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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you to show me your normal home…

697 replies

Noseyneeps · 22/12/2023 12:53

Fed up with the Instagram showing perfect homes, when the real world is much messier..: so show me your normal homes… here’s my messy (and a bit dated) kitchen

To ask you to show me your normal home…
OP posts:
Thread gallery
230
Alondra · 23/12/2023 09:39

Moveoverdarlin · 23/12/2023 09:14

I disagree. No one is showing off. There have been 3 or 4 lovely ones which look tidy, clean and modern. But on the whole I think they are all very dated and very cluttered. I’m surprised how many kitchens that are still around from the 90s. Sorry, I don’t mean to sound awful, but I’m astounded that you think people are showing off with these pictures and trying to be middle class. I really don’t think they are, of the ones that do look nice, the posters have said how they recently renovated and saved up for their dream kitchens. They seem proud as punch, not boastful.

The people I follow on Instagram have huge kitchens with islands like snooker tables, they’re from kitchen designers like Martin Moore, Tom Howley, Neptune. None of these are what you would call ‘Insta’ kitchens. But what is lovely is that so many posters seem to genuinely love their homes.

Show quote history

I love my home. It's not as old as many houses posted here but it was built in the 70s and only one bathroom had been renovated when we bought it 7 years ago. We are lucky it's a big house on almost a 1/4 acre of land, but it's taken us a long time to fully renovate to the way we wanted. I like a modern look, detest clutter and for me cupboard space is essential as I like to cook and have plenty of kitchen gadgets. Same with the bathrooms and rest of the house. I like it uncluttered, with plenty of space to put everything where it's supposed to go without crowding on top of each other.

My house is not an "Insta" house. It's our home and looks the way we finally wanted.

Risun · 23/12/2023 09:42

@SussexLass Love your pic. Only a well brought up lad gets a bucket, unless of course you put it there.

Original poster
Noseyneeps · 23/12/2023 09:43

NotASingleClearSurface · 23/12/2023 08:33

Oooh, my first name change!

The kitchen isn't bendy, I just tried to do a panorama-ish thing to properly capture the chaos

I love this! Looks like a perfect kitchen to stand and have a chat in

OP posts:
Kdubs1981 · 23/12/2023 09:44

Mrgrinch · 22/12/2023 14:24

Honestly my home is always spotless.

Why are you trying to make yourself feel better about having a messy home by belittling people who keep theirs clean?

🤣

Mumsnet award for you!

MidgeFragnets · 23/12/2023 09:45

Maybe I am a bit green eyed, my kitchen isn't a massively dated one but it is small. I wasn't saying everyone was gloating as that clearly wasn't the case, but the OP was putting up an old kitchen and asking for similar pictures, so I think it's strange for some to put up larger rennovated kitchens, but I suppose that's the normal in their circle of friends (which I did mention in my pp).

Just didn't think it was helping the OP, that's all. She asked for pictures to get away from that sort of thing. If I am being honest I havent looked at Instagram for some time and was never much of a user, so maybe the bar has gone up a lot since I last looked when some of the pictures on here were like the ones I saw on there.

I think there is a good selection of different kitchens, just didn't think the OP was looking for some of the pictures posted on here, that's all, but reading back the OP doesn't mind, so I'll leave it there. 😂

HateMyKitchenLights · 23/12/2023 09:45

Risun · 23/12/2023 08:34

Lots of lovely kitchens, but a surprising lack of air fryers.

There's an air fryer in mine, only a wee one though😁

@MidgeFragnets I think the majority of posts on here are 'normal' which is a wide range, after all. The the OP wasn't asking for pictures of shit, tiny homes, just ordinary lived-in, real homes. Some of them will still be quite aesthetically pleasing!

I could post a picture of my bathroom which is fairly objectively shit (mould, tiles have come off, etc) but there would probably still be someone who thought it was showing off (not many people, but I bet someone would!)

Risun · 23/12/2023 09:46

@Littleblackcat80 That's a really good room, everything you need and nicely arranged.

Original poster
Noseyneeps · 23/12/2023 09:47

MidgeFragnets · 23/12/2023 08:56

I had high hopes for this thread and seeing some real pictures of small kitchens with dated worktops and mess, but this being MN some people have turned it into a 'look at my new rennovation' 'aren't I so middle class' thread. It's a shame. It was a chance for normal people to feel happy with what they have and not have a skewed idea of what a normal house is, and get away from the insta gloatfest, but as usual some people can't resist a stealth boast. I suppose the OP asked for normal homes and it is subjective, so in your circle of friends these might be the 'normal' and not so nice homes.

Maybe next time we should ask for shit, tiny homes instead. I bet we still get pictures of huge lounges with grand pianos and enough seating for 20 people and comments saying 'we've just outgrown this house now, so hoping to upsize'. 😂

All my friends do have nicer kitchens than
me. Ours seems to be the oldest kitchen by far (and the most messy) and my friends are from all walks of life. My mum lives in a housing association house and her kitchen gets redone every 15 years: her old kitchen was more modern than my existing one: she keeps it immaculate (in fact, her house is immaculate… I think she despairs of me)

OP posts:
SussexLass · 23/12/2023 09:49

I think we could all have “insta worthy” homes with a bit of judicious tidying and clever camera angles. We’re up for sale at the moment and it looks like a different house. But real life is still there, around the edges, in storage boxes and shoved in cupboards and it always creeps (or avalanches) back in again. It’s taken a while for me to be ok with that.

