12 Ways to Achieve Underconsumption Core in Your Home

This post shows you 12 ways to achieve underconsumption-core in your home.

Ready to embrace underconsuption?

We’ve got all the info and ideas for achieving a underconsumption-core home.

From bringing new life to items in your space to personalized artwork, we’ve got all the inspo.

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What is Underconsumption?

Underconsumption is a lifestyle choice characterized by purposefully reducing the level of consumption of goods to simply meet the requirements for minimal or essential living.

Although underconsumption applies to a variety of life such as clothes, food and daily life, this post will discuss ideas for bringing underconsumption-core into your home and decor.

Create an intentional and fulfilling home with less using these helpful tips!

How to start underconsumption

Being intentional is a key aspect of underconsumption, determining the home you want and the styles you like is the first step on your journey.

Styles and trends come and go and with them, so does the consumption of home decor. When following underconsumption functionality and quality should drive decisions of what to buy for your home. Quality doesn’t always have to mean high cost either, opt for thrift shops and secondhand furniture stores to curate furniture pieces that will stand the test of time.

Underconsumption vs minimalism

Although they have their similarities, there are distinct features that seperate underconsumption and minimalism.

Underconsumption refers to making conscious choices to reduce purchasing of unnecessary or frivolous items in an environmental act.
Minimalism on the other hand, is a lifestyle philosophy that promotes living with fewer possessions, creating simplicity and less cluttered environments.
While choosing to buy fewer clothes or decor items a home may feel more minimalistic but the two concepts are not mutually exclusive. The intention behind either lifestyle is similar but they differ in that minimalism focuses on creating a calm and clear environment whereas underconsumption focuses on necessity and need.

Underconsumption core ideas for your home

1. Themes

credit: canva

As mentioned previously when working with underconsumption in mind, it’s important to find a theme or style that is timeless to you.

In the above image a neutral palette with rustic pieces has been created that consistently exudes calm and serenity. Consider incorporating personal pieces in the room that hold lasting sentiment to you, then those pieces will never go out of fashion!

2. Artwork

Speaking of personal touch, why not bring your own style to your home by creating your own artwork, another great but simple example of how to create lasting pieces in your home.

Not a artsy person, why not check out your local thrift or secondhand store to find donated artwork instead!

3. Vintage

Thrifting is a great way to encorporate more timeless decor and furniture pieces into your home

Its super easy to fall into the trap of overconsumption when less expensive furniture is just not built to last. That’s where thrift shops and secondhand stores come in, give new life to gorgeous vintage pieces of furniture or decor and underconsume at the same time, its a win-win!

4. Plants

This living room space is a perfect example of how underconsumption doesn’t have to feel minimalist!

Because of their longevity and durability plants are the perfect decor item. Unlike many other pieces of decor that may tarnish or become “out-dated” over time, with proper care plants can last for many years making them a great sustainable choice.
Also we’re loving the use of a straw hat as some wall decor – amazing!

5. Shelves

Functional decor is another key ingredient in underconsumption. It involves using items that serve a practical purpose as decorative pieces. For example, a book or couch throw can be both functional and aesthetic items.

Thoughtfully arranging these items can transform shelves from a random assortment of items to an intentional and stylish display.

6. Macramé

You can’t go wrong with a little macramé. Create your own functional decor with macramé, using long-lasting materials such as cotton or jute you can add a special touch to something simple like a plant pot or create a piece of wall art.

The possibilities with macramé are endless – incorporate recycled fabrics or leftover materials and weave them in to add flare and create one-of-a-kind pieces. Why not include unique elements like shells or odd buttons and colorful beads to add an extra touch to the design.

7. Bathroom

Reusable soap dispensers in your bathroom is a prime example of underconsumption. Opting for reusable dispensers reduces single-use plastic waste which helps the environment but we also think it’s a great way to elevate your bathroom decor. Consider glass or metal dispensers as these are more long-lasting.

If you are using bar soap why not consider using a soap holder, not only will this keep the soap from staining or sticking to your sink or side but it will also help to extend the lifespan of the soap itself.

8. Photo frames

photo frames with pictures hanging on wall

So simple you might just overlook it!

Framed photographs are another excellent, timeless way to decorate your home. Use mismatched secondhand frames from thrift shops and pair them with new and vintage photos of places or beloved relatives. This approach is not only a sustainable way to decorate but it’s also a way to celebrate your personal history and share cherished memories with visiting guests.

9. Kitchen

We love this example of how jars can be given new life and up-cycled for a new purpose.

After finishing with the jar and its original contents, simply wash out any residue, and just like that, you have a new drinking glass, small vase, or—like in the image above—a serving pot, perfect for sauces, dips, or jams. This idea not only extends the life of the jar but also adds a unique touch to your home’s glassware or decor.

10. Furniture

Embrace the unique with mismatched furniture – find special individual pieces and create your own one-of-a-kind couch set.

Mix and match different colors, patterns, and styles to create a unique and personalized look. This approach not only offers a budget-friendly way to acquire distinctive furniture pieces but also provides options that might not be available in standard furniture stores.

11. Bedroom

We just love this underconsumption-core bedroom idea!

Wooden pallets commonly used to store or transport goods are an amazing tool for re-purposing in your home. Like in this bedroom, wooden pallets can be up-cycled into a bed frame. They are typically low cost and are often discarded after use, so are both budget-friendly and eco-friendly option for creating your own furniture exactly how you want it.

12. Up-cycled

See potential in new ways – underconsumption means looking at something in a new light, seeing the potential something can have not just its primary function.

Here is an excellent example of up-cycling in a unique way, taking a secondhand ladder and creating a plant display. Take this example and run with it, when you visit a thrift shop or secondhand store look beyond the obvious and envision the potential of the items you find.

Underconsumption core – the 2024 trend

Even though underconsumption inherently goes against trends – it has ironically become a trend itself recently. Despite this, underconsumption-core holds great potential to foster a more ethical relationship between people and consumption.

Although it is considered a lifestyle choice there are a lot of simple ways that you can introduce underconsumption into your life without making a complete transformation. Two key things to remember are intentional buying and upcycling items.

Happy sustainable living and enjoy embracing underconsumption!