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Are show homes a new thing for people?

231 replies

Dojasayso · 30/03/2021 20:26

Just musing through Instagram and I realised something.. most people's homes are borderline show home standard.

It's not a put down because my home is the same in terms of cleaning and nice decor with a lot of effort, time and expense.

But I growing up I don't remember the being as standard? I remember fridge magnets, pictures, ornaments etc.
I remember friends houses having carpets that don't match the sofas and a rug that was gifted 10 years ago that doesn't match the home but families kept anyway.

But now I can't think of a single friend or acquaintance with such a mis matched home.

Of course there were home fashions but these weren't the default standard in most homes.

Of course the grey homes with mirrored furniture were a thing (I hated that trend). But even so, people put a lot of money and time into creating that imagine.

I don't remember people putting as much into their home decor years ago.

Now most people I know have gorgeously decorated homes where things match and even family photos are up in black and white with stylish frames.

Is it a new thing to have a show home type house? What do you think has caused it?

I think it may be due to social media?

OP posts:
SmednotaSmoo · 30/03/2021 20:27

Come to my house. None of it matches well and it doesn’t look out together. Still got pictures to hang on walls. Cba to sort it.

But I think there’s more access to cheap decorations and furniture to make things look more out together and more inspiration.

wandawombat · 30/03/2021 20:30

Nothing matches in my house, so I don't take pictures for IG. I put my gorgeous creative baking on instead. 😁👌

justanotherneighinparadise · 30/03/2021 20:31

I’ve noticed the same. All my neighbours have had their gardens landscaped and now have elaborate decking with seating areas, fairy lights and all sorts! Houses have been extended and builders are constantly working on something. These are houses both sides of me and the house down one. I just think there’s a lot of money sloshing about and furlough has sent everyone crazy.

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mackleless · 30/03/2021 20:32

Social media didn’t exist when you were growing up

PaquitaVariation · 30/03/2021 20:32

My house is full of mismatched stuff, and lots of furniture we’ve ‘inherited’. I’d have a show home if I was starting from scratch in a new build house but after 22 years of home ownership my taste is now more eclectic (cheap!).

JackieTheFart · 30/03/2021 20:32

I know one person like that and it’s my mum, and really it’s not as she has lots of personal stuff about, she just lives in a big spacious new build!

GoWalkabout · 30/03/2021 20:33

Relative wealth plus consumerism. Like fast fashion. Not good for our pockets or the environment. Although maybe its not so different to what would have been called 'being houseproud' at one time or 'nouveau riche'.

ElephantsNest · 30/03/2021 20:33

Only if you live in a lower middle class area!

FTEngineerM · 30/03/2021 20:33

Social media provides a platform for people to show off their shiner-than-yours house, and for others to be envious enough to go and buy all the stuff themselves and fill their houses with soulless knick knacks.

expectopelargonium · 30/03/2021 20:35

Most people's homes on Instagram are borderline show home standard.

People wouldn't post photos if the place just looked ordinary, would they?

bonfireheart · 30/03/2021 20:36

See I think my house is well put together but even when I see these instagram houses I'm like yeah those trinkets on your bedside table are nice but where does your lamp/remotes/phone charger/handcream/lipbalm/book etc go, these are just some of the things in my bedside table! And the kids bedrooms....wow! DD has a lovely room but again she's got birthday cards up, random presents on her bookcase, a printer under her desk, it's nice but functional, those rooms like kids can't relax and play in them.

Mind you when I had the estate agent around, I decluttered and he took such great photo it did look like an Instagram house for that one hour!!

LawnFever · 30/03/2021 20:39

Nobody is going to post pics of normal/mismatched decor on Instagram though are they? It’s only the ones who style it looking perfect for the pics who are going to post, I don’t think it’s a real reflection of everyone’s homes at all

CoffeeRunner · 30/03/2021 20:41

Come to my house Grin.

It's a lived in family home & looks like it. Clean but stuff everywhere.

MadMadMadamMim · 30/03/2021 20:41

Are you young?

I'm mid 50s and we have lots of old mismatched furniture. So do most of our friends and relatives. We're in an old, lived in family home. Quite a lot of it needs decorating.

The only people I know with "show" homes are 20s/30s and I suspect of the social media/Instagram generation.

It's low on my list of priorities.

Thecazelets · 30/03/2021 20:42

Self-selecting group who post on instagram...

Ohyesiam · 30/03/2021 20:43

It’s due to being an affluent country.

Sandsnake · 30/03/2021 20:43

I think it’s in large part due to the fact that things are a lot cheaper these days. There’s also more choice, with items easier to get with online shopping. You can pick up matching furnishings for very little money from places like Dunelm / Amazon / Wayfair etc.

Dojasayso · 30/03/2021 20:44

@bonfireheart

See I think my house is well put together but even when I see these instagram houses I'm like yeah those trinkets on your bedside table are nice but where does your lamp/remotes/phone charger/handcream/lipbalm/book etc go, these are just some of the things in my bedside table! And the kids bedrooms....wow! DD has a lovely room but again she's got birthday cards up, random presents on her bookcase, a printer under her desk, it's nice but functional, those rooms like kids can't relax and play in them.

Mind you when I had the estate agent around, I decluttered and he took such great photo it did look like an Instagram house for that one hour!!

Yess that's what I think!

Peoples storage must be immense because I always wonder where the every day bits and bobs go!

I do know people stage photos for pictures on social media but even if you just pop by some friends houses pre-covid, they were immaculate and sparse!

@justanotherneighinparadise yes a lot of people I know have their gardens landscape. Paddling pools have been replaced with hot tub and deck chairs with ratten corner sofas.

OP posts:
JackieTheFart · 30/03/2021 20:44

Mind you when I had the estate agent around, I decluttered and he took such great photo it did look like an Instagram house for that one hour!!

I put my house on the market yesterday, it’s never looked so flash as the two hours when I shifted all the stuff around to take photos! Grin 15 years and three kids in a small terrace means loads of clutter!

Hufflepuffsunite · 30/03/2021 20:44

Haha, clearly you are not friends with me!
I don't have many Insta-worthy-house friends, no. Mine definitely isn't! Most of our stuff is mismatched and I have absolutely no interest in interior design. As long as everything is clean and functional then I'm not bothered in making my house look like a show home.

DuvetNPillow · 30/03/2021 20:45

I hate it! Unless you’re wealthy enough to have help to maintain it, who wants to be spending their whole life preserving a show home (and show garden!).

I mean, maybe I’m lazy...but I like to do the bare minimum required to keep a clean and tidy home. I don’t really understand kitchens that look like nobody has ever cooked in them and bedrooms that look like nobody sleeps or shags there Grin

PaddingtonsSister · 30/03/2021 20:47

Our house is mismatched and homeley with loads of junk We live in it and love it and don’t care about trens or what people might think

Iknowtheanswer · 30/03/2021 20:48

All my friends have show type homes, but I go into lots of people's homes as part of my job. Probably about 1 in 30 are show home furnished. The rest are a real mix of old, classy furniture, or cluttered, hoarding types.

What I always find amazing, is that I have absolutely no idea what will be behind a front door.

The show home type homes always seem a bit "samey" when you've seen a few.

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 30/03/2021 20:49

I don't know anyone whose house looks like a show home. IG isn't real is it? I'm sure the vast majority of joe public don't live in impractically curated homes?

Solongtoshort · 30/03/2021 20:49

Not mine, l wish it was put together but not grey and mirrored, l feel like that’s a look people will get bored with fast.