KitchenMess · 23/12/2023 09:49

Risun · 23/12/2023 08:34

Lots of lovely kitchens, but a surprising lack of air fryers.

Mine's hiding under the kitchen table, which is definitely very cluttered. There's even a lone sock there for some reason (a clean one)

To ask you to show me your normal home…
Kdubs1981 · 23/12/2023 09:51

My kitchen is an open plan kitchen diner and genuinely an utter shit tip. But I feel I can't post as we're very lucky, it's big and recently renovated and people will accuse me of showing off. It actually makes me feel even more guilty, having such a lovely room, but not being able to keep it tidy

PieSkyFly · 23/12/2023 09:52

Ah I figured out how to resize the pics!

Kitchen ....

To ask you to show me your normal home…
To ask you to show me your normal home…
Original poster
Noseyneeps · 23/12/2023 09:52

MasterBeth · 23/12/2023 09:23

What nefarious purpose do you think someone will make with @Noseyneeps photo of her kitchen?

Show quote history

i think Christmasusernames heart is in the right place.

but I don’t think anyone will be using my kitchen photos for nefarious purposes.

OP posts:
PieSkyFly · 23/12/2023 09:52

Dining room

To ask you to show me your normal home…
To ask you to show me your normal home…
PieSkyFly · 23/12/2023 09:52

Front room

To ask you to show me your normal home…
To ask you to show me your normal home…
Original poster
Noseyneeps · 23/12/2023 09:53

Littleblackcat80 · 23/12/2023 09:26

This is my small living room.

looks so cosy!

OP posts:
mylittkeitalianhome · 23/12/2023 09:54

Our handmade-on-a-shoestring kitchen! It’s been a pleasure for the past 4 years but now dreaming of a dishwasher, big fridge and toddler-proof cupboards.

To ask you to show me your normal home…
Co1inRobinson · 23/12/2023 09:55

Risun · 23/12/2023 08:34

Lots of lovely kitchens, but a surprising lack of air fryers.

Slightly different angle to the pic I already posted, but you can just see the air fryer!

To ask you to show me your normal home…
PieSkyFly · 23/12/2023 09:55

We have Xmas snacks piled up in the kitchen, Xmas cards and crafts all over the dining table, airer with laundry piles, etc.

The front room and dining room do usually look covered in play debris from my youngest, but I'd got him to help me tidy up and hoover today! 🤣

He's a toy scatterer that thrives on chaos and clutter everywhere and I hate visual clutter. I have to really work hard on just letting it be, and then every now and then we do a big tidy up and hoover.

It's always clean but it's really insta tidy.

Original poster
Noseyneeps · 23/12/2023 09:56

MidgeFragnets · 23/12/2023 09:45

Maybe I am a bit green eyed, my kitchen isn't a massively dated one but it is small. I wasn't saying everyone was gloating as that clearly wasn't the case, but the OP was putting up an old kitchen and asking for similar pictures, so I think it's strange for some to put up larger rennovated kitchens, but I suppose that's the normal in their circle of friends (which I did mention in my pp).

Just didn't think it was helping the OP, that's all. She asked for pictures to get away from that sort of thing. If I am being honest I havent looked at Instagram for some time and was never much of a user, so maybe the bar has gone up a lot since I last looked when some of the pictures on here were like the ones I saw on there.

I think there is a good selection of different kitchens, just didn't think the OP was looking for some of the pictures posted on here, that's all, but reading back the OP doesn't mind, so I'll leave it there. 😂

I’m obsessed with what peoples homes look like! I can’t help it. I couldn’t live in a show home because I’m so bloody messy. And Instagram shows the perfect home… but most families where there are kids both parents work tend to have a more “lived in” look

OP posts:
Original poster
Noseyneeps · 23/12/2023 09:56

mylittkeitalianhome · 23/12/2023 09:54

Our handmade-on-a-shoestring kitchen! It’s been a pleasure for the past 4 years but now dreaming of a dishwasher, big fridge and toddler-proof cupboards.

Beautiful!!!

OP posts:
ActuallyChristmas · 23/12/2023 09:58

IfWhenWhyWhat · 22/12/2023 14:36

I've only got two!! 😂

Show quote history

A boiler in a cupboard? Is that safe?

EarringsandLipstick · 23/12/2023 10:00

SussexLass · 23/12/2023 09:38

It’s DS snoring away and yes the bucket is just in case! Going to have to get him moving somehow…

Ahhh! DS ... that's a bit different 😀

Risun · 23/12/2023 10:02

So many homes with kids, pets and Christmas. These are the best years of your life, enjoy it all.Xmas Smile

Blankscreen · 23/12/2023 10:05

I was going to post a picture of my 'normal' kitchen and glad I haven't now as I'd probably be accused of showing off. I was going to post to say look at the clothes on the back of the chair, the box of Christmas decks and the clutter on the island.

"normal' is certainly subjective and my type of kitchen is pretty normal with the people I mix with.

I pretty surprised at some of the mess/clutter in the photos and just don't think I could relax with that around me.

Each to their own.