Sixteen years ago I coined the playful term Magazine Cover-itis to describe a familiar tug many design lovers feel: the urge to chase picture-perfect rooms and magazine-style perfection. It was meant in jest, yet it named a real impulse we can all recognize.
Seeking inspiration and surrounding ourselves with beauty is nourishing and can lift our spirits. Thoughtfully curated surroundings can support well-being, spark creativity, and make daily life more joyful.
But inspiration can sometimes fuel an inner tug-of-war with perfectionism, comparison, or dissatisfaction. When that happens, the delight of design turns into a pressure that doesn’t serve us or our homes.
Back in 2007 we didn’t have Instagram; we had monthly magazines. I loved tearing pages out and saving them in design notebooks, studying every detail as a way to learn and be inspired. That process was both educational and joyful.
Still, Magazine Cover-itis would sometimes creep in. I found myself chasing a “magazine-worthy” look and losing sight of what my family needed. As a mom of three on a limited budget, my home was often lively and imperfect—far from a pristine cover shot—and that was okay.
Ironically, homes I later created did appear in magazines. That was an honor, but the greater reward has been transforming my home into a sanctuary and helping others do the same for the past sixteen years.
Today we have more inspiration at our fingertips than ever before. Endless images and ideas are available around the clock, which can be exhilarating—until it’s not.
Looking for ideas can be a joyful hobby, but depending on how and why you pursue them, it can also lead to overwhelm, impulse buying, or adopting trends that don’t suit your life.
The more images we consume, the more possibilities we imagine—and sometimes that makes it harder to choose what truly works for our home. We might feel our space is never good enough, or spend on items we don’t need, chasing a look that isn’t ours. For many, these pressures create anxiety and dissatisfaction.
Many people today are exhausted trying to maintain an Insta-worthy home and the expectations that come with it.
For some, the pursuit of perfection has evolved into a more damaging variant I call Instagram-Worthy-itis.
Comparison fueled by social media can make people feel their homes—or themselves—are unworthy. That pressure affects many more people in deeper ways than the magazine era did.
What’s the antidote to Instagram-Worthy-itis?
The same remedy I used for Magazine Cover-itis.
Treat your home as a sanctuary, not merely a showplace.
That doesn’t mean your home can’t be beautiful or shared with others. A sanctuary simply grows from a different mindset: one that values comfort, meaning, and the life lived within the space over staged perfection.
Does the idea of creating a sanctuary appeal to you?
When I started The Inspired Room my goal was—and still is—to help people create sanctuaries. A sanctuary is personal, meaningful, and welcoming to the people you love. It offers a depth of beauty you can’t capture in a single Instagram square.
A sanctuary is defined by how you feel in it: warm, safe, and tended. It’s not just a picture-perfect scene but a place that supports everyday life—comforting you through ordinary moments and harder seasons alike.
A welcoming home radiates warmth and hospitality. Your style shows through the things you love and the stories you tell with them. A sanctuary reflects the life you live, not a borrowed trend.
Recognizing the value of a sanctuary—and learning how to build one—helps counteract discontent, constant comparison, and design confusion. It allows you to focus on what matters most.
Let’s create a sanctuary—together.
You’re invited to a cozy corner of the internet for people who want to make their homes feel like sanctuaries.
As part of the HomeBody Gathering Place you’ll find downloadable resources, mini-courses, and workshops designed to inspire and encourage you through every season of homemaking. The community shares ideas, practical tips, and gentle motivation to help each person reach their own sanctuary goals.
This space encourages slowing down, finding support, and connecting with like-minded friends who value making a home that feels meaningful. If a community like this would uplift you, consider joining and inviting friends or family who might enjoy the journey as well.
