Are you familiar with the Diderot Effect? Even if you don’t have a name for it, I’m willing to bet you’ve experienced its effects on your life. Most of us have. It’s a common side effect of a consumer culture that conditions us to want new things, even when our old things are perfectly fine.
Read on to learn about the Diderot Effect, and get tips on how you can control its impact on your life.
What is the Diderot effect?
The Diderot Effect is what happens when a new possession makes our old things look bad so we feel a need to replace them all.
I personally experienced the Diderot Effect years ago when we renovated our bathroom. I made the mistake of taking a piece of the new bathroom flooring and placing it on our kitchen floor. That shiny new flooring made our kitchen floor look old and shabby.
Soon after, we ended up replacing the kitchen floor. Now, it was old and starting to show wear but did it really need to be replaced?
Diderot strikes again!
Who was Diderot?
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher and writer from the 1700s. In his essay Regrets on parting with my old dressing gown, he told the story of getting rid of an old dressing gown after receiving a new one as a gift. He quickly realized that his surroundings didn’t match the new, luxurious, scarlet dressing gown so he went about replacing his furniture, the artwork on the wall, and pretty much everything else he owned.
After Diderot replaced all of this possessions, he realized his new dressing gown was uncomfortable and he had become a slave to it. He longed for his old, comfortable dressing gown—and the old comfortable surroundings that went along with it.
My friends, keep your old friends. My friends, fear the touch of wealth. Let my example teach you a lesson. Poverty has its freedoms; opulence has its obstacles.
Denis Diderot
Examples of the Diderot Effect
Diderot’s story may be extreme but I’m pretty sure you have similar stories. Let’s look at some examples…
- You buy a new dress and just have to have new shoes to go with it. Then, of course you need a new handbag to match the new shoes…
- You paint your living room, and it makes your kitchen look shabby so you paint the kitchen. Then, of course, you have to paint the front hallway, the dining room…
- You buy your kids new backpacks for school and they complain that their pencil cases and lunch bags don’t match, so you buy them new pencil cases and lunch bags. Then, of course, you can’t put their old pencils in new pencil cases so you buy new pencils, pens…
Are you starting to get the idea? Even if we’ve never heard the name before, it’s hard to deny the impact of the Diderot effect on our lives.
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How to overcome the Diderot Effect
So, what steps can you take to break out of this endless cycle of consumption? Here are six ideas.
Recognize it before it happens
The first step to breaking the cycle is to be aware of the Diderot Effect and stop it in its tracks. Don’t let every new item start an endless spiral of purchases.
When we renovated our kitchen several years ago, we resisted the temptation to buy new appliances when our old ones were perfectly fine. Guess what! We kept our old stove until a couple of years ago, and we still have the same fridge.
Each time you buy something new, remind yourself that the other items you’re feeling tempted to replace were perfectly fine until now—and probably still are.
Practise mindful shopping
Mindful shopping is about being fully aware of your thoughts and feelings before purchasing a new item. It requires you to consciously question if you truly need something.
Before buying anything, stop and ask yourself a few mindful shopping questions. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, you’ll decide you don’t really need the item.
Buy new items that compliment what you already have
When you do need to buy something new, finding pieces that compliment what you already own will reduce the temptation to replace perfectly good things.
For example, instead of buying a new suit, blouse, shoes, handbag and jewellery for that job interview or special occasion, perhaps you could spruce up an old suit with a nice new blouse, and wear accessories you already have. Similarly, adding a new piece of furniture that matches or compliments your existing room décor will reduce the need to buy everything new because the new piece clashes with your existing colour scheme.
Adopt an attitude of gratitude
Deciding to appreciate and be grateful for the things you already own can reduce the chances of a new purchase leading to an out-of-control spending spree.
Buy second-hand
You can often find nearly-new items in second hand and consignment shops. Adding a “new-to-you” item instead of a brand new one can freshen things up with lower likelihood of your existing possessions looking shabby in comparison to the new addition.
Remember that things are just things
Despite what savvy marketers want you to believe, it’s good to remind yourself that material possessions don’t define your self-worth. Make sure you’re buying things because you really need or want them, and not just to demonstrate to your social circle that you can.
It has been over 250 years since Diderot published his famous essay, yet its message is even more relevant today. If you’re looking to simplify your life, recognizing the Diderot Effect and taking steps to overcome it will put you on the right track.
Have you ever fallen prey to the Diderot Effect? Tell me your stories below.
I did not know there was a name for this! lol Thank you for educating me/us! 🙂 I have been “victim” to this but over the years, I think more so since having Charlotte, I’ve really leaned into not placing too much value on the appearance of things, rather than how things made me feel. Raising children gets expensive really fast (and dirty too). There’s nothing more heartbreaking than watching your kid wreck their new shoes after one wear and they simply don’t care or get it lol… so we really have leaned into your listed approaches… going for second-hand (most are almost new, it’s nuts what you can find out there) and remembering that things are just that… things! Feeling at peace with a decluttered, minimal closet is much more important!
