My Instagram Home

I have read so many posts about Instagram recently and am not normally one to jump on a bandwagon but I really wanted to speak out about Instagram and what it has done for me, what the whole blogging world has done for me really. You see, apparently people have started slating Instagram for its staged photos and whole picture perfect portrayal of life. And yes that may be true to some extent but those pictures have given me so much inspiration over the last few months and changed the way I view my life.

I follow a variety of accounts and while many of those post the instantaneous shot of life, of kids with mucky faces and toys strewn over the floor, the ones I really enjoy are the ones that have been styled a little- those piles of washing moved out of view. If I want to see mess I can look around my own house! I like to go to Instagram to feel inspired to make my home look that little bit prettier, give me hope (however false) that life doesn’t have to be messy.

Of course you can take it to the extreme and wish you lived in a 5 bedroom detached with a sweeping driveway and a walk in closet in each room. I know I have had those moments before, but mainly I just look at the photos and think right I need a magazine, a fluffy rug and a few candles and I will have everything I need! I love looking into people’s lives, to see their children dressed neatly from head to toe- it reminds me to make more of an effort with my own girls. I love seeing their tidy living rooms, it gives me the push I need to get off the sofa and tidy my own living room!

The inspiration goes beyond Instagram though, I love looking at people’s blogs- those that share room makeovers. I have written before about Caro (The twinkle Diaries) and how she inspired my tree in Little G’s room. There are other bloggers who have inspired me too, Katie (Mummy Daddy Me) has such a beautiful home, it is her little castle and she has styled it perfectly. Jess (Mummy of Boy Girl Twins) has recently moved home and is doing a fab job of making her house a home. I don’t look at their beautiful homes and feel jealous- I look at them and feel inspired!

For so long I have hated my house, wished it was something more. I have wished I could move, find a bigger better home to make my own. Thing is, with me not working full time we will not be moving any time soon. Unfortunately we live in a really expensive part of Britain and although we have discussed moving elsewhere we could not do it to our families. I have finally come to terms with this and even though for a while I hated the house I am finally seeing that I need to make the best out of what we do have and make it as beautiful as it can possibly be, make it a home to be proud of.

Up until this point I have left everywhere magnolia as it would be the best colour to have on the walls when we come to sell. But do I need to live with magnolia for potentially 10 years before we move? Definitely not! I have already decorated the kitchen- adding red accents here and there which I love! Little G has a tree in her room that is just beautiful and this weekend I am painting my bedroom duck egg blue- I cannot wait! I want to walk into my home and feel happy, to be proud of each room enough to show it off on here and on my Instagram account.

I have been inspired by other people and hopefully as my photography improves and my home gets a makeover I will be able to inspire others to make the best out of their homes, to pick up a paintbrush and splash a bit of colour around to create their own home to be proud of, one that makes them happy.