Aesthetic Trap

The ultimate home aesthetic? One that actually feels like it. Because if you love it, who cares if it fits your Insta feed?

By Aadya Oberoi

Once upon a time, people decorated their homes for comfort. Now, they do it for the ‘gram. It is no longer about creating a space that feels cosy, it is about curating a backdrop worthy of a Pinterest board. A bookshelf is not just for storing novels; it is a carefully arranged, colour-coordinated spectacle. Coffee mugs must seamlessly blend into the kitchen aesthetic, even if no one drinks from them. And fridges, as if your juice cartons are not decanted into identical glass jars, are you even trying?

Minimalist, beige-toned, and borderline soulless, modern home decor is giving ‘hotel lobby chic.’ A Personality is completely missing. A desk setup is incomplete without a MacBook, a matcha latte, and a candle that probably smells like generational wealth. At this point, the biggest design crime is simply existing in a space that does not look like it belongs in an influencer’s reel.

“I redid my entire room just to match a trending aesthetic, and now I do not even like it,” says Mehak Chandna, a 22-year-old student studying English Honours at O.P. Jindal University. “I swapped my vibrant bedding for muted neutrals, replaced my old wooden desk with a sleek white one, and spent a ridiculous amount on aesthetic organisers, pastel candles, and LED lights from Amazon. I even bought a giant floor mirror because everyone else had one. Now, it is giving expensive regret”, she adds.

This whole ‘aesthetic lifestyle’ is not just mentally draining, it is daylight robbery wrapped in neutral tones. Suddenly, spending Rs 5,000 on glass jars and fridge organisers feels like an investment (spoiler: it is not). That overpriced ceramic vase? A ‘must-have’ until next month’s trend labels it boring. And let’s not forget the endless furniture swaps because last year’s beige-on-beige look is now considered a ‘design disaster.’ At this rate, home decor is less about comfort and more about impressing strangers on the internet.

According to a 52-year-old interior designer from Delhi, Sanjeev Oberoi, “Thanks to social media, people are now obsessed with how their homes look online. It is less about relaxation and more about capturing that picture-perfect moment. The struggle is real,”. He explains how people now splurge on velvet cushion sets from H&M Home, Rs 15,000 Scandinavian-style chairs from Pepperfry, and neon signs from Instagram thrift stores, all in the name of ‘aesthetic vibes’. “They ditch their sturdy wooden dining tables for sleek glass ones, swap out standard mirrors for overpriced ‘wavy’ ones (with flowers or fabric draped over them), and suddenly decide they need a projector because fairy lights are no longer enough,” he says.

The biggest scam is thinking you have ever ‘completed’ your dream aesthetic. One minute, you are dedicated to the ‘clean girl’ look, and the next, the internet declares it uninspiring, it is time to embrace ‘vintage core.’ So, off you go, swapping minimalism for maximalism, purchasing lace-trimmed decor and floral wallpaper like you have just inherited a 19th-century cottage. And for what? Another fleeting trend that will be outdated before your credit card bill even arrives.

Now, stop trying to keep up. A home should reflect you, not a recycled Pinterest board. Bold walls, mismatched furniture, a fridge with, dare we say it, assorted drinks? Now, that is an aesthetic worth committing to (and maintaining).