We Made This Life

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Family
    • Parenting & Family
    • Pregnancy
    • Personal
    • Kids Activities
    • Pets
  • Food
    • Food
    • Meal Planning
    • Weaning Recipes
  • Home & Lifestyle
    • Healthy Living
    • Interiors
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Crafts
    • Cleaning
    • Organising
    • Money
    • Gift Ideas
    • Free Printables
  • Collaborations
    • Standard Competition Terms and Conditions
    • Discount Codes & Offers
  • About
    • How I Became A Blogger
    • Work With Me - PR and Media Pack
    • Instagram Bio
  • Policies
    • Terms of Website Use
    • Disclosure
    • Disclaimers
    • Acceptable Use Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Shop
    • E-mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Family
      • Parenting & Family
      • Pregnancy
      • Personal
      • Kids Activities
      • Pets
    • Food
      • Food
      • Meal Planning
      • Weaning Recipes
    • Home & Lifestyle
      • Healthy Living
      • Interiors
      • Fashion / Beauty
      • Crafts
      • Cleaning
      • Organising
      • Money
      • Gift Ideas
      • Free Printables
    • Collaborations
      • Standard Competition Terms and Conditions
      • Discount Codes & Offers
    • About
      • How I Became A Blogger
      • Work With Me - PR and Media Pack
      • Instagram Bio
    • Policies
      • Terms of Website Use
      • Disclosure
      • Disclaimers
      • Acceptable Use Policy
      • Cookie Policy
    • Shop
    • E-mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Creating a Minimalist Look on a Budget

    Jan 23, 2017 by Ali · 3 Comments

    If you are a fan of Scandinavian chic, but do not have the budget to be able to buy a Michael Malmborg chair, or Peder Moos pieces, you are in the right place. This quick article will tell you how to achieve the crisp, clean, minimalist look you are after, even if you are on a tight budget.

    Buy your Scandinavian furniture on the High Street

    The fact that the Nordic style is so popular right now means that you will have no problem at all buying suitable furniture. Most of the larger home-furnishing retailers are selling this style.

    It is also possible to pick up some classic pieces from second hand, and antique shops. The fact that this furniture was so well made in the first place means that most of it has aged well, so you will not have to do much work to make it look pristine again. Rubbing down and re-oiling or varnishing a nice table or chair, is something that most homeowners have the skills to be able to do well.

    Keep the colour palette light

    Key to the minimalist look is the use of white or muted colours. The light the palette you choose the cleaner, and simpler the room will look.

    modern living room

    Planned storage

    To pull off the minimalist look you have to have a space for every item. If you leave books, chargers and shoes lying around you will definitely ruin the overall look and feel of the room.

    Therefore, you need to maximise the amount of storage you have available. Every little helps. For example, choosing side tables that have a little drawer built in is a good move, because it means that you can unplug your phone cable, and stow it away. You can find some fantastic hidden storage tips on this page.

    Flooring

    The fact that the floor takes up a high percentage of the surface area of a room means that it is something that you have to pay particular attention to. If you get this element of your home decor wrong, you can easily ruin the whole look.

    Laminate or wood flooring are particularly good choices for a minimalist style of home. If you buy it from somewhere like, Discount Flooring Depot finding the right type is easy. A light grey wood finish, pine or white tile effect floor can both work for a Scandinavian style home.

    grey laminate

    Add a few personal touches

    With this kind of room, little touches are particularly important. If you are not careful, you can easily end up with a cold, white, impersonal space. It will look good, but will be difficult for you to feel comfortable, and completely relax in a room like this.

    The best way to avoid this problem is to add some personal touches. Simple things like including a few framed photos of family members or a few nice ornaments will make a huge difference. Of course, it is important not to overdo things. You do not want the room to look cluttered, but you also do not want completely bare walls and surfaces.

    bottle ornaments

    As you can see, creating a Scandinavian look is possible, even on the tightest budget.

    Like this post? Pin it for later...

      minimalist style on a budget

    Disclosure - this is a collaborative post.

    More Your Home

    • A cosy living room with a beige sofa, wooden coffee table, potted plant, and a gallery wall featuring meaningful art and framed photos above the settee—perfect for those who love thoughtful home décor.
      Simple Ways to Display Your Favourite Photos at Home
    • Modern kitchen with dark wood cabinets, wall cabinets, open shelving, potted plants, glass-front cupboards, a sink, and a large island with seating—combining style and the benefits of smart storage.
      Planning Your Dream Kitchen? Start With the Right Materials
    • Person wearing orange gloves cleans a computer keyboard with a cloth on a brown desk, highlighting the importance of office cleanliness and maintaining proper office desk hygiene.
      A Typical Office Desk Can Be Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat: Fact or Myth?
    • A person waters plants with a garden hose, spraying water over green leaves and foliage in an outdoor setting, ensuring effective garden irrigation for healthy growth.
      Why Backflow Prevention Matters in Garden Watering Systems

    About Ali

    Hi I'm Ali, a vegan mummy of four from Wales in the UK. I love reading, cooking, writing, interiors and photography, all of which I share on here. I also make videos on my YouTube channel. Come and follow us and share our journey.

