Great space! i would start looking on Facebook marketplace for dining room table and chairs, bed and a couch - a rug would help define the space and really cozy it up

It‘s a great space. Looks like it could be NYC.

Can you dim the overhead lighting? You could bring in a couple of floor lamps for ambient lighting at eye level. And/or battery operated or plug in wall sconces.

I really think your current table and sofa bed type piece are fine. The placement of the pieces is fine, too. You could put a plant between the sofa and table to divide the area a bit. You could arrange some pillows on the bed, place them against the wall, when you are not sleeping, or lounging. Or something like this day bed piece, maybe.

https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/wade-logan-birydiana-daybed-w100615524.html?piid=1239155383

Get some more chairs for the table, and folding chairs are fine. Some ghost chairs could be another interesting possibility. Stackable ones would be convenient. And art. Get a couple of pieces of art that you like. Plus, the other plants you are already considering. And you’re done. :)

If you're not sure it's going to be a long-term rental here's some highly-rated but inexpensive pieces that can make that space more home-like (I don't think I've ever used so many hyphens before in one sentence 😊). You can find all of these on the rainforest site.

1. 5 piece Daybed Cover with 4 pillow shams. Fabric goes to the floor. $46 minus $7 coupon = $39. You'll have to buy inserts for the pillow shams - go to someplace that's inexpensive.

2. Bolster Large Headboard Wedge Pillow will turn your bed into seating when used with some of the other throw pillows shown above. $75

3. Karl Home accent chair - Mid-Century Modern with a high back. $ 140

4. Dimmable floor lamp - the top/shade can move to a variety of positions. From the Nintiue Store.

$40.

5. Giantex DeVoko Home Acacia Wood dining table (Feyoon Store). $170.

6. Canalong Washable PU (faux leaather) chairs, set of 4, black. $160.

All of these items, though inexpensive, have good reviews. I tried to word their descriptions so that you could easily find them by typing in those exact phrases on the rainforest search engine. Some of the items are on sale in the colors I've shown but a bit pricier in other colors. Total cost for all of these furnishings is $624 pre-tax. You may want to spend more but these can give you a comfortable space for the time that you spend there. Adding those tall plants you mentioned, some art work that you really like, and maybe a rug in the area with the reading chair will turn that space into a warm environment. 👍

First I would create a defined kitchen area with a kitchen table/cart type piece on wheels. It can double as counter space and eating area.

Something with a fold up/down table would work best. Check out furniture designed specifically for small apartment living. Next you need to seat five to eat but you don't need a couch/seating area??? I would decide if you have the square footage for a dedicated bed or if a fold out sofa/day bed would be the most space efficient. I think I would opt for the couch/daybed double duty item. Then you have your desk area. For a more detailed suggestion you need to map out your space. Give us exact measurements. Before you invest in anything furniture wise you really need to think of long term. Making this space work the most effectively might mean spending some money on items that may not have a use anywhere but in this sort of space. Accessories come last. Curated items you find and love over time will give you the most value. Buying STUFF just to sit around is usually the way to waste the most money quickly.

I think the problem is you know you want to move. And that means you don't want to spend money on necessary items like a rug, a good sofa bed, comfortable chairs, table to entertain friends.... I am surprised that you have lived here for sometime in this chaos. You must be very busy at work or maybe very sad. Life is short, fix up your space and enjoy your surroundings. you deserve it.

Best places to find items for free are FB marketplace, relatives or friends who are cleaning out their homes, garages or storage units. You can even go to habitat for humanity, salvation army or Ebay, Amazon, Ikea...to find affordable items.

If this were my nephew's place I would insist they spend $2000 on these items..

Tropical leaves wall mural easy to remove $127 from Amazon

a sofa day bed from Ikea $879. in dark green

A black shag rug small 5 by 7 from Houzz $87

Lamp from Houzz $77 (splurge as you might be able to get something cheaper at target)

Midmod table and 4 chairs $355

Stemless Wineglasses plastic (unbreakable) $28

anything left over... Spend on a good bottle of wine to entertain your close friends. Have them bring an app to share. Party in your beloved new space.

But no white sofa or it will turn dirty in weeks. You stick to a dark green sofa that matches this mural.

