Consume Consciously

Fast fashion has been a talking point in recent years, but can we be doing more to ensure a throwaway culture doesn't exist at home?

- HUGH METCALF

The world we live in, for better or worse, is steeped in consumer culture. And there’s possibly one example that most defines the 21st century relationship to what we have in our homes – conspicuous consumption. This is the idea that people buy things for the very purpose of showcasing it to others – whether it’s a label, a price tag or just a relevance to what’s new and interesting.

However, talk to any interior designer and you’ll find that’s a mile away from their goals. Interior designers are actually pretty shy about talking in terms of trends – preferring instead to speak of ‘timelessness’ and creating interiors that will endure. Regardless of this intent, it’s down to the end user as to whether these interior schemes actually do. It requires a dedication to what you’ve created, avoiding the temptation to change that comes with a world where we have access to ever-more inspiring homes, at our fingertips, all of the time. Most of all, it requires a change in our relationship with the things we buy. So just how can you ensure your mindset means you buy for your home consciously?

Have you ever bought something in the understanding that you’ll soon throw it away? While you might be more likely to resell or recycle than leave it out on the kerb, this so-called ‘stopgap’ furniture is an interesting component to how our homes evolve. The question is: should you buy something cheap to fulfil a purpose while you look for something better?