Aside from work, it's where we spend most of our time. But the apartment is a space that is all too often neglected.

To some of us, transforming barren white walls into a fantastic living space seems as difficult a task as learning Farsi or training for a marathon. Renters in high-priced urban areas often face one-room, square-shaped studios that are easily overwhelmed by furniture. Or perhaps sprucing up a place where you're only going to live for a year seems like a waste of time and money.

Yet a great home interior is less of a commitment than you think, according to Gina Gaetano, a 26 year-old interior decorator based in New York. Gaetano related some basic and practical advice for whipping your apartment into shape.

GET CREATIVE WITH PAINT:

Gaetano says defining separate living areas with color and texture is the most important step in creating a hospitable apartment. There are a number of different ways you can make the most of the space in even the tiniest studio.

"The biggest thing to remember is that if you don't like something and you're working with paint, it's not going to cost you anything to try it again," Gaetano said. "When you're renting, I say paint the walls right when you move in, and you'll at least have it for a whole year."

• If you live in an apartment with multiple rooms, consider painting each room a different color. Tie the rooms together with something small that is the same color, leaving the wall trim and ceilings white. For instance, a teapot in the kitchen, or a lampshade in the bedroom can be the simple coalescing pieces that brings the rooms together.

• For ceilings that are above 9 feet, try painting the top four inches a color that is a few shades lighter than the wall to create the illusion of crown molding. Most renters don't want to spend a lot on architectural details, but this border adds a lot of interest to what would normally be a streamlined space.

• If your bedroom is small, paint a headboard on the wall. Gaetano recommends choosing a color a few shades lighter than that of your wall. "You can make it really ornate, you can keep it really simple by just painting a rectangle, you can do all sorts of curves. It's a space-saving solution and that's great, but it's also a really inexpensive way to add a little bit of drama in your room," she said.

CHOOSE YOUR FURNITURE WISELY:

Choosing the right furniture can be a daunting task. For small apartments Gaetano recommends sticking to small-scale furniture with some pieces having open backs or furniture on legs to increase the space in the room.

"The idea of an overstuffed sofa might seem really comfortable, but it overwhelms the room so easily," she said. "Most people in apartments don't have that much room. If you have a few pieces that are lower it's going to help visually increase the ceiling height. Furniture on legs, open-back chairs or glass tables also help increase the size of the room because its not blocking your view. A big upholstered chair, you can't see through it, so the space stops there."

Vary the height of your furniture, and don't be afraid to mix. If you find pieces that can work "double duty," such as a dining table that folds down into a console table for your living room, you'll have a dramatic savings in space.

THE SMALL STUFF MATTERS:

Small fixtures can make a big difference. Intricate knobs or handles on a set of chested drawers can dress it up, also adding a creative visual to a standard piece of furniture. Gaetano suggests investing in a couple nice lighting fixtures. "Standard apartment fixtures usually lack interest and personality," she said. "Purchase a few you love and if you are renting you can always take them with you to your next place. Just be sure to save the original fixtures so you can hang them back up when you move."

asap contributor Tracee Herbaugh is an editorial assistant on the AP's international desk.

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