Safavieh Athens Shag Collection, SGA119 Rug, Black, 5'1"x7'6" · More Info

Brightech Sky LED Torchiere Super Bright Floor Lamp - Contemporary Lamp, Dark Br · More Info

LED super bright almost daylight adjusts.

Russell Midcentury Modern 5-Piece Shell Side Chair Dining Set · More Info

Plastic Stemless Wine Glass, Gold Stars, 6/1-Count · More Info

Your wrote: "That said, the goal is to make this place feel more like a home for those 9 months without spending thousands of dollars."

Is your budget $1000? If so, as suggested above, you can buy used furniture on FB Marketplace or get free stuff from a Buy Nothing group. Live plants are often given away free when people move. August and September are traditional lease start/end months.

It's a great space.

Once you decide on furniture, these are things that make a space look homey. Many of these have already been mentioned.

-Use rugs to define spaces and add warm texture. One in your entry would look great as well as the other areas people have mentioned.

-Add floor-level lighting. Floor lamps and lamps on side tables. Right now the lighting in your space is like a store, it's not comfortable or flattering.

-Decorate your walls. Go big but don't hang things too high. The wall decor doesn't have to be fancy. You can use maps, textiles, large shallow baskets or a mural like shown above.

-As you mentioned, a couple of plants will help. Snake plants have a lot of presence and are pretty easy to care for.

-Stay away from gray, it won't play nice with your floors and wall color and can be a more difficult color to decorate around.

What you need is furniture. What's your budget? Do you have a floor plan you can post for layout suggestions? What is the height of your space? Do you like a particular style and colour? Is this a rental or did you buy the apartment? A lot of questions but we need answers to give you valuable suggestions. Is

Lots of info below and hope it’s not overwhelming, but having a plan will help vs buying/setting up randomly. You don’t need to buy that much, as just creating zones/separation will have a huge impact. No matter where you reside, basics are needed to create a functional home, so choose things for the present and future (you can always sell).

1. Define your budget, decide on important pieces, ie: bed, seating, work space/dining, lighting, storage). Can’t figure out what all your pieces are and if not needed, sell.

2. Think outside the box/consider multifunctional pieces.

3. Measure room and on graph paper or tape out on floor - test zone locations and where.

4. Look on line for ideas re: small studios.

5. Now start your search: Marketplace, Structube, Ikea, Marshals/HomeSense, Target and think compact. If you have enough energy lol and money, accessorize. Pick colors and items that resonate with you…and then enjoy your apartment! Good luck.

I’m not as creative as others here but trying to pay forward some of the help I’ve received.
I would recommend a platform bed in a reclaimed wood look for your space. You can also get one of those small breakfast bar tables that would look cool and maximize the space.

I’m not a pro and a lot comes down to how you want to use the space, but the second I saw your pic I imagined a dining table in front of those beautiful windows. If you put the table there it would free up more space in the center of the room for a sofa/daybed (depending on size you might need to pull it forward into the room to avoid hitting the wall protrusions). Do you watch tv? If so, get a tv stand to go next to the desk where you currently have a lot of extra boxes. Get a room divider/screen to go in the corner where the bookcase currently sits and store any clutter behind the screen. As others have said, add rugs, art (make your own!), plants and a kitchen cart. It’s a gorgeous space. Good luck!

Still don't have any room dimensions but here's an idea of how you possibly can set-up your layout. If needed, you can install a freestanding divider between the kitchen and bed area.

With a space this small and needing to function as living/dining/bedroom/office you desperately need an accurate floor plan. If you post the dimensions of the space including the bump outs, etc then someone can show you something that is based in reality. Don’t buy a thing until you have a plan.

Opt for abstract art with flowing, organic shapes in earthy tones. These artworks will complement your color scheme and introduce a modern, sophisticated edge, seamlessly tying your decor together and making the space feel like home.

If you don't renew your lease where will you move to? Will it be a similar space? If so, will recommend that whatever pieces you buy that they be transferrable to your new space. If you will only be here 9 months and will move to a place with more room I might suggest you keep what you have and buy pieces for the next place which hopefully will be more permanent for you.