Boring Homes and Gardens

“HGTV is making homes boring and sad.” 

A flurry of headlines similar to this cropped up a couple of years ago, referencing a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. Annetta Grant and Jay Handelman conducted interviews with 17 homeowners in the midst of home renovations to draw their conclusions about “Dysplacement and the Professionalization of the Home”.

Most participants expressed a level of anxiety about the renovation choices they were making. They felt that, to be seen as “smart” homeowners, every change had to enhance resale value–even though none of them planned to sell their house any time soon. They felt the pressure of what the researchers called the “market gaze.”

Seventeen participants isn’t a large sample, of course, so it’s hard to know how widespread this mindset truly is. But I think the study received so much attention because it highlights a trend that many of us have noticed: a cultural fixation on home price and the housing market has led to increasingly bland, colorless, interchangeable interior design. With home décor so embedded in popular culture, it’s hard not to notice.

HGTV (Home & Garden Television), for example, is the 19th most-watched TV channel, averaging 369,000 primetime viewers. Many of its shows are some variation on “Home Renovation” or “Home Makeover” and follow a predictable script. The dreary “before” features dated furniture, wood cabinets, and assorted appliances of every color and design. The sleek “after” segment unveils granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, an open floor plan with an abundance of grey and beige colored walls, cabinets and furniture. Gold framed mirrors, artwork and lighting fixtures, an unreasonably large pile of coordinated pillows on the bed. It’s boring.

It’s Not about Resale Value

A house is a huge investment and most people’s largest asset, of course. And yet, it does seem that society has gone too far in seeing housing as a commodity. A home is a living entity created by the people in it, not a consumer product to be endlessly optimized. When homeowners prioritize mass appeal over personal comfort, they fall into what the study’s authors call the “professionalization” of the home–treating it like a business project rather than a place to live happily.

Personally, I find that the most welcoming homes are often full of quirks and imperfections. I love being a visitor in houses containing shelves piled with books and knickknacks, mismatched dishes, and walls covered in photos and artwork. These homes don’t follow a specific aesthetic; instead, they reflect the personality, interest, and history of the people who live there.

Not that you shouldn’t want to have a nice-looking, aesthetically pleasing house–especially if you’re hoping to attract a potential housemate. But your home can be neat, well-kept and cared for without looking like a corporate hotel. (Staying in a hotel can be fun, but, I don’t know anyone that finds them genuinely cozy).

A house should be a place to build memories and surround yourself with things and people you like, not a stage where you feel pressured to keep up with the latest trends.

Home Sharing defies “professionalization”

I think this is why the philosophy and lifestyle of sharing housing appeals to me. Many who seek out the resources here at Sharing Housing want to ‘age in place’ and stay in their homes for as long as possible. Rather than obsessing over market trends or resale value, the focus is on getting as much joy as you can out of the home you already have. By living with others, you can improve your quality of life without having to renovate or sell a beloved space.

We do sometimes talk about home renovations here, but in practical terms: modifying a home to make shared living more comfortable. Yes, money is involved, but sharing a home is ultimately a celebration of uniqueness. Each home, and each person in it, brings something distinct to the arrangement.

And, in many cases, specificity and uniqueness is what leads to the best homeshare matches. You don’t want to live with just anyone–you want to live with people whose ways of living complement your own.

Make It Your Own!

Of course, if you enjoy re-decorating your home to follow the latest trends, then by all means do what makes you happy. It is your house, after all.

Our culture that seems to increasingly treat houses as mere consumer products, rather than dynamic living spaces. Choosing authenticity is a small act of resistance. Shared housing is an act that reminds us how comfort, connection, and authenticity matter far more than granite countertops ever will.

Here’s a blog post about another building trend: Multi-family housing

Here’s a creative idea for downsizing. Downsizing by buying a home together.