Most first apartments look cluttered because people buy 12 cheap things instead of 3 that look like they belong.

Start with a surface. One. The coffee table or the kitchen counter — not both.

Put a mug you actually like on it. Put a candle next to it. Leave everything else off.

That's it. That's the difference between a dorm and a home. You can add later. You cannot un-clutter later without throwing money away.

If your place still looks temporary, it's not because you need a couch. It's because nothing in the room looks like you chose it on purpose.