The “Not-So” Perfect Home

I asked this question on Instagram last week because I had a hunch! There I was sitting one night scrolling through the gram, and it hit me – “I bet everyone has at least one area in their home that they aren’t happy with” I thought to myself. Or at least they weren’t happy with it until they fixed it! You know that problem area that you either over decorate to try and “hide” it, or completely ignore it determined it will always be a non-pretty area in your home, hoping that if you ignore it enough others might not see it too. Well the response was resounding, and here’s what people had to say!

Many people chimed in with areas in their own homes that were not ideal or the perfect situation. Many of whom I know have beautiful homes themselves. A few even, who had recently built brand new homes admitted that there were even things they would have done differently next time, proving that you can even build your “dream” home and it will still have flaws.

And you know what – I am ok with the flaws. I think the flaws in our home can prove to be the best reminders that perfection is over rated, and keep us humble instead of striving for that “Pinterest” perfect home.

The thought came to me that night as I was scrolling through the perfectly styled and edited photos that fill Instagram (which I’m guilty of posting them too), that even amongst all the perfect photos out there, there really is no such thing as a perfect home. PHEW! I took a deep sigh of relief, it means that I’m not the only one that deals with a problem area of awkward wall that simply drives me nuts!

I still have areas in my own home that I would like to change or renovate, but the likely hood of me getting around to it, or fitting into our budget, isn’t always that promising.

I’ve shared before how in our kitchen we transformed two walls that came out of sheer frustration of awkward door placement or a weird bump out from what used to be an exterior wall in the 1800’s to where our kitchen now stands.

While I love being inspired by beautiful homes online, the one thing I need to remember is that behind that perfectly styled room, is a pile of daily life tucked just outside the frame of the camera. And that I don’t need to compare my homes flaws to the beautifully styled home that inspires me. It’s purpose to is serve just as that – inspiration. The moment I begin to covet how that home looks more than the gratitude I have for my home I need to check my heart and re-evaluate what I’m finding as inspiration.

What I’ve learned is that we don’t need “picture perfect” homes, but homes that offer us a safe place, where we feel welcome, serves the perfect purpose of a home.