4 Easy Ways to Practice Underconsumption in Your Home Today

Cue ‘Don’t Know Why’ by Norah Jones and try these ideas from the underconsumption core trend.

If your TikTok feed looks anything like ours, you've probably stumbled across an underconsumption core video. Influencers have taken to social media to share ways they cut down on over-consuming in their homes, wardrobes, and lifestyles. With underconsumption core videos gaining more than 2.5 million views, they have us reflecting on how we spend our money and use the products we already have.

Underconsumption core TikToks range from using minimalist home design to donating old items around the house. While the videos and ideas vary, they all center around being intentional and mindful with products you already own instead of buying more. Many videos (like this one from Sophie Hinn, which has over 4.5 million views) talk about purchasing items secondhand and repurposing items you already own. In her TikTok, Jessica Clifton shares that practicing underconsumption helps her to live a more sustainable and intentional life where she focuses on creating rather than consuming.

How to Practice Underconsumption Core

If you want to make shifts toward underconsumption while still having a home that represents your style, keep reading to learn some simple ways to cut down clutter and mindfully decorate your home.

Declutter and Take Stock

According to a TikTok by Raisa Reyes, a underconsumption core influencer, one of the first steps to practicing underconsumption in your home is to declutter and take stock of what you already have. Reyes suggests organizing your like items together in groups. "The function of this is that you're constantly taking stock of what you own in that category, and you can see where you have duplicates. You can see what you need, what you don't need," Reyes says in a TikTok.

The next time you feel the urge to declutter and clean our your closet or garage, consider organizing by groups and decluttering where you have duplicates or don't use a product frequently. Use the same principle when decluttering home and holiday decor.

Decorate Slowly

Underconsumption core influencers like Shelby Orme on TikTok say one way to practice underconsumption in your home is to decorate slowly. Slow decorating means taking time to evaluate your space and needs before you buy anything. While it may be tempting to quickly fill an empty wall with trendy prints and shelves, waiting to purchase certain pieces to make sure they still fit your style and needs will save you time and money in the long run.

One way to actively practice slow decorating is to set a time limit for shopping. For example, if you find an art print or side table you like online, put the item in your cart, but don't automatically purchase it. Wait for at least seven days (or longer—the time frame is up to you) before purchasing the item to ensure you still want to get it, and it wasn't just an impulse buy.

Invest in Quality Pieces

Once you decide to purchase a piece for your home, whether that be furniture or decor, it's important to invest in quality pieces that will last for years. One way to be sure you're investing in quality pieces is by purchasing furniture made from real wood, not particle or fiberboard. If a piece is made from solid wood, it will be more durable, long-lasting, and can be painted and transformed easily.

Another way to make sure you're investing in quality furniture and decor pieces is to consider if it has many uses and forms. For example, a solid wood hutch could be used to hold kitchen supplies, display and store china, used as decor, or can be turned into a coffee bar. A wood credenza could be used as a TV stand, sideboard, or a dining room buffet.

If a piece of furniture has options and many uses, you'll be more likely to use it in the future (and in different homes) compared to a piece that only serves one purpose. If a piece only serves one purpose, like a chair or couch, use the slow decorating rule to truly discover if you need or want that specific piece.

Implement a One in, One out Rule

Another idea to consider if you want to practice underconsumption in your home is the idea of one in, one out. As the name states, this idea means that for every new home, fashion, hobby, or beauty product you purchase, you donate one item you no longer use. By using this idea, you're not limiting yourself to never buying a new item, but you are being mindful about what you're buying and determining if it is worth it to replace an older product you already own—plus you're making sure that the quantity of items you own always stays about the same.

Decorate with Plants

Decorating your space with plants is one of the easiest ways you can practice underconsumption while still having a stylish home. Fill thrifted or repurposed pots, vases, and jars with houseplants. Place them on bookshelves, window sills, mantels, and even in your fireplace to create a unique focal point in a room.

Bigger plants can get expensive, so instead of purchasing multiple, considering propagating plants you already have. That way, you are adding to your plant collection without overspending.

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