I went to a strangers house last night ...

[blinkofaneye90]

It was a friend of a friend type of thing who was hosting a beauty event. OMG her house was amazing. Probably valued around £2m, it was immaculate. Enough space to have not any clutter, a walk in shoes & coats cupboard, minimalistic, absolutely everything matching, all decor finished to a high spec. It was like a magazine show home. We have a fairly decent modern house, new kitchen installed last year, but it made me want to come home and rip out my new kitchen and everything else in my house and start again. Whereas I cant do that, I have cleared the very little clutter we had hanging around and this weekend will be doing a huge clean just to make everything smell/look/feel fresh. Will treat myself to some flowers too. The owner of the house was also immaculate. Slim, lovely manicured nails, softly spoken. I looked at myself - a little overweight, wearing a bobbled top with leggings and a tatty old pair of trainers (which I wouldn't usually ever wear, I put the wrong pair on by mistake).

I want to bin off work today and crack on with the house. And then go and buy myself the same lovely smelling Neom diffuser this house had, but it's £45 and I cannot ever justify that cost for a diffuser.

I've been guilty of this, but most people can't live that way. Even in a big house minimalism usually requires an obsessive nature and major lifestyle changes. I'm always faintly suspicious of people with immaculate homes and wonder what it costs them (both financially and spiritually) to live that way. It's nice to have a pretty home but it doesn't ensure happiness by any means. And often when I feel dissatisfied with my apartment I remember how many other people would kill to live in a home like mine.

it made me want to come home and rip out my new kitchen and everything else in my house and start again

Unless your home is falling apart, don't. It's wasteful and unnecessary.

If you're constantly trying to keep up with what others have and don't value what you have, you'll never be happy.

Haha you could be describing my house but trust me when I tell you that it only ever looks like that when I’m expecting guests. The rest of the time it’s an absolute bomb site with me walking round in joggers, DH’s hoody and hair scraped back 😂

I know someone like this, ex best friend. She’s with her partner (unmarried) even though she’s told me he’s abusive, xenophobic and racist but he’s the father of her DD. He also has his own building/decorating company so has done all the work on their show home looking house.

He called her a gold digger to her face and she came to me as I worked for a solicitors to ask me to ask my colleague for free advice (they’d been engaged) when they broke up and he was only paying £50 maintenance for their toddler DD, he then had another baby with another woman that was his girlfriend.

Another mutual friend told me “x always wanted a big house and rich man”. They’re still together a few years on and I hope she’s happy and he’s changed.

Soooo long story short, probably or could be hiding a facade.

I grew up in the Middle East where people have true wealth. Houses out there make UK houses- even the large lovely ones- look like matchbox, halfway homes.

But people who live in big houses aren't necessarily happy. Always important to remember that.

I have a friend that is currently divorcing her husband and fighting over the mansion, so I'm happy in my matchbox house with my wonderful DH. Couldn't ask for more.

My thoughts exactly. Minutes of my life have been wasted, wasted I say, on reading this post.

My friend has a house like this, absolutely stunning, she regularly hosts events and parties and it’s perfect. Call round for a brew mid week and you will see clothes airers everywhere, her kids muddy shoes strewn across the floor, chewed dog toys….

Just here to stand up for the neom mini atomiser diffuser which just uses essential oils with no water & is great, (as is the aromatherapy associates one)

I really like seeing nice houses & there's some things I want to change in my home but am after a couple of antique bits that I need to source for a discount price. I love my home when there's not piles of laundry everywhere & not general crap lying around. Off to do some baking with dd & will have a tidy up for the weekend

I know a school friend similar to this. Not divorced but had the perfect looking lifestyle on FB but said cryptic comments about how it wasn’t all good there despite her lifestyle.

But she’s been brought up in London fairly westernised until she had an arranged marriage at 18. She expected and wanted to go to uni and couldn’t do it. Dressed very westernised, wore swimsuits in pools, uncovered hair. All changed when she moved to Dubai.

Always find these threads hilarious! Anyone who has a gorgeous home must be unhappy /anxiety ridden/ miserable relationship / usually everywhere is a mess/ cupboards full of junk!

perfectly possible this woman is a lovely, happy woman in her fabulous home and is just very organised and prefers minimalist decor!

I don’t get the trend of trying to make posters ‘feel better’ by insinuating there is something off with the person they are envious of.

Exactly this. Why were you invited? Did they try to sell anything?
Bet everything is on credit - or they may well have rented this house for this event, especially with only one personalised thing visible.

My point is that OP shouldn’t compare herself to others as the grass isn’t always greener. Anxiety was an example.

Oh come on, nice house, slim? She's definitely got crabs at the very least.

Yes comparison is the thief of joy.

BTW Neom diffusers are lovely but I actually found that Sainsburys Habitat ones to work better and don't need faffing about turning the reeds around.

This was exactly my thought too!

Your opening post sounds like the start of a novel about a stalker 🤣

😂 @blinkofaneye90 @OnOtherPlanets

I also clicked on the title with some trepidation.

I wonder if men ever feel like this - or act on it.

Sit down and put your feet up and watch a couple of episodes of “Hoarders,” you will appreciate how tidy your house is.

Ew, shiny new and everything matching sounds awful and soulless to me. Nothing to envy. I'd be jealous of a big old house, with original features, mismatched interesting furniture, mix of antiques and colourful quirky things, original wooden or tiles floors with flaws, bold and coordinating colours, eclectic art. Maximalist and arty for me. I shudder at matching.

That other house doesn't sound like a home to me.

Use this as inspiration to write a great kitchen sink thriller... Why does she have the time to keep everything so tidy? What chaos is being hidden away? Or maybe you get obsessed? What lengths would you go to get the perfect home... to have your own Neom diffuser? Channel your angst into something fun/creative.

This is exactly how MLMs work - selling you a lifestyle that you too could have if you only...... don't fall for it!