“Underconsumption Core” Is the Money-Saving Viral Decor Trend I’m Trying This Year
A new trend is taking over TikTok, and I am (and have been) here for it.
In response to hyperconsumerism, aka buying more stuff than you need, and particularly the stuff owned by everyone on your social feeds, people are showing off the items they already have — from decor items to makeup and clothes to reusable plastic yogurt containers — and calling it “underconsumption core.”
When I first heard the term, I admit it: I was skeptical. It just seemed like a new term to describe practices people have been doing forever. I thought of my grandma who washes her plastic bags, or how shopping for secondhand furniture instead of spending hundreds on one brand-new item is the norm for many Americans who can’t afford to spend that kind of money.
But as I watched videos of this trend and read more about it, I realized that, in a social media universe where TikTokers convince people to buy a new lip balm every week, deciding to instead show off your realistic and normal household is something worth highlighting.
In one “underconsumption core” video, TikToker @sophie_hinn spotlights how her cleaning rags are really just old, cut-up towels; all of her furniture is either “thrifted, gifted, repurposed, [or] family hand-me-downs;” and she uses her grandfather’s canning jars as drinking glasses.
“Underconsumption core” seems to celebrate the items in your home that you use and appreciate every day, which is the most meaningful aspect of this trend to me. I have cherished possessions that I cannot imagine replacing, for cost and sustainability reasons but also because of their sentimental value.
In my continued attempt to not overconsume this year while decorating my bedroom in my college house, here are the things I’m personally planning to reuse:
My beloved broken lamp
My freshman year, my grandma bought me a beautiful white and blue patterned porcelain lamp. It’s adorned all my living spaces since then. Last year, this lamp broke, and I was really upset — I thought it was destined for bulk pickup. But my dad was able to fix it, and I was so relieved! Fixing a trusty lamp saved me from the emotional and fiscal damage of buying a new one.
Handmade art collages
My best friend Kara creates art collages out of magazine cutouts and scrap paper. They make beautiful wall art and are made out of recycled paper!
Hand-me-down furniture
I only spent $55 on furniture for my college house, and this was in part due to all the old furniture I was able to get from my friends and family, instead of buying new.
My thrifted dish collection
Two summers ago, I found the most adorable floral patterned dishes in a thrift store in Brooklyn. They cost me under $20 and have brought me so much joy the past two years!
My herb garden
As someone who enjoys cooking, having fresh herbs on hand is a must. But instead of rebuying packaged herbs, I’ve bought my own basil and thyme plants that I keep alive inside my house.
This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy Therapy. See it there: “Underconsumption Core” Is the Most Inspiring Thrifting-Driven Trend I’ve Seen This Year
