space – whether it’s a studio apartment or a narrow hallway in your townhouse – is that you don’t have to do something overly dramatic to make a strong statement. With less square footage to cover, it can be easy to have expensive décor on a budget.

Try these simple but eye-catching tips to completely change the mood and feel of a room:

• Turn a wall into a mini-gallery with artwork illuminated by picture lights
• Hand-paint a mural on a wall
• Paint the ceiling a bold color
• Lay down a big, patterned rug
• Split a room in half with a glass wall
• Hang a huge mirror to open up the room
• Stagger an artwork arrangement to keep the eye moving along a wall

These are just a few ideas to get you started, but with a small space like this, you can really let your imagination run wild! Making bold design statements can actually make a small space feel much bigger.