In Defence of the Unfinished Home

My freshly repainted, unfinished dining room - I still need wall lights, wall art, removal of spotlights, new rug, recovery of the chairs…

It feels counter intuitive for me, an interior designer, to tell you to slow down, doesn't it?

You'd expect me to encourage the big reveal, the whole-house transformation, the perfectly curated feed of before-and-afters. And I won't lie - I love a beautiful space as much as anyone and it would be a dream to have a project like that. My Instagram and Pinterest saves are FULL OF THEM and I love them all. But the truth is, my own home isn't done. It's not Instagram-perfect, and honestly, it probably never will be. And increasingly, I'm starting to think that's not just okay - it's actually the point.

So let's talk about why that is because I think there are a few things at play here.

Firstly, let's verbalise what a lot of people are probably thinking of. You know, the big elephant in the room - money. I don't have the funds to help me get to a finished home. I wish I did, but I don't and that's probably the reality for most homeowners. But, actually that's okay.

When did we become so fixated on having it all in one go? The truth of the matter is that most of the homes you see actually took years to create and what you're scrolling through is the end of the design process - all shiny and wonderful and beautiful. The perfect finished home. And don't get me wrong - if that's your reality, that's wonderful. I'm genuinely happy for anyone who gets to experience that (and jealous!). What you don't see is the in-between. The living with builder's dust, the saving up for the next room, the changing your mind halfway through.

I love social media - I'm a doom scroller. Honestly it's a passion (ahem, obsession) but it's my job to keep up with what's going on in the industry, and I'm also human and want to be inspired! But it's also paralyzing. Sometimes I think if I can't ever get there, what's the point in even starting?

And that's the trap, isn't it? That feeling of "all or nothing" that stops us from doing anything at all.

But slow living/decorating isn't just necessary - it's better. Decisions made thoughtfully, not rushed. Spaces that evolve with you rather than being fixed in time. You have to think about budget and timelines and living while renovating, and that shouldn't be a source of shame. It's the practical reality.

Starting with one room/space is actually your stepping stone to starting to live how you want to. How you deserve to. And this is where I think the role of a designer shifts a bit. So where does an interior designer fit into all of this? I can help navigate this in a focused, sustainable way, ensuring I don't add to the pressure but relieve it. I can help prioritise and create a foundation to build upon where slowly, if that's the speed we're on, we can edge ever closer to the finished home.

But let's be clear - no home is ever 'done'. It's living and breathing and it's okay to change things or go slow or fast. My house will keep evolving. So will yours. We live in homes that grow with us, rather than ones we're constantly chasing.