Authentic Homes Trending
Homeowners Breathe Relief as Better Homes Declares Catalog-Perfect Interiors Out
Anonymous
Catalog-perfect interiors are officially out, and homeowners couldn't be happier about it. Better Homes and Gardens recently declared that cookie-cutter, staged-looking rooms are no longer the goal — a call that designers say reflects a deep shift in how Americans think about their homes.
The change has been building for years. After a decade of chasing "Instagrammable" rooms, many homeowners are now embracing lived-in, personal spaces instead. Design experts call it a move from aspiration to authenticity.
How the Instagram Aesthetic Lost Its Grip
From 2010 to 2018, the all-white room ruled. Shiplap, "Millennial Gray," and matching furniture sets flooded home design. The goal was a room that looked good in a photo, according to Forbes. Function came second.
Then came the pandemic. Locked inside their "perfect" rooms, people realized minimalist spaces often felt cold and empty. Comfort crept back in. By late 2023, trends like "cluttercore" and "bookshelf wealth" — think messy shelves and eclectic vintage finds — were going viral on social media, per ELLE Decor.
Real Estate Listings Reflect the Backlash Against Fake-Looking Homes
The shift isn't just about taste — it's hitting the housing market too. Zillow data shows a 34% drop in listings mentioning "Zoom rooms," as buyers stop seeking hyper-specialized spaces. Buyers also want real materials. Redfin found that 88% of buyers have no interest in linoleum or dated carpet, preferring hardwood or stone.
A growing problem called "housefishing" made things worse for the staged-home crowd. Over-edited listing photos left buyers disappointed when they toured in person. That backlash pushed states like California and Wisconsin to pass laws requiring disclosure of digitally altered property images, according to Florida Realtors.
Designers Push "Slow Decorating" Over One-Click Room Makeovers
Interior designers are now steering clients away from buying an entire room at once. "Slow decorating" — collecting pieces over months or years — is replacing the instant makeover. House Beautiful frames it as both a mental health win and a sustainability move. Designer Hannah Jacobus put it plainly: "Interiors shouldn't feel like showroom floors, pristine, soulless, and disconnected from real life," per Veranda.
Even major retailers are adjusting. ELLE Decor reports that IKEA's creative team is shifting away from coordinated textile sets toward "heritage and collected objects" — items that look gathered, not bought all at once. The American Society of Interior Designers calls this move toward personal, joy-driven spaces "wellness-centered" design.
A $503 Billion Market Now Bets on Personality Over Polish
The home renovation market hit $503 billion in 2024, according to RubyHome. Spending is shifting toward bespoke and handmade features. Minor kitchen remodels focused on refreshing rather than replacing now return 113% ROI. And Clever Real Estate found that 31% of homeowners cited "personalization" as their main reason for renovating in 2024.
There is one dissenting voice. The National Association of Realtors still warns that bold, personal choices — unusual paint colors or custom layouts — can hurt resale value. They recommend neutral tones before listing. But with authenticity now driving buyer interest, even that old rule is being questioned.
Sentiment
NeutralNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
10
Articles
9
Reach
10
A
AnonymousAuthor
