"This Is the Real Reality of My Home"... Recent SNS Posts Showing Piled-Up Delivery Boxes and Laundry

The Rise of the 'Normal House' Trend
Content Showing Unorganized Home Interiors
A Backlash Against 'Perfect Homes' on Social Media

Recently, the 'normal house' trend has been gaining attention on the short-form platform TikTok. This content shows the unorganized state of homes as they are, arising as a backlash against the neat and perfect homes commonly seen on social networking services (SNS). For example, it shows dishes piled up on the sink, disorganized shoe racks, and stacked delivery boxes without any filtering.

More people are revealing their homes through TikTok. TikTok

More people have been sharing their homes on TikTok recently. According to the New York Post, TikToker Maging Mimi revealed the inside of her home, saying, "SNS only shows the highlights. This is how my home actually looks." Books were stacked haphazardly on the bookshelf, and dog hair and human hair were scattered across the floor. Handprints left by children were also visible on the windows.

Another TikToker, Sarah Bond, also showed an unorganized home interior, with toys scattered on the living room floor and clutter spread across the dining table. Netizens who watched the related videos responded with comments such as "It's realistic and I like it" and "I had been stressed thinking my home wasn't as clean as the homes on TikTok."

This trend originated from the psychological burden felt when comparing perfectly organized homes on SNS with reality. Even though people know that the SNS images differ from reality, they still feel pressured to meet ideal standards. As a result, a trend revealing realistic and honest home appearances has rapidly emerged.

Videos related to 'Botong-ui Jip' (normal house) are being uploaded one after another through TikTok. TikTok

However, real estate experts have expressed negative reactions. They argue that a messy home image can create a bad impression and may prevent the house from selling. Barrett Johnson, CEO of New Era Home Buyers in Englewood, Colorado, said, "First impressions are important in the real estate market, and perfectly staged homes sell faster." He added, "Homes that look ideal on SNS, meaning neatly organized homes, always sell faster."

Real estate agent Kara Amier, active in California and Florida, shared a similar opinion. She said, "Beautifully decorated homes often sell for higher prices than other homes in the same price range," adding, "Because buyers expect a clean and organized appearance when viewing a home." She further explained, "For most people, buying a home is the biggest transaction of their lives, so unless the price is very low, they prefer well-maintained homes."

The U.S. real estate market is currently facing difficulties in home sales due to high mortgage rates and supply shortages. In this situation, sellers increasingly need to make their homes look more attractive. Sirin Sarikani, who runs a home interior and styling company in Seattle, explained, "When selling a home, it is important to emphasize strengths and minimize weaknesses. That is why homes handled by professionals sell faster."