my dream home and why modernisation sucks

a home vs a house

I moved out of my parents home almost 2 years ago and i was so excited to style a new home. It felt like i could finally take all the inspiration from my carefully curated Pinterest board and bring it to life, after all the times i played the My Scene room makeover game , i was finally ready. Growing up, my childhood homes were always very cozy, adorned with warm decor, Dusk candles, and notes of Middle-Eastern or Islamic art and style. Now, when I think about how the upcoming generations will remember their childhood homes (especially in Australia), they will likely recall hospital-like lighting, white walls, marble, and black decor, which may appeal to some people but, to me, signifies the decline of personal style and the dominance of modernisation in the dystopian-like suburbs we're surrounded by.

Although I didn’t fully commit to my dream decor for my current home, as I prefer to slowly accumulate pieces from op-shops or vintage stores and continue to pursue my Pinterest dreams for my forever home. I find myself looking to Depop or Etsy before I visit any furniture or homeware stores. Ultimately, my dream is to have a healthy family and a safe roof over my head, but let's unpack it all.

via @strawrbby on pinterest

I am aware that as society evolves, so do tastes and preferences in home design and decor, so this isn’t anything revolutionary. However, I hope we can step back and consider making our homes personal again. Similar to how personal style has been influenced by fast fashion and social media, our living spaces are also undergoing a similar transformation.

I remember when I first started on social media, I had a heavy feeling of imposter syndrome because I felt like my bedroom walls (they were teal at the time) and my bathroom or vanity for my makeup videos weren’t aesthetically pleasing. Now, reflecting on this embarrassingly, it seems very irrational and privileged to feel that way. However, it appears to be a common conversation online, with discussions on classism and other content creators at some point feeling the same way. Sometimes, the suburbs and people's decor I see online remind me of the town in the "Cat in the Hat" film, but in a bad way.

@mcbelsai know they had the coziest home #2000s#2000shome#thrift#thrifting#goodwill#2000snostalgia

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In Sydney, particularly, if you're after a home with any chance of 'character,' you have to either move to a gentrified, expensive city or to remote and rural areas instead. So I guess my dream home with stained glass windows, whimsical 90s decor, and a flower garden out back is more attainable in a fairytale—who would've guessed? There's nothing I love more than visiting an 'aunty's' home or anyone who has lived in their home for a long period of time because it feels like a well-curated time capsule. My husband's grandparents have this one spare room that reminds me of the bedrooms in "The Virgin Suicides." My own grandma's home is styled with Islamic artwork and calligraphy that I've seen my whole life, and my late grandfather's house was adorned with ships and navy memorabilia. Nowadays, it's rare to visit a home and feel or see its context.

@lil_glue23This hurts my soul STOP ruining the pretty houses #victorianhouse #oldhouse #iloveprettyhouses #stopruininghouses #fyp #mysoulishurting

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Growing up, I truly loved observing the homes in some of my favorite TV shows and movies. Although I'm aware they were well-styled sets and not actual homes, I believed in the fantasy and genuinely aspired to recreate that feeling for myself one day.

Below i’m listing some of my personal fave homes/bedrooms i think about a lot.

1. Spy Kids (2001)

2. Madeline (1998)

   

3. Casper (1995)

   

4. Practical Magic (1998)

   

5. Lizzie McGuire (2001)

   

6. Bewitched (2005)

   

7. Sabrina The Teenage Witch (1996)

   

8. Charmed (1998)

   

9. Friends (1994)

   

10. Gilmore Girls (2000)

    

11. Aquamarine (2006)

    

    Now, hear me out. I'm fully aware that all the above examples are just proof that I love 90s/early 2000s interior. But, there's a difference between a home and a house, and that's all I'm trying to say. Yes to patterned wallpaper and no to boring beige hells. In 2024, the social media pressure to have a cookie-cutter home is out, and personal taste is in. If you want polka dot bedsheets or a dolphin toilet seat cover, I support you. Life is short, so why not make our space more enjoyable to rot in?