I’m Unfollowing Luxury Interior Design Accounts And Here’s Why

Can you be addicted to luxury interior design accounts?

We all chase that feeling of happiness, that little burst of dopamine that makes us feel good. It’s how our brains are wired! But sometimes, we seek it in ways that aren’t so healthy. This week, I had a revelation about my own habits and how they relate to my work in the interior design field. So in this post I’m getting a little bit vulnerable and talking about my love/hate relationship with luxury interior design accounts on social.

 The Dopamine Dilemma

I recently listened to a podcast (and you should too – I’ll link it at the end!) that discussed dopamine addiction. The speaker, Dr. Lembke, explained how our brains are wired to seek pleasure and how easily that pursuit can spiral into unhealthy habits.  It’s not just the obvious culprits like drugs and alcohol.  It’s the seemingly innocent things that can sneak up on us:  romance novels, mindless scrolling, even ahem, luxury interior design accounts.

The podcast made me think about my habits.  I’ve always justified my Instagram scrolling as “research” for work. I’ve convinced myself somehow that it’s important for me to stay current and in the know.  

I tell myself, “I need inspiration for this client,” or “I’m just going to pop online for a few minutes to get ideas for my next blog post!”  Spoiler alert: It’s always more than just a few minutes.

The truth is, my social media consumption often feels less like work and more like a form of escapism.  We all have a drug of choice, and this is one of mine.

The signs were there all along:

• Escalating Use: The time I spend scrolling luxury interior design accounts has steadily increased over time.
• Numbing: After seeing a lot of similar content (like, say, a hundred pretty, white kitchens), the thrill fades, and I need something newer, edgier to keep me engaged.
• Isolation: Scrolling often takes me away from other important things – spending time with loved ones, working on actual projects, focusing on my own housework.
• Emotional Triggers:  I find myself reaching for these accounts when I’m stressed, lonely, or bored – classic signs of addictive behavior.

I realized I was using these beautifully styled images as a quick fix, a temporary escape from the uncomfortable emotions that come with being human.  It’s a form of “design porn,” if you will – a quick hit of visual pleasure to temporarily mask deeper feelings of discomfort.

The Dark Side of Luxury Design Inspiration

Beyond the addictive aspect, I’ve also been wrestling with the broader philosophical impact of constantly consuming this type of content. For a lot of us, the curated perfection of luxury interior design accounts creates a distorted reality:

• Inadequacy: The endless stream of flawlessly styled spaces can leave us feeling like our own homes aren’t good enough. This fosters feelings of inadequacy and a constant need for improvement.  Are my carefully chosen pillows really as good as those featured on that designer’s Instagram?  Will my friends notice this is an Amazon dupe?  Did I set this lamp in the right place?  Am I good enough?
• Overconsumption: This constant barrage of aspirational images fuels a cycle of overconsumption.  We’re tempted to chase fleeting trends, buying cheap mass-market products that ultimately fail to satisfy.  We fill a void with stuff instead of focusing on ways to improve our homes that can actually make a difference in the way we live.  And I hate to say it, but a vase or faux plant can’t do that.
• Misguided Motivation: It’s one thing to want to update a space for yourself (because you enjoy it or you know the project will improve your life in some specific way).  It’s quite another to want to redecorate because your neighbors just did a whole-home remodel and you’re jealous.  Or because you want to make someone else jealous by posting your glow up on Insta.  One comes from a place of authenticity and joy while the other comes from a place of insecurity and lack.  The emotional satisfaction you get from the finished product will correspond with your original intention.  So it’s important to ask yourself “what is my why?” before tackling interior design projects.

Rethinking My Relationship with Luxury Interior Design

So, what am I doing about it? I’ve started unfollowing many of the accounts that trigger these negative feelings.   There’s the obvious influencer-style accounts that keep enticing me to buy things I don’t need.  But there are less obvious culprits as well.  The ones that, if I’m listening to my heart, just don’t seem to track with what I want for my life or my home. The ones that have pretty, polished pictures, but not much substance or soul.  

This isn’t about rejecting beautiful design. It’s about cultivating a healthier relationship with the inspiration I seek.

I’m focusing on:

• Mindful Consumption: Instead of passive scrolling, I’ll actively seek out specific resources when I need design inspiration.  In my 5-Step Decorating System I advise clients to set an intention for their inspiration-seeking session and set a timer to keep things in check.  There is a definite point of diminishing returns, and I find that 15-20 minutes of looking for something specific is usually plenty.
• Real-Life Inspiration: I’m shifting my focus to seeking inspiration from physical spaces and real-world encounters, rather than relying solely on filtered, curated online content.  Wandering thrift stores, walking in nature, and traveling to a new neighborhood or environment are some great ways to gather inspo in a more connected way.
• Intentional Creation:  I’m channeling my passion for design into creating projects that truly express my style and values.  I’m encouraging my clients to build rooms around the way they want to live and to always, always find ways to incorporate the things that are important to them – trendy or not.

Unfollowing these accounts isn’t easy. I’m still in the process and breaking habits like this is HARD.  There’s a comfort in the temporary escape from the stresses of life. But, breaking the cycle and actively choosing a healthier relationship with social media is already proving to be a worthy challenge.  I’m already feeling more present, more focused, and less overstimulated. 

let’s do things differently

Want to join me?  If this resonated at all, I challenge you to sit down today and unfollow 10 social media accounts (they don’t have to be luxury interior design accounts- choose whatever topic is most problematic for you). 

Choose ones that maybe you used to love, but don’t quite feel right anymore.  If that feels good, do it again tomorrow!  And in the future… only click follow on accounts that really make you feel inspired.

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Podcast Links

You can listen to the dopamine podcast by clicking the link for your preferred service:  Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

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If you want to weigh in on the topic, I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

Thanks for reading today.  I’m so glad you’re here!

xoxo,