There are more people using Instagram for interiors inspiration than ever before, but over 50 percent of Instagram users in East Anglia feel dissatisfied with their homes after looking at images of other people’s houses on social media, a study has found.
Researchers who polled 1,500 UK adults using social media for inspiration with their homes, found that just 34 percent of people are completely satisfied with the appearance of their current home.
A whopping 78 percent of those who are displeased with their home admit to feeling this way once a month or more after scrolling through other properties on Instagram, with 25-34 year olds feeling dissatisfied most frequently.
One in ten admitted to feeling critical of their own home several times a day after comparing with other properties on Instagram.
The findings describe people having an unrealistic idea of what their home should look like, spending time worrying about flaws which would be unnoticeable to others, whilst feeling pressure to maintain a certain appearance in their home and being self-conscious of it in front of visitors. This mindset has been described by Chartered Psychologist, Dr David Lewis, as ‘Home Dysmorphic Disorder’ (HDD).
