I want an 'Instagram' worthy house

[Draconis]

I'm looking around my tip of a house and just want to Chuck everything into a skip and start again.

That's a bit extreme so what can I do instead?

This.

One DIY influencer did a post about this recently.
She posted what her house (with 2 young kids) looked like on a normal busy working day when it wasn't being shot.
Honestly it looked far worse than mine usually does in terms of mess. It made me feel loads better!

There is a lot of good stuff on YouTube about sizing/ selection/ placing of rugs/ pictures etc which is really useful for those of us with no idea. I always got rugs wrong but watched a few videos and sized correctly and now I must say they look a bit Insta on a good day when they kids aren’t around. 🤣. TK Maxx can be great for quality cushions.

Generally though I’m not a huge fan of the insta look. Can be a bit bland.

Some people have commented that my house is decoreated beautifully, instrammable - well thats subjective. However it always looks like that because I don't have a lot of stuff nor want it and this makes it easy to keep clean. I put things away once ive used them so that also helps. End of the night the lounge goes back to how it always looks, everything put away. Again easier when you don't have too many things or furniture. I have the right amount no more no less and it doesn't look sterile or boring

I am told I have an Instagram worthy house. People usually call it atheistic rather than insta, but I have a calm and perfectly clean house, with baskets of orderly condiments etc. soft cushions and candle light. It’s both cosy and calm. I don’t have a cupboard of ‘shame’ whatever that is - everywhere is the same. I created this around 19 years ago (and update regularly) when I realised the zen calm that I felt with an orderly home was very good for my mental health. I liked knowing where everything was, and it creates an ambience of peace.

It’s really easy to do. You need to a week off at least. Order a skip, a decorator and be ruthless. No stone is unturned.

Next move to the garden - rip everything out and plant one colour - pref white. Instant elegance. Or any colour you like.

If you really want this, I HIGHLY recommend getting a consultation with an interior designer. We did and had a couple of hours with her. She asked a lot about how the house came to be the way it is, how we used each room, how we wanted to use each room. She told us which colours to paint the walls, and where to move our furniture. We didn't get rid of much actually. I certainly wouldn't call it an Instagram home but it is more us and I feel much happier in it. We still haven't finished everything but we're much closer than we were.

Also read Marie Kondo the life changing magic of tidying and the organised mum to keep on top of everything.

My house isn’t everyone’s cup of tea because it has colour and pattern etc, I’ve got bit of a mad wallpaper going on at the top of my stairs, we had to move so decluttered along the way and we had a blank canvas so it’s lovely and how I’d like it now.

the hallway has its on theme, the living room has its own etc so everything matches in its own area.

my home is for us and is how we like I don’t care if it’s not suitable for the insta

Declutter, declutter, declutter.

The less stuff you have, the easier it is to keep tidy. Once you've got rid of as much stuff as you can, have a one thing in, one thing out rule.

As for the actual look you want to go for, save pictures of rooms you like on Instagram and Pinterest to see what it is you actually like.

Is it greenery? Get plants. Plastic ones if you're not green fingered.

Is it nice lighting? Identify what it is you like and then get down to IKEA and copy it.

Splashes of colour? You can do a lot with cushions, throws and art on the walls (doesn't have to be expensive art).

@Lastchancechica your house sounds like it lacks religious reading material 🤣.

😂

I'm really inspired now.
I've realised I like outdoorsy stuff so beaches, mountains and forests. I love plants but I'm
Rubbish with them.
I have some fab scenic pictures from travels afar that I could get on canvas. Is that a good idea?
I need to cull my bookshelves and clear out a few cupboards.
Id like to paint the wall by the dining table. Maybe a sage green? It's white at the moment. I need something for the centre of the dining table. At the moment, there's a fruit bowl. And not a particularly nice one.
Even my kitchen window sill could do with some plants or something.
I'm just rubbish at this kind of stuff.

House is 1930's @CharlotteStreetW1

Some of the fake plants from IKEA look quite realistic, OP.

If you like plants but aren't great at looking after them, get a Sansevieria. I once "forgot" to water one for about a year and it still survived.
I have loads of plants and this one takes the least amount of care.

I have an app called Planta which comes up with notifications when my various plants need watering. You can list them by type (they help identify them if you’re not sure), by room, light levels, position in the room etc. Very helpful.
Scenic photos are a nice idea. I personally much prefer simply framed photos to canvas prints, but up to you.
Yes to sage green. Beautiful calming colour.