Yes, I fell into this trap for years without knowing there was a name for it. I agree that there’s more value in how things make you feel. I only buy new things that I really, really like and need these days. Our niece’s wedding is coming up in a couple of weeks. I searched high and low for a dress and didn’t find anything I liked. Instead of settling for something I didn’t absolutely love, I decided to wear a dress I already own.
This is really fascinating! I’d not heard this story before and it’s crazy to think that this behaviour has been around for so many years. The first thing that came to mind for me was when I bought my last phone and then had to buy the new case, new adaptors, etc. It’s almost like we’re forced into this with devices. I’m sure this Diderot effect shows up in my life in so many other places too.
Thank you! Oh, the electronics are such an excellent example and, you’re right…we are forced into that one. I remember being so frustrated when Apple got rid of the headphone jack on their mobile devices. Why? I can’t see how it was anything other than a money grab because it didn’t solve a new problem or make my life easier which is what innovation is supposed to be all about.
Non-materialistic example, but I think I’ve experienced the Diderot effect in another way (doing the chores). When I wipe the kitchen counter, I start to realise the baseboards are dusty, so I wipe those too. Then the dish dryer looks shabby once I do that, so I give that a wipe down too. And while I’m at it, I remove all the spices to wipe the rack. And the vent, and on and on. Is that the Diderot effect? Lol. Anyway, thanks for this post!
Ooh yes! You see. With enough creativity, we can turn any negative into a positive. I wonder if there are other examples a positive Diderot effect. Thanks for reading and commenting, Stuart.
I haven’t heard of Diderot effect but I can relate to it. One new thing can make others look shabby or unappealing. Now when I experience this, I can put a name to it. Thankfully, I never felt compelled to keep up with fashions or the latest trends or what the Smith’s have next door! Thank you for your informative post.😊
Thanks Lorraine. It’s an easy trap to fall into. I’m not a fashionista either. I think our mum taunts us well. 😀
Great post, Michelle! I used to have this problem, but now I’m so focused on getting to the other side of retirement, I seldom buy anything that is not essential! (Too bad I didn’t become this hyper-focused 10 or 15 years earlier!) Have a great weekend! 🌞
Thanks Lisa. I think this is a lesson many of us regret not learning sooner. I’m trying to pass that lesson on to my daughters as they begin their adult lives.
I didn’t know there was a word for that! I just attributed it to high dopamine, this behavior. The story of the French philosopher was cool, and a very good reminder for us all. Mostly, I don’t buy anything unless I need it and I make sure to buy things I need that I really like and are good quality. End result is I have reliable stuff that I enjoy for years and years. Thanks for the extra tips, Michelle!
Buying only what you need is a good approach. You have to keep asking yourself “is what I have good enough?” Usually, the answer is yes. Thanks for dropping by. It’s nice to hear from you.
Missed dropping by! And I agree, it’s surprising how little we need once we get our minds off chasing shiny things, for the sake of.
Great tips, I especially like the one on buying things that compliment what you already have. We bought a 1970s house with original fittings and as soon as we started updating we decided the whole house would need renovation. One good thing is that we’ve bought furniture with a mid-century style which suits the bones of the house.
Home renovations are definitely an area where the Diderot effect raises its ugly head. When we bought our house, we made a list of things that needed doing. When we got to the end of the original list, we had a whole new list of things. It’s a never ending story!
I’ve never heard of this phenomenon by this name but I definitely recognise it. However, I’m either too lazy or too tight with money to fall foul of it too often. Just got a new frying pan, not replacing my others. I still use a needle case that my great grandmother sewed. We moved into our house 7 years ago and still haven’t recarpeted; is tired and old fashioned but perfectly serviceable. Hand me downs are the way forward and lending stuff comes naturally. I think my grandma and mum instilled in me a post-war attitude to nostalgia, connection with the past, reuse and general preservation of useful things. Himself would call it hoarding, I just never know when something might be useful.
It’s an easy trap to fall into if you’re not conscious of it. I’m a bit like you…I’d rather make do and use what I have than spend money on new things. My mother definitely taught me that!
I have never heard of Diderot’s essay and the Diderot effect. I like his advice/wisdom a lot. And I definitely see the desire to update/freshen/stay au courant in action all over the place. It’s certainly one of the most destructive tenets of the fashion world. Let’s keep practicing GRATITUDE for all of the blessings we’ve got right now instead of longing to update and improve everything.
Hi Will. So true! The Diderot effect is most prevalent in the fashion world where the marketers have turned clothing into throwaway items to be discarded after being worn a handful of times. I agree that we should be grateful. We need to go back to the “make do and mend” mentality of my grandmother’s day. People had much less then, but they were happier.