If you're reading this, you probably have Instagram. That fickle beast that can inspire you with jaw-dropping interiors, or make you nutty in two seconds flat with its *ahem* shitty algorithm. There I said it. One thing it does right is it makes design available to the masses. Anyone can browse gorgeous interior accounts and emulate that design in their own home (rightfully so!), and anyone can be a "interior influencer" now. Just look at me! Ha! Joke. At any rate, people are consuming tons of original content and because of that, design trends are moving at lightening speed. As T.M Brown points out in his article Instagram is Reshaping the $10B Business of Interior Design, in decades prior, interior design trends were very much defined (think 80s pastels and 90s oak). Now, it seems, we can't keep up! Brass is out and matte black is in?? Wait, I still love brass! And that's ok. Like Amanda Lauren point out in her latest article in Forbes, people what to surround themselves with things that make them happy. We should all do that! All the brass? Great! Commemorative plates from every cat show you've ever been to? You do you! But first, let's look at the good, the bad, and the ugly side of design on Instagram. But first, a picture of my cute dog Sunny. You're welcome.
The Good
In the age of Instagram, we as design consumers, want what's on trend. We don't mind painting an accent wall or hanging temporary wallpaper if the mood (and trend) strikes us. Instagram invites us to venture out of our comfort zones and try something "not us". In that, it's a great source of inspiration and a real community to reach out and engage with. Now more than ever interior design is approachable and attainable. Anyone can do it...with the right filter.
The Bad
The bad side of this fast design era we're living in is that it drives us to consume more. Don't get me wrong, consumerism makes the world go round, but it can have its drawbacks, namely waste. Just like in the fashion industry interior design has a ton of waste. Sure, it's usually a slower process (you'll probably keep your couch for a few years), but eventually it all ends up in a landfill. So as trends rapidly change, and we change our decor to keep up, a lot of waste is produced. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't buy that amazing chair or bed you've been seeing all over your feed, but I think you should think about where it's coming from and, ultimately, where it will end up. According to planetsave.com Americans produce 9.8 million tons of furniture waste a year. Yikes! That's why I am a huge fan of thrifting, estate sales, and Craigslist. Giving something a second life stays its execution so-to-speak and you can get amazing deals if you're patient.
The Ugly
As the old adage goes, "comparison is the thief of joy". I bet you can guess where I'm going with this. It's impossible not to compare yourself to others in this age of mass content consumption. We're constantly bombarded with images of perfect homes, smiling families, amazing jobs, exotic travel, and on and on... How does that make you feel? Sometimes pretty crummy right? Well I certainly don't have the answers, other than to say, you do you! That's all you can do. If I'm getting down on myself, I find a break from social media really does the trick. Perspective and all that. Living life in the moment, etc. We've heard all this a thousand times so I'm not going to beat that drum anymore. Just know we all feel it from time to time.
The takeaway: do your best to consume less, surround yourself with things that make you happy, and keep enjoying all the beautiful content Instagram has to offer.
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| Sunny chill AF because she doesn't worry about likes. |
The Good
In the age of Instagram, we as design consumers, want what's on trend. We don't mind painting an accent wall or hanging temporary wallpaper if the mood (and trend) strikes us. Instagram invites us to venture out of our comfort zones and try something "not us". In that, it's a great source of inspiration and a real community to reach out and engage with. Now more than ever interior design is approachable and attainable. Anyone can do it...with the right filter.
The Bad
The bad side of this fast design era we're living in is that it drives us to consume more. Don't get me wrong, consumerism makes the world go round, but it can have its drawbacks, namely waste. Just like in the fashion industry interior design has a ton of waste. Sure, it's usually a slower process (you'll probably keep your couch for a few years), but eventually it all ends up in a landfill. So as trends rapidly change, and we change our decor to keep up, a lot of waste is produced. Now I'm not saying you shouldn't buy that amazing chair or bed you've been seeing all over your feed, but I think you should think about where it's coming from and, ultimately, where it will end up. According to planetsave.com Americans produce 9.8 million tons of furniture waste a year. Yikes! That's why I am a huge fan of thrifting, estate sales, and Craigslist. Giving something a second life stays its execution so-to-speak and you can get amazing deals if you're patient.
The Ugly
As the old adage goes, "comparison is the thief of joy". I bet you can guess where I'm going with this. It's impossible not to compare yourself to others in this age of mass content consumption. We're constantly bombarded with images of perfect homes, smiling families, amazing jobs, exotic travel, and on and on... How does that make you feel? Sometimes pretty crummy right? Well I certainly don't have the answers, other than to say, you do you! That's all you can do. If I'm getting down on myself, I find a break from social media really does the trick. Perspective and all that. Living life in the moment, etc. We've heard all this a thousand times so I'm not going to beat that drum anymore. Just know we all feel it from time to time.
The takeaway: do your best to consume less, surround yourself with things that make you happy, and keep enjoying all the beautiful content Instagram has to offer.
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