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Philosophy of Home

Are Home Trends Helpful Or Harmful?

How social media is impacting us and our homes

W Design Collective

Aug 30, 2023

Lately I’ve seen the fashion and beauty industries get called out for their trend-promoting, perfectionistic, shame-based messages. But what I’ve been wondering is why haven’t more people pointed out how detrimental the interior design industry can be as well?

At least when Vogue tells you your skinny jeans are “out” you are only donating a $50 pair of jeans to Goodwill, whereas when Architectural Digest tells you white kitchens are “out” you are hiring a painter for $8,000 to repaint your kitchen cabinets.

I have a real issue when it comes to trying to shame people in their most sacred space - their home. It is an absolute gift to have a place to call home, whether it’s newly remodeled or hasn’t been updated for 30 years.

I want us all to accept our homes (and ourselves) as they are. There is also no shame in wanting to improve our homes as well - I obviously encourage that in design, but I don’t want anyone to feel like they are “less than” if they don’t have their dream home.

I encourage all of us, and especially myself, to not give in to the seemingly invisible (but very present) pressure the interior design industry and social media can put on us to have “perfect” homes.