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Becky says

      January 24, 2017 at 7:58 am

      Some great tips her I love a minimilat look but am SO untidy!

      Reply
    2. RachelSwirl says

      January 29, 2017 at 9:50 pm

      some great tips, we have tried our best to make a minimal office area.

      Reply
      • We Made This Life says

        January 30, 2017 at 9:23 pm

        That's hard to do with an office area - mine is so messy at the moment!

        Reply
    A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a purple blouse and layered necklaces, smiles at the camera outdoors, standing beside a modern sideboard.

    Hey, I'm Ali!

    I'm a mum of four living in Wales. I share interiors, recipes, parenting tips and lots more. I also have a popular YouTube channel if you want to see more of us!

    About Ali
    weekly newsletter

    Autumn - Cosy season is here!

    • Dry autumn leaves scattered on a weathered wooden deck set the perfect scene for outdoor preparation, making your outdoor space feel truly autumn ready.
      Getting Your Outdoor Space Autumn Ready
    • A person adjusts an autumn wreath with orange and brown leaves on a black metal door, adding a festive feeling to their home.
      Family Ideas To Spark The Festive Feeling This Autumn
    • Enjoy this Fall Bingo game featuring autumn illustrations like a mushroom, owl, turkey, pumpkin, and corn, plus a "FREE SPACE" in the center. Perfect as a free printable for festive gatherings!.
      Free Fall Fun Bingo Game Printable (Instant PDF)
    • Close-up of pink and white tulips with a soft-focus background, perfect for spring gardening.
      When to Plant Tulip Bulbs: Why Autumn-Winter is Suitable for Tulip Planting
    Discount Codes

    Top 10 Posts

    • A hand pours white powder from a purple packet of Collagen Peptides into a clear glass containing purple liquid, against a light purple background.
      Hydrolyzed Bovine Collagen Peptides: An Easy Addition to Everyday Wellness
    • Close-up of a light-skinned person’s blue eye, showing detailed eyelashes, eyebrow, and smooth skin—an ideal image to highlight the benefits of Castor Oil for natural eye care.
      Natural Eye Care: What to Know About Using Castor Oil Around the Eyes
    • Two women in business attire look at a laptop screen together, one pointing at the screen with a pen, as they discuss the latest advancements in breastfeeding technology, including a smart breast pump with app connectivity, in an office setting.
      Breast Pump with App - What Actually Helps Day to Day
    • Close-up of a couple holding hands, one in a white, beaded dress holding a bouquet, the other in a black suit wearing a watch and wedding ring.
      The Details That Make a Wedding Feel Truly Personal
    • Person holding a financial report and pointing at a laptop screen displaying share charts and market data in an office setting, illustrating the process of starting to trade futures and analyse opportunities in futures trading.
      Things You Should Know Before Starting to Trade Futures
    • A collage of six manicured hands with various back to school nail designs, centred around text reading “Back to School Nail Designs 2026.”.
      Back to School Nail Designs and Ideas 2026
    • Two female healthcare professionals wearing masks talk to a young girl in a medical surgery, with medicine packs and a clipboard on the table, highlighting the compassionate care provided to children facing paediatric brain cancer and the profound impact on families.
      Understanding Pediatric Brain Cancer and Its Impact on Families
    • A modern living room with a grey sofa, scatter cushions, and a coffee table with candles exudes stylish comfort, while creative lighting like purple LED lights and EL Wire accents on the wall add a vibrant touch. Shelves with plants and home décor items are also visible.
      EL Wire: Creative Lighting Ideas for Home Décor, Parties, and DIY Projects
    • An adult and a child walk hand in hand towards a lake at sunset, surrounded by trees and warm orange light—capturing a perfect moment for those seeking family photography tips.
      12 Simple Family Photography Tips for Capturing Everyday Memories
    • A family of four poses by a swimming pool with a large pink inflatable flamingo, all smiling and making peace signs on a sunny day.
      How Family and Lifestyle Creators Can Make Instagram Content More Engaging and Memorable

    Can't see what you're looking for?

    or browse by category

    Home
    Food
    Crafts
    Parenting

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme