Are show homes a new thing for people?

[Dojasayso]

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?

I know what you mean. But whilst most of my friends are certainly tidier than we are, they're homes are generally beautiful, but they have families so there is a bit of clutter.

The house we live in now was like a show home when we viewed it. The lady who lived here was very particular and had adult children. The curtains matched each room, and were made to measure, pinch pleat, each curtain has a tie back. The two in our room were £20 each - I'd never be able to justify the expense. furniture was expensive and stylish.

Then we moved in .
I have eclectic tastes anyway, and had an auction habit. Our house is a mix of homebase, IKEA, auction and hand me down. We have a mix of ages too Victorian, art deco, 50s and beyond.
If it functions, it won't be replaced. And if it broke DH would fix it.

@Amore2

I know what you mean but also show home can sometimes be perceived/come across as a (veiled) insult. One of my acquaintances said, 'oh, it's like a show home!' When seeing my house for the first time (pre-Covid). She meant it as a compliment (lovely person, early 20s) but I think the connotations are that it's fake, contrived which my home isn't. It's just I like it to be neat - especially when visitors come round and we have spent a lot of effort/time/money working on it.

Maybe it is because houses are such an investment, people tend to prioritise them. I certainly wouldn't post photos on social media but might be because I am not in that generation??

If I said ‘This place looks like a show home’ — though it’s not something I would ever say to someone, because I wouldn’t be vocalising a rude thought about someone’s house — it definitely wouldn’t be a compliment. It would mean ‘looks weirdly uninhabited/ as if you bought all contents in one trip to the same shop/ as if the books on the coffee table are probably those blank ‘chosen for the the colour of their covers’ ones, rather than anything you might read’.

Though at least you don’t generally see actual houses that do that show home trick of having unusually small furniture to make the rooms look less cramped.

Ive noticed this too. Our house isnt as would rather have our home felt lived in and allow DS to play without fearing the walls may get scuffed or something gets spilled.

@Woodlandbelle

I don't like the grey trend but I do love a clean and more minimal look. I agree they homes are so much cleaner and smarter. Remember the old wallpaper boarders and very orange pine. That said, we buy antiques or old furniture and upcycle. But I try and keep clutter to a minimum. One of my hobbies is watching YouTube house tours

The thing is, your perception of what is "clean and smart" is totally influenced by what's in fashion in 2021.

Wallpaper borders and orange pine were very much in fashion in their day. People redecorated to get that look, because they perceived it to be "smart". It wasn't just people saying "I don't care about my house so I'll just shove this border on the wallpaper".

Each generation has certain fashions. In the year's time people will look at photos of 2010s and 2020s houses and they'll look really dated. Just like 80s, 90s and 00s decor does now. Some people slavishly follow the fashion and update their house accordingly. Others use a mix of styles, to suit their taste.

Teenage DS and I had to move out quickly due to his father attacking him. We took very little so almost all our furniture is donated or from free sites . It looks ok though and we are comfy but definitely not a show house !

If I said ‘This place looks like a show home’ — though it’s not something I would ever say to someone, because I wouldn’t be vocalising a rude thought about someone’s house — it definitely wouldn’t be a compliment.

I agree. Among the people I know, "show home" would be a barb, not a compliment. A show home is not a comfy, welcoming environment.

Also, d I know this has been said upthread, but surely all adults know that 99% of what's on Instagram is fake?

Photos are staged, houses tidied up, filters applied etc. Instagram isn't your friends candid snaps of their lives, it's people selling a dream (and in the many/most cases trying to monetise their online presence). It's a fantasy.

Any adult who doesn't realise this needs to wise up about the modern world.

I only have one friend with a "show home". Most people I know live in a normal lived-in house. Kids toys all over the place, some mismatched furniture or rooms which are overdue for redecorating.

I do know what you mean, OP. I was just looking at some photos of an acquaintance's new house on SM the other day and thinking that suddenly I feel a bit intimidated about the way that everyone seems to have become an interior designer these days. I think our house is nice, and it suits us, but it isn't at all fashionable and I do occasionally wonder what people coming round must think of it. When growing up I remember houses of most of families were quite individual. Some were very stylish, some less so, but there was less of an overpowering sense of fashion or that your house had to make a STATEMENT. I feel there's less room for a common or garden sort of individuality these days.

I know 1 person with this type of house. She lives alone so if 'dresses' a tray with 3 things no one else will change/move.
I live with my family 4 others as it is everyone home what makes a matching candle I like left by window more important than a toy, craft, leaf my children want to display. As result we have a mix decor reflecting mixed personalities.
I try not to buy excess stuff (guess bit influenced by environment issues) so even thought 8 cushions displayed on a bed take a good photo it is not necessary.
I have seen ad on magazine recently staging rental subscription for a price each month you will get different things for home decor hand back last month. So don't need to own things on display.

I think it also depends what your mean by show home - to me that conjures up images of show homes on new build estates. Often very minimalist, looks like a room set bought from Next, this is what i am imagining you talking about, very Mrs Hinch.

On the other hand there are interior designed spaces that are absolutely beautiful but don't tend to 'match' and to me would never conjure up the phrase show home.

I think if you're basing your perspective on what 'most people's homes' look like based on Instagram influencers, you probably have a slightly warped view which does not reflect reality

I've seen the look of polite disgust when people see our place, furniture being used as dens, worn cupboards from kids running around. I am not that bad, I do tidy up if guests come, but don't for tradesmen or neighbour popping round.

We're working... don't spend my time 'keeping' the house and DCs have to play, right? Healthier than tucking them away in front of screen? How can any child live in a show home without disturbing it??

How can any child live in a show home without disturbing it??

That’s a very odd question, it’s not about not disturbing it. It’s about tidying up after wards.

1. People have access to more stuff, and decent homeware and furniture is more affordable.
2. Interior design advice/ideas have become more accessible and you can find ideas for whatever your needs/room/budget (when I was younger I used to make interior design mood boards from magazine cut outs, and mostly they were compiled of things that were mad expensive. Now there's Pinterest and tons of 'makeover your bedroom for £50' type content online).
3. The 'show home look' to me is a very particular look... kind of cheap and tasteless. I'm thinking a garish wallpapered feature wall, chrome fittings, big tacky mirrors, plasticky Ikea furniture.

@ReceptacleForTheRespectable

If I said ‘This place looks like a show home’ — though it’s not something I would ever say to someone, because I wouldn’t be vocalising a rude thought about someone’s house — it definitely wouldn’t be a compliment.

I agree. Among the people I know, "show home" would be a barb, not a compliment. A show home is not a comfy, welcoming environment.

I was out at work one day and my MIL and GMIL visited my husband at our house. Later on my well-meaning husband proudly told me they said “she keeps it like a show home!” I’ve no doubt about what they really meant.

It was a clean and tidy new build. No grey or matching though. Plenty of possessions on display (musical instruments and books we actually need, nothing for fashion). 🤷🏼‍♀️

Most of my stuff has passed down from my grands & great-grands. Some dates from the late 1800s when they were based in India.
The sofa & armchairs were my Mum's & are around 25 years old. The cushions get re-stuffed every 5 years & it's been re-covered once.
I have bought more bookshelves - IKEA Billy - cheap, cheerful & very functional.
My bed is 10 years old - I'm on my second mattress.
I'm going to be getting a smart TV soon as I can't go on balancing my laptop on my knees. I don't really want to as my current TV might be 12 years old but it still works well so will go in the spare room!
I hate buying new stuff when my existing furniture still has plenty of life left in it. More money for good food, holidays & savings. I'm lucky the house is big enough to fit the brown furniture. Most modern homes aren't & if I do downsize it'll be difficult to decide what to get rid of.
My friends all have very contemporary, stylish homes, not 'getting in an interior designer' level, but very smart even when you consider how their lives have changed with the addition of children. I'm always very wary when I visit as I don't want to break anything!

There's a social class aspect to this that I've noticed.

