it doesn’t need to look like the magazines (or Pinterest)

You have quite the collection of design magazines full of inspiring interiors that seem beyond you & you spend plenty of time scouring Pinterest but when you look around your house it’s lacking that dreamy look.

And you’re thinking, “how in the world could I ever have a home that looked like THAT?”

Want the truth?

It may never look like the magazines or Pinterest (but it can come quite close).

And that’s O. K.

Want proof?

Here is a pic I took in my living room:

From what I can tell its a pretty good shot, though I’m not a professional photographer. And I’ve styled it using items that I already own.

You see, when it comes to every magazine image, and most interior photos on Pinterest a stylist has brought in props to make the room look more photo-ready, and even may arrange furniture in a way that looks great on camera but is not practical for actually using in real life.

Before I took this photo I did some major editing of the space that I photographed. Honestly though, what’s behind the camera doesn’t look as nice and what it looks like right now as I type this – it’s, well, not so photogenic. That’s because I actually live in my house. There are things out of place. I just got home from work and as I walked in the door I noticed items that need to be put away.

And that’s O.K.

There is a gap between a perfectly planned out moment in time that we capture and all of the life that happens in a space every other moment of every other day.

So how do we aspire for a dream house when we know in reality that things don’t always stay just so?

Its a process that needs to be worked on frequently. We need to discover what our true style is, collect pieces that fit that style and function in our lifestyle, get rid of items that don’t, and most importantly maintain what we’ve created.

It all comes down to actively loving your home.

Think about it – this is the place you spend a majority of your waking (and sleeping) time outside of your work. And if you work from home – well its the space where most of your life happens.

So start with taking small steps each day to create a home environment that is full of bliss and supports the awesome life you are living.

One day you may just step back and decide that its ready for its close-up. The point is that it’s not about making others envy your space but finding a way to make your home really shine for YOU. And if you’re happy with it, then by all means celebrate it!

Now, I want to know what you think – Should your home look good enough to be photographed and admired by the world? Do you think your current space is Pinterest-worthy? Do you want it to be? Please leave a comment below – I’d love to know your thoughts!

And if you liked this post, it would make my day if you shared it with someone who is a magazine/Pinterest junkie, like us 😉