maison21 you won't like hearing this, but painting those walls is the answer, then repaint before you move out to get your security deposit back. also, replace the existing light fixtures with something less home depot-y, and again, remount the old ones when you leave to keep in good graces. both changes will take the edge of the institutionality of the apartment, and will be well worth the time and effort.

yasuko I have a same opinion as maison21.
Painting will change an unit dramatically.
If you can find a light fixture that looks like bard cage that you have on dining table will be nice. also some art work on the wall is a great idea to have a Life in the room.

JD Designs You actually don't have to paint to accomish a fun Anthropologie type look. Yes it would be nice but try some other solutions first. Purchase a large colorful rug with multiple colors including orange. Orange is bright and will accent your sofa nicely. If the rug and any pillows you have can tie in the wall color that would help. Then you can go to thrift stores and pick up some old frames that you can use to make a cluster above the sofa. Purchase some bright colorful art work to go in them and have them all matted the same color as the wall. A bright throw on the sofa will help also. A bowl of lemons or fruit on the table and one large pieces of art on canvas will work well in the dining area. In your bedroom can get bright bedding In Turquoise and greens and oranges as well. Add ceiling to floor curtains in coordinating colors as well. You can et some cool light fixtures from Ikea and they are cost effective for all of your rooms. Hope this helps a litte!

Elaine M. Rushlow C.K.D. If you would like to add some pizzaz to your walls without causing any damage when you leave consider having a custom vinyl applicae' done. Vinyl goes on very easy and it can be anything from words to monograms or a cut out of a huge fork, the sky is the limit all you really have to do is provide a picture. When you are ready to move heat it up with the hairdryer and it will peel right off. By the way most landlords expect to paint after you leave anyway.

kadra ramsey Hi, I'm guessing you don't really want to spend a fortune to decorate and would not want to paint. I have two daughters that have lived in their first apartments and they came up with some good decorating ideas you might like also. You can get nice photos/posters at Ikea that are not too expensive. They also have mirrors that you can decorate with. If you are handy with a glue gun you can always hang pretty fabric on a dowel rod and hang it behind your bed or over the couch. Duck tape works good too. You can go to Hobby Lobby and put some pretty fabric on a canvas and hang that too. Its really easy and fairly cheap and when you get tired of it you can get more fabric and change it out. Will you be using the maroon bed coverings that are on the bed now? You can accent it with almost any color. Maroon is like gray or black, it will go with almost any color. The best way to find accent colors is to go to a paint dept and get the paint chip samples take them home and put it next to what you already have. Look for colors in your closet or in your jewelry and accessories you have to help find what you like. Are you modern? Vintage? Or country? Books from Goodwill and small vases,cups or dishes can be decorated to carry out your colors too. Good luck and congratulations on your first place of your own!

Sonia Daigle This is wonderful,you have the opportunity to do anything you want..
just choose 3 colors that you really like and go,there is so many things you can do....
first you can do one wall with wall paper or bold paint to make a statement & then just add accessories that make you smile when you look at it....
Curtains are amazing to add texture and they can make a statement as well
Just go with your budget,there is so many great store that have amazing stuff for great prize...
Don't be afraid because in the end if you don't like it
you can always change it!!!
Have fun with texture & colors that you love....

cre8tive I think everyone's first inclination is to always paint, but I think there is more to decorating thatn just painting everything! I like @kidrmsy's suggestions. Wall art can do wonders for a space....Sconces, mirrors, etc..You can even hang a decorative rug on your wall for color and it helps a room feel really homey. Also, don't be afraid to put an area rug ontop of your own rug with bright colors. Since your furniture is very neutral, you can jazz it up with colorful throw pillows or even buy a colorful ottoman. Not to mention window treatments. Your options are endless. I would suggest that if you have a large window (and it looks like you have sliding glass doors) that you actually take the window treatments from one end of that wall to the other and up higher. This will give the illusion of a textured/fabric wall of curtains. If you pick a nice bright color that ties in with your pillows and rugs then you will be well on your way. And one last suggestion. If you haven't bought anything for storage yet, say a bookshelf or credenza or buffet, might I suggest getting something fairly cheap and painting it a bright color. You could put in the dining room or living room which will help tie the two rooms together.

