An apartment is not a place that you own, it's a place that you live in for a year or two and then move on.  Because it's a transition space, it's more difficult to decorate. You can ask permission to paint, but normally the landlords aren't too crazy about people putting their personal touch on the rooms.  Even without paint, there are ways to make your space look personal and fantastic if you know a few tricks. 

Adding color without paint is easy with bold accessories.  Take Pottery Barn for example, they have thousands of images on their web site of all of the new throw pillows, blankets, candles, and home organization tools.  Take the photos from the Pottery Barn web site as a model and find items from discount home stores, such as Ross or TJ Maxx, that look similar to what you are trying to achieve.  Try a huge collage of frames in the same color but different styles, add a home organization center with a dry erase board and a big calendar, or hang candles on the wall.  Bold colored blankets on the couch that contrast with different patterns and colors of throw pillows can really bring a plain living area to life.

Apartments generally have plain rug floors, so find a great area rug to really jazz up your space.  A modern area rug such as this Grey Black circles area rug can be stunning in a room with cream/black and white.  Area rugs are a must have in apartments, as they will make your floor feel cleaner if your rug is worn and add color if your walls are bland. 

Be sure to add curtains to your windows.  Apartments use blinds for the most part, and curtains will give your space a very cozy feel. Don't be too matchy with curtains and accessories, as it will give the room a uniform feel when you want something modern or contemporary.

Painting is definitely the one way to completely alter a room. There are so many different colors to choose from that it would be impossible not to alter the look and feel of your space with paint.  If you can't paint, then you need to get more creative with your accessories.

Imagine blank white walls and a plain beige rug.  How do you alter the look of that room without painting? Accessories, plain and simple.

Add a huge, colorful, vibrant area rug to your living room.  Choose colors that you want to work with, and go as bold as you can for an immediate different look. Circles and Stripes is an area rug that is colorful red/orange.  This rug would look great in a room with a dark, brown couch.  It evokes feelings of fall and the changing leaves. 

Avoid accessories that you are used to seeing every day.  Toss out your old throw pillows and add new ones.  Buy a few expensive picture frames and get rid of the bargain store frames.  Splurge on a few luxurious throw blankets to keep you cozy by the fire.  Change up your curtains to something funky and fabulous. 

Furniture placement is also something that can change a room. Move your furniture around to different spots.  If possible, add one new piece to the room, whether it is a desk or a new lamp.

Painting is not always neccesary; you too can change your room without a paint brush and a little imagination.