When I moved into my 500-square-foot studio apartment two years ago, I was obsessed with the "simple life" aesthetic I saw all over TikTok and Pinterest: crisp white linens, matching neutral ceramic vases, gallery walls of minimalist abstract art, and zero clutter anywhere in sight. I blew $800 in my first month alone on trendy decor from big box stores and online shops, convinced that a simple, calm home had to come with a big price tag.
Six months later, I was drowning in stuff I barely used: a $40 set of "minimalist" coasters that scratched my coffee table, three generic abstract prints that all looked identical to my neighbor's, and a $120 jute rug that shed so much it covered my entire black couch in fuzz within a week. My apartment didn't feel calm or simple---it felt like a showroom I was paying to maintain, and I was spending hours every week tidying up stuff I didn't even like.
That's when I realized the biggest myth about the simple life aesthetic: it doesn't require expensive, matching, mass-produced decor. In fact, the most intentional, calm spaces are almost always the ones filled with small, handmade, upcycled pieces that have a story behind them. Over the past year, I've transformed my apartment into a space that actually feels like home, using almost entirely DIY, affordable decor that cost me less than $150 total---no fancy tools, no crafting experience, and no sacrificing the soft, uncluttered vibe I wanted. All of these projects take less than an hour to complete, most cost $0 if you use materials you already have, and they fit the simple life aesthetic perfectly, no fuss, no extra clutter required.
Upcycled thrifted wooden trays as gallery wall art
Thrift stores are full of old wooden serving trays, cutting boards, and even damaged picture frames for $2 to $5 each, and they make the perfect base for one-of-a-kind wall art that looks far more expensive than it is. All you need is a sheet of sandpaper and a clear sealant (or a leftover can of paint in a soft neutral like oatmeal, sage, or warm white, if you want to change the color). Sand down any rough edges or chipped paint, seal the wood to protect it, and hang 2 to 3 trays in a loose cluster on your wall. I found three old wooden trays at my local thrift store for $4 each last summer: one was a chipped 1970s serving tray with a little flower design on the bottom, one was a plain oak cutting board, and one was a damaged picture frame with a cracked glass pane (I removed the glass and just used the wooden frame). I sanded them down, sealed them with a leftover clear coat I had in my garage, and hung them above my couch. Every time I have guests over, they ask where I bought the "custom wall art," and I love telling them it's all thrifted. Total cost for the whole gallery wall: $12, and it's way more personal than any generic print I could have bought for $50 a piece. This fits the simple aesthetic perfectly because it adds texture and visual interest without being cluttered or fussy, and it doesn't require you to buy new, mass-produced decor that will end up in a landfill in a few years.
Dried foraged or grocery store botanicals in reused glass jars
You don't need to spend $30 on a fancy dried flower arrangement to add a soft, natural touch to your space. Forage for free botanicals in your area: eucalyptus branches, pampas grass, wild grasses, or even lavender from a friend's garden all dry beautifully with zero effort. If you don't have access to foraged plants, grab a cheap $3 bundle of fresh eucalyptus or baby's breath from the grocery store, tie the stems upside down with a piece of twine, and leave them to dry for 3 to 5 days. Skip the fancy vases entirely: use old jam jars, pasta sauce jars, empty glass candle holders, or any other clear glass containers you already have. No need to buy new storage for your botanicals. I have a small jar of dried lavender I foraged from my mom's garden on my kitchen windowsill, and a jar of dried eucalyptus from the grocery store on my entryway table. They add a soft, natural touch to my space without taking up any extra space, and they cost me $3 total. No fuss, no clutter, just a small, calming detail that makes my home feel lived-in and warm.
Thrifted ceramic mugs as small planters
Mismatched ceramic mugs are one of the most common items at thrift stores, and they cost $1 each on average---far cheaper than the $15 to $20 cute ceramic planters you'll find at home goods stores. You can leave them exactly as they are for a cozy, vintage vibe, or paint a simple line, dot, or tiny design on the rim with leftover acrylic paint if you want to add a custom touch. They're perfect for small succulents, herbs, or even tiny wildflowers you pick on a walk. I have four mismatched white mugs I got for $1 each at my local thrift store. I painted a tiny sage green line on the rim of each one on a rainy Saturday afternoon, and they hold my small succulents on my kitchen shelf. They look far more intentional than a set of matching plastic planters, and every time I look at them, I remember the afternoon I made them with my roommate, instead of just thinking about how much I paid for them.
Repurposed t-shirt or jute rope coasters
Those generic seagrass or marble coasters at home goods stores can cost $40 for a set of six, but you can make your own for $0 using old t-shirts you were going to donate, or $5 for a roll of jute rope if you don't have old shirts lying around. If you're using old t-shirts: cut them into 1-inch wide strips, braid three strips together into a long braid, then coil the braid into a circle and hot glue the edges to hold it in place. If you're using jute rope: coil the rope into a circle, hot gluing each layer to the one below it as you go. You can leave them as is for a natural, neutral look, or paint the edges with a soft color to match your decor. I made a set of six coasters out of old white t-shirts I was going to donate last winter. They look almost exactly like the expensive seagrass coasters I saw at a store a few months ago, but they cost me nothing, and I love that I made them myself instead of buying something that would have eventually worn out and ended up in the trash.
Free wooden produce crates as floating shelves or side tables
Local grocery stores, farmer's markets, and coffee shops often give away wooden produce crates for free, or you can pick them up for $2 to $5 at most hardware stores. All you need to do is sand down any rough edges, seal them with a clear coat (or leave them raw for a more rustic, natural look), and either hang them on the wall as floating shelves, or stack two or three of them to make a side table or storage unit. I got two free wooden produce crates from the farmer's market down the street from my apartment last spring. I sanded them down and sealed them with a leftover clear coat I had from a previous project, then hung them on the wall above my desk to hold my notebooks, plants, and my favorite mug. They look far more high-end than the generic particle board floating shelves I was looking at online for $50 each, and they didn't cost me a dime.
The simple aesthetic isn't about perfection---it's about intention
A lot of people get caught up in thinking the simple life aesthetic means having a perfectly curated, Pinterest-worthy home with no clutter and all matching decor. But the whole point of embracing a simple life is to stop chasing perfection and start surrounding yourself with things that actually matter to you. Your DIY tray gallery wall doesn't have to be perfectly straight. Your dried flower jars don't have to look exactly like the ones you see on Instagram. Your mismatched mug planters don't have to match your existing decor. The beauty of the simple aesthetic is that it's personal: it's about filling your space with small, meaningful pieces that make you happy, instead of buying stuff just to fill empty walls or shelves. I've had guests over who told me my apartment looks "so put together," and I always laugh, because half the stuff in my space is DIY, mismatched, or a little lopsided. But it's mine, it's functional, and it doesn't add any unnecessary stress to my life---exactly what the simple life aesthetic is supposed to be.
If you're intimidated by the idea of DIY, start small: grab a $2 thrifted tray and a sheet of sandpaper this weekend, or dry a cheap bundle of eucalyptus in some old jam jars. You don't need fancy tools, crafting experience, or a big budget to create a calm, simple home you love. The best decor isn't the most expensive kind---it's the kind that means something to you.