With your love of things eclectic coupled with bright colors, might I suggest going to Pier 1. They have fabulous items that might fit the bill.

I just believe that you can still go bold without using paint! Congratulations!! and Good Luck!!

Paula yes, 60s ..70s is the way to go
lots of bright scatter cushions @ curtains to tone in with them
love the idea of a large rug or wall hanging in the sitting area (Cre8ive)
bedroom & kitchen in brights too
maybe replace the kitchen chairs with colorful plastic or metal ones or just paint them

neonurse511 You have really nice sofa pieces, I would switch out the brown pillows with a new colorful arrangement. Pillows in different colors and prints in an uneven number is classic eclectic. And sofa pillows can really pull things together. I agree that you don't need to paint the walls to have a pulled together space. I think you can achieve this by hanging pictures. Two recommendations I would make: large frames (the larger the better) and white frames (any shade of white/off-white). I think darker frames would make the space look smaller. Lighter and larger frames would open it up. Framing prints can be very affordable, I found a calendar featuring travel posters at barnes and nobles- $20 bucks and you've got a collections of pictures to frame.
Best advice I could give you: be true to yourself and your own style. Collect styles you want to look at all the time. If you keep all the rooms in somewhat of a collected thought and you keep them clean clean clean, you will have a sanctuary.

laurahahe If you can't paint find a fantastic rug and find some artwork and throw pillows with colours that go (but do not match exactly). You have a pretty neutral slate to start with so pretty much anything can go!

dancingfish I would start by picking colors-- I can't tell if your sofas are brown or green from the photo-- but if they are brown think about a soft blue that you can carry into the dining and bedroom spaces.

You will feel at home once you have something on the walls-- Think LARGE-- Quick and cheap--BLACK AND WHITE photos to poster size- of something that is meaningful to you... your college, your favorite vacation spot, your pet... or Maps!! You can find cheap frames at craft stores or salvation army.
Also hang a ledge or two and make groupings of a collection. Don't have a collection-- Think candlesticks-- and remember you can spray paint anything!!!
ohh and take those pillows off the sofa--I know they came with it but they need to be recovered or removed and something with your new colors added!

sarahoburns On large walls, try framing large pieces of wallpaper as your "art" If you don't want frames, buy stretched canvas' and wrap wallpaper around them for a finished look. Make your walls personal...i.e. branches, artful pictures, artifacts...

Lisa N. Kurtz Design Find a large piece of artwork you love (if on a budget look at Goodwill type places and reframe if needed), hang it above the sofa and use as your starting point and color palette. Add to this a rug in your living room (perhaps a black and cream pattern) and that room will have a nice layer added to it. Over time settle into it and add a few more layers, like accessories and most definitely warm, ambient lighting! (mismatched or matched depending on your preference). As for the dining room, change out the chandelier for something vintage with more interest that mimics the Anthroplogie look but hopefully for less money. Add two black/white photos or small pieces of art to the right of that mirror to give that wall some character. And a beautiful vase of flowers and that table! In the bedroom, how about investing in a set of those beautiful Anthroplogie window panels to hang behind the bed for color and texture?

geogirl I'd start with curtains and go from there. World Market or Target might be a good start. Then fill in with artwork, rugs, lighting and other accessories. Pick a main color, like red, and run with it through your main living areas that connect.

Amandela Perry Since you can't paint your walls, there is another way to add a bold statement in your rooms. Wallpaper. Not that old nasty wallpaper we remember from out grandparents house but a fresh bold print. Sherwin Williams carries a line of wallpaper for renters. It goes on easy and comes off easy and doesn't mess up your walls. They have TONS of patterns that are sure to brighten up you rooms, and they aren't too bad on your wallet.

Amandela Perry Also, another favorite of mine is going to the fabric store and picking out some great patterns and colors that you like and framing them. You can put them all together and make a colorful and exciting statement on your walls.

Terry Mulligan Gallery If you're looking for more information, here's a great article … just Google ... Yahoo! The Color Perfect: Finding The Perfect Colors For Your Furniture, Flooring, Walls, And Accessories … It's an easy read with lots of tips you can use on the subject.