Here are a few suggestions to decorate your apartment:

1.) Wall decals, or wall stickers are a great way to add color to your walls, and they are temporary so you can remove them.
2.) Pin up fabric, or mural to your walls, that can later be removed.
3.) Use decorative bedding, window treatments, kitchen accessories and bath mats/towels, etc.. to bring in a theme, and color.
4.) Spruce up your apartment with live plants, and try and let as much natural light pour into your space as possible.
5.) Decorate with family photos, memorabilia and items that are personal to make your apartment feel like home.

Boring no longer! :)

I almost forgot - also use area carpet and rugs over the existing carpet. It will look better and you'll enjoy being in the space more!

I am going through this same dilemma right now!

-I added some nice floor length window sheers (from ikea) to the one window I have in my room.
-Since you're not allowed to paint, then I'm not sure how you feel about hanging things on your wall either. I painted an accent chalkboard wall in my room, but I would suggest a grid of chalkboard panels. I think that they are a beautiful color, and it gives you and your friends something to do to change the wall decor all the time.
-I also found some cheap craigslist furniture and repainted them in a couple fun high gloss paints. Surprisingly, I am becoming quite attached the the pieces, and I think that they might make the cut to my next place.
-I've also found, that using a little of the magic eraser has done wonders for our place. It's funny that even a pretty unattractive apartment looks so much better when it's clean.

I want to hear more ideas for what I can do in my place too!!!

Oh and here are two photos that I have found that have really inspired me for unique (meaning inexpensive) gallery walls.



https://www.houzz.com/photos/100k-living-room-modern-living-room-philadelphia-phvw-vp~94738

Thanks! I just bought some Ikea furniture and have an area rug but unfortunately I can't hang things on the walls as they're pure cement. I'm going to resort to hooks that just stick on...which is also a challenge since they fall off on a couple walls (due to the paint). Still working on it... Gonna see if I can make any cool wall art that might stay up.

If you can't paint the walls, consider investing in repositionable, removable, REUSABLE wallcovering. It's cleanable and you can take it with you to reuse when you move to your next abode.
P.S.-If you have any left-overs, apply it right over the glass on that picture frame for original wall art!

Www.surface view.com has repositional wall murals and no end of designs!
http://www.surfaceview.co.uk/two/index.php??C=-5&T=0

painters drop cloths over carpeting a clean modern look that is unexpected. They are cheap and may already come in your room size. I like canvas as window coverings and wall coverings as well........or drape a table to the floor........ Canvas makes a great background for accessories.

I was watching Nate Berkus' new show and he did something I'd heard of but never tried. He said to find fabric you love (or if lucky enough to use sheets) and then use liquid fabric starch and put it up like wallpaper! Then when you get ready to move, you just soak the walls (not too wet) and peel off the fabric, wash it and use it again for something else later. I would think you'd have to do some mopping or wiping of the walls, but it wounded like something I wish I'd known when I had an apartment! You might find better directions on his website.

I recently found myself in the same situation: blank apartment and little money! My advice is to go diy with thrift store items. If you can take the time to search, you'll find lots of hidden gems or items with potential value. You can change the look of lots of things with spray paint: vases, candlesticks, and frames are all really cheap at Goodwill. Create a vignette with a few accents in your favorite color, and it will feel more like your space.
Have you tried 3m hooks and hangers on your walls? I swear by them, but my walls aren't cement.
I agree that curtains have a big impact, and you can use a tension rod. I just bought some great curtains on clearance at Target.
Have you thought about hanging something from the ceiling? My friend made mobiles with branches and origami stars, it looked so cool!
Finally, a cheap but impressive idea is to get a sheet of MDF (say 8x3') and prime+paint or wallpaper it, then just lean it up against the wall. Hope this helps some!

Cool ideas everyone! Yeah I have accessories down, that's something I'm pretty good at figuring out. I'll check into some of your suggestions for the walls.