Although having roommates will save you money on everyday living expenses, doesn't everyone just wait in anticipation for the day that roommates are no longer required? Making your own mark on an apartment is a true sign of adulthood, although generally when you have the funds to have your own place, you don't have the money to really decorate well.

If you are able to paint your walls, an excellent color scheme for a smaller apartment is blue/brown.  There are many shades of blue that don't make you think of baby boys when you are in them, and blue/brown is a popular color combo in new homes.  Find a shade that has grey undertones and isn't that dark.  Dark colors in small rooms will quickly make you feel claustrophobic. 

If you don't have the funds for a new couch, invest in a good slipcover instead.  There are many different styles and shapes of slipcovers, and any large home decor store will have a wide variety for you to choose from.  Find yourself some great accent pillows that focus on the colors from the couch and the walls as well.

Every room needs a great piece that draws your eye, and in a small apartment there is no better focal point than a large area rug.  Purchase a rug that is striking in pattern such as the Blue and Beige Contemporary Area Rug.  A rug such as this one will really bring your room together.

Storage is always an issue in a small apartment, so while shopping search out pieces with a dual purpose such as ottomans with storage inside, coat racks for your front door, or coffee tables and shelving that you can line with baskets.