How to start appreciating your non-aesthetic home interior

If you were to look at #designtok, you'd assume that every typical American house has granite counters, high-end appliances, and bespoke cabinetry. Simply said, that is untrue. Social media and professionally designed and photographed home tours might inspire you greatly about how you want your own home to look, but they can also set some expectations that are quite unattainable.

People have long wanted to fulfill these irrational goals for their very real family homes, but the pendulum is starting to swing the other way today. With videos with the hashtag #nonaesthetichome collecting 7 million views and counting on TikTok, more individuals are starting to share their real houses, or, in internet language, their non-aesthetic homes.  Videos showing non-aesthetically pleasing homes frequently emphasize the notion of normalizing homes without the newest or most expensive design features and show homes where people really live, cook, and raise their children.

These posts present normal homes in a favorable light in order to combat the pressure to uphold the impression of perfection and dispel the stigma associated with the alleged flaws that may be found in many homes. But from where are these posts coming from, and how are they genuinely going to make us appreciate the ugly places we live in?

Why is there currently a pushback towards excessively curated spaces?

As we scrolled through endless Instagram feeds of expertly arranged photographs and TikToks that created the impression that everyone else had their lives together, the epidemic offered us a lot of time to reflect on our own houses.

Zoom then provided us with an unfiltered view of our coworkers' homes, and several of them remarkably resembled our own. The mess that was never included in a #cleanroom post was on the laminate countertop. Behind them, on the plain white walls with uneven molding, were family photos. There were occasionally even a few dishes that needed to be done. Why were we judging ourselves harshly if we didn't think less of our friends and relatives for living in an ugly house?

Many people came to see that these flawed homes were not only normal, but often very magnificent in their current state.

How to appreciate the regular details of your home

There isn't a house that is perfect for everyone. You don't need to constantly redecorate or search for the ideal home; you simply need to discover the one with the quirks that work for you. Every home has its unique characteristics and flaws; some of them may be improved, others can be tolerated, and some should even be celebrated!

We wholeheartedly support whatever home improvements you choose to make since they make you happy. If a trend supports your viewpoint, it might be a fantastic idea to try it out, and trying anything new can be a lot of fun. However, you shouldn't feel compelled to design your house exactly like what someone else says is the "proper" way for it to look. So please remember that the qualities listed below are perfectly OK. Some of them may be adjusted if they upset you, while others are chances for you to use your design skills.

Here are some typical non-aesthetic features of typical homes, along with ideas for utilizing them to add some flare and showcase your personal style.

Blank walls

When renting a place, for example, you may not be able to make many changes to it. White walls, a common option for rentals, may not be to your preference, but you may utilize them as a chance to show off your personality. Think of them as a blank canvas for your imagination! Create a gallery wall with art you adore using framed pictures of your family or photos you've shot while traveling for a unique curation. It doesn't have to be fancy.

If you like patterns, consider temporary wall coverings that you may utilize to make a statement without committing long-term or running the risk of damaging your walls.

Builder-grade essentials

Perhaps your financial situation prevents you from remodeling your kitchen. The fact is that you don't need granite countertops, and builder-grade cabinets are plenty enough for storing all of your kitchenware.

Simple changes may be made to add a little more flair, such as replacing the stock handles on your cabinets with fashionable ones that stick out against the basic design. In addition, if you don't like the material of the countertop, accessories like trivets or ceramic collections may break up long sections of countertop, and a few colorful dish towels can offer much-needed color.

Inconsistent furniture

Maybe you've been in your house for a time, yet nothing seems to be quite right. Instead of a whole living room set, you could have a jumble of furniture that you've accumulated from big-box retailers, hand-me-downs from family members, and items from previous roommates.

However, it might be more intriguing than having everything coordinated, and family heirlooms often bring with them priceless memories. Make sure the pieces of mismatched furniture share a similar theme to make them appear planned. You can easily do this by covering chairs with throw blankets or cushions in colors that coordinate with your sofa. To anchor the space and give it a sense of coherence, you may also buy a rug in the hues of the various furniture pieces.

Older home quirks

Perhaps something is just a little bit odd. Like that one tile that doesn't quite match, uneven flooring and little wall cracks, older homes are replete with imperfections that drive you crazy in your own home and go entirely ignored by your friends and family. But that's what gives homes like these character.

The majority of non-aesthetic problems that irritate you may be concealed with a few decorations, provided that these are only surface faults and not structural problems. Large potted plants can hide a warped wall, and heavy artworks can hide cracks caused by the building settling. Avoid making gallery walls or collections that need everything to be perfectly aligned if you're a perfectionist since doing so will just draw attention to any flaws.

Carpeting from wall to wall

Wall-to-wall carpeting is preferred by some individuals, particularly in colder areas where it helps keep a home cozier. However, it is completely possible to downsize carpeting if you have moved into a property with outdated or unappealing carpeting. Similar to how you would deal with hardwood flooring, you may use area rugs to divide the room and designate various living and dining sections. Not only will it help give your area a purpose, but it will also offer some color and personality.

There are methods to reduce the effect of the non-aesthetic components in your space, but you may also decide to embrace and even enjoy them, whether they are features of your dream home or merely particulars in the temporary housing you live in until you find it. Here's to appreciating our homes for what they are, flaws and all, since there is no place like home.