Lagom: The Minimalist Concept For All Your Renovation Projects | Renovation Quotes
By Amanda Harvey
Updated on November 8, 2023
After the excesses of the holiday season and at the start of a new year, society becomes captivated with making resolutions that often manifest in better lifestyle choices: people look to live cleaner and more efficiently while still indulging in their passions. In this regard, the Swedish concept of "Lagom" is currently trending: an ethos of moderation and minimalism.
The word roughly translates to "just the right amount," prescribing an approach to life. Lagom focuses on sustainability, minimalism and balance in both lifestyle choices as well as the rooms of our home.
In celebration of the new year, RenoQutoes.com offers unique ways to incorporate the concept of Lagom into your 2020 renovation projects!
Here are 4 tips to renovate your house according to the Lagom concept
Get Organized!
New year, new you! Lagom encourages participants to organize and declutter their homes. If you were in tune with the Scandinavian mindset of Hygge from the previous year, then you're one step ahead of the rest. Both Hygge and Lagom embody a minimalist approach to furnishing one's home. In the case of the latter, engaging with the ethos requires organization.
Build an elegant open concept shelving unit for your kitchen or bedroom and fill it with only the most necessary items to share Lagoms minimalist mindset. Instead of hiding stuff away, and attempting to forget about it, bring everything out into plain sight! This way, you'll make completely sure that the items staring you in the face are things you actually use and require, helping with the decluttering process.
Minimalist Mindset
As we've already considered, it's important to think about organization, moderation and balance in one's home, and the Lagom attitude requires an austere approach. The minimalist mindset has been much loved for decades, thinking specifically about clean lines and monochromatic design with pops of colour. As well, it's time to think about incorporating natural materials into your home decor such as marble, wood, clay and metals.
Materials that have been harvested from the earth are generally durable, and even if you're shelling out a few extra dollars to work with them, it'll only add to the overall value of your home. This year, consider installing granite or marble countertops! Unlike synthetic materials, these natural stones maintain lustre and resist staining, while adding to the resale value of your home.
Practice Sustainability at Home
source: Flickr, Jeremy Levine
Our society becomes more and more environmentally conscious daily. Slowly, we are shifting away from the "bigger is better" model and towards practicality, good design and green construction. Lagom looks directly to eco-friendly living and incorporates saving energy and water, as well as reducing waste and recycling into its ethos.
The goal is to live a healthier lifestyle, and our health begins at home. Practicing sustainability doesn't have to be costly, and although there might be some initial costs, green living saves money in the long run.
Sustainable products and building materials will improve quality of life, affecting aspects of the home such as air quality, airflow, heating, cooling and water conservation. Consider painting using a clay-based or low VOC paint.
Low VOC paints are earth-friendly and help to eliminate toxins. Incorporate bamboo, cork and cotton into the products you purchase and consider looking deeper into all the ways in which you can make your home an environmentally friendly place.
Upcycle and Buy Reclaimed Materials
When considering the Lagom mindset, think about creative ways that you can reuse or transform furniture and materials that you already own. Upcycling and refashioning items in your home is green living, and living green has a positive impact on both the environment and the individual state of mind.
Think about incorporating materials such as reclaimed wood for countertops, flooring and walls. If you are considering a full-on renovation, favour salvaging and reusing things you find around you including light fixtures, cabinets and moulding. For the items that you can afford to part with, make sure you donate rather than throwing them into the garbage. Donation is a great way to give back to the community while practicing being environmentally friendly.
Get 3 renovation quotes for your Lagom inspired renovation project
RenoQuotes.com can help you get quotes for your lagom inspired renovation project. If you submit your project to us, we’ll put you in contact with top-rated contractors. Fill in the form on the homepage (it only takes a few minutes), and you will receive quotes from companies that are specialized in home renovations.
Dial 1-844 828-1588 to speak with one of our customer service representatives
Looking for something else?
Related articles
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
Amanda Harvey
•08 Nov 2023
A fence protects the exterior of your home, and when well maintained, can add some serious curb appeal to any property. Since this structure is left outside day and night, it comes up against some severe conditions: snow, rain, sleet, heat, both freezing and melting water. Therefore, it's only natural that the paint on an outdoor fence should easily wear and fade.
Editorial Team
•02 Apr 2026
Yet another year has begun, and for a lot of people, the new year is synonymous with a need for change, especially when it comes to home decor. Renovation experts and interior designers observe trends that change from year to year, those that come and go, according to aesthetic preferences and present-day needs.
Editorial Team
•08 Nov 2023
For city dwellers who live in multi-storey buildings, the balcony makes the outside world accessible. It’s a little corner where we can rest, a place to enjoy the sun and maybe even, to set up a small garden. Houses located in the countryside or in the suburbs are also sometimes equipped with balconies, but their role is less important. This is because the occupants of the house generally have access to a yard or other large green spaces.
Cynthia Pigeon
•01 Sep 2026
A true centrepiece of contemporary Quebec homes, the kitchen island has evolved significantly over the past decade. Once simply a wood or laminate prep surface, it has become a multifunctional hub that can include cooking appliances, an undermount sink, a dishwasher, and multiple charging points for electronic devices.
Editorial Team
•07 Oct 2026
Is your home becoming too small, but you don’t want to move? Adding a room, expanding the kitchen, or building an additional storey can help you gain space while adapting your property to your needs.