I'm working class, DH is much more upper middle class. The houses of my friends where I grew up are "show homes" of the type described - lots of grey, mirrors, crushed velvet, candles and artfully displayed photographs, no real "stuff" anywhere. Just as their parents and grandparents took great pride in their homes and kept them clean and tidy, they do the same. The difference is that now working class/lower middle class people can also afford new furniture as well; with the likes of Dunelm doing cheap stuff, and everything being available on credit. I have friends on minimum wage who will happily buy £3k sofas on credit, whereas their parents would've had to make do with the same one for decades.

By contrast, in the circles my DHs family move in, people don't need to prove themselves through their homes. There's much more of a cluttered arty/academic look going on. Nothing is matchy-matchy; there are piles of stuff all over the place, and a much more "lived in" feel.

Obviously these are generalisations, and there are exceptions ... but seeing so many of my friends from school creating the "perfect" clean and tidy home does remind me of the attitide my very working class gran used to have, as she obsessively polished my school shoes to the perfect shine when I was little.

I’m not sure I agree @fellrunner85

I’m surrounded by working class families, lower middle class families and academics with letters coming out of their ears and all of them are spending a fuck ton of money on house renovations. I think it’s lockdown related. There’s a lot of money about, inheritance money as well as furlough. It s seriously all puppies, babies and house renovations.

Seeing the homes of colleagues through zoom calls I can say most people aren't living in show homes. There have always been people who like to prioritise decorating their houses - it's just what they're choosing is currently minimalist rather than all the tchotchke and trinkets that used to be popular.

I do have to laugh though at the people who are sniffily dismissive at others matching furniture and talking about their inherited mismatched chesterfields. I'd quite happily have taken a second hand sofa that cost more than my car too if it had been on offer. As it is the second hand stuff I got also happened to be Ikea because that's what was available on Facebook marketplace at the time!

I also don’t like the insta coordinated look. Our house looks lovely now. It’s taken a long time. We have had a lot of our furniture for over 15 years. The house does match albeit each room has a different style. We have an eclectic colour scheme, which is relatively fashionable atm. But not dark like some of the schemes as I like light and airy. I have never wanted matchy, matchy 2 tones eg navy and white. We have a handful of antique pieces, which have seen better days.

Dd’s bedroom is newer and to her taste - modern, grey stuff. I’ve updated all the washed out duvet covers and bought some new curtains, just off the peg as I had had enough of the 20 year old ones, which were made to measure. Won’t be buying made to measure again if I can help it as they’re so expensive! Regret purchases are things like an expensive on trend noughties sofa set, which is now dated and supposed to have been good quality but has sagged. We bought it for comfort. But it wasn’t that either...

I know three women with show homes and they are not super young nor post on Instagram. Two are very sort of highly strung and actually feel a bit unwell around mess it makes them massively stressed. One straightens cushions immediately if anyone gets up from the sofa. The other one married much later in life and I think she just wants everything to be perfect as she thought love would never happen.

My house is a mix of furniture.

More than once on MN I’ve seen books described as ‘clutter’.😱
Such people must be on a different planet from me and my family.

Re minimalist, when a Swedish friend returned to live in Stockholm after many years in the U.K., she emailed me lots of details of flats, since she was looking to buy.

Except for just one, they were all stark black, white and grey, no hint of colour anywhere. To me they looked cold, soulless and horrible. So when anyone gushes about ‘Scandi style’, that’s what I think of.

Once she’d done it up, the flat she eventually bought was very different - very warm and welcoming.

My one friend with with an insta worthy, immaculate house is not particularly young (about 50), has two teen DC and is one of the most laid back people I know, her house is a very relaxing place to visit. She is just very good at incorporating hidden storage everywhere and putting stuff away, I guess her family just do the same, it's normal for them. Presumably they are good at not acquiring or hanging onto too much stuff either, never really talked to her about it though.

i have a family member with an immaculate home, but it's almost a full time job. She's young early retired, no kids, no caring responsibilities, and no hobbies.

my own house is something of a do-er upper that we bought a decade ago and never quite got round to doing up.