By: Jenna Carter
I appreciate a stylish throw pillow just as much as anyone else. I adore the cozy shabby chic aesthetic and the allure of open-concept living. I even enjoy tossing around words like “shiplap,” even if I still can’t quite define it. Shiplap, shiplap, oh, SHIPLAP! And who doesn’t love a good before-and-after transformation?
These are just a few reasons HGTV has captured our hearts. We revel in watching people demolish and rebuild, daydreaming about owning fabulous waterfront properties like those on Beachfront Bargain Hunt. We can’t help but roll our eyes at high-maintenance homeowners and chuckle at the marital squabbles of the hosts. And let’s be honest, we all secretly enjoy peeking into the homes and lives of others.
But lately, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s off with HGTV. Is this reality? Do people genuinely live in pint-sized homes with no closets and fold-down sinks? How does a couple that sells artisan goat cheese afford a million-dollar beachfront property? And why is everyone always complaining? It’s as if someone is perpetually unhappy—either the homeowners who loathe their sprawling 5,000-square-foot mansion for being “too cramped,” or the developers who are at odds with their contractors, or a couple at each other’s throats because their renovation experience on Property Brothers feels like a never-ending nightmare.
Really, HGTV? You present home renovations as a walk in the park, but we know they’re not. You toss around “bargain” like it’s confetti when what you mean is “expensive as all get-out.” You make flipping houses look like a casual weekend hobby, when in reality it’s a financial black hole, covered in dust, with ramen noodles as the main course for months.
And now Joanna Gaines—queen of all things chic and DIY—is hawking throw pillows for $90! That’s right—almost two Benjamins for a couple of cushions that your kids will toss aside or your dog will claim as a chew toy. And an area rug for $2,300? I need a moment to stifle my uncontrollable laughter over that.
A friend of mine, Sarah, recently told me about an episode of Beachfront Bargain Hunt where a couple was searching for a $350,000 second home in Hawaii. Excuse me? If you can drop that kind of cash on a vacation home, you should not be on a show with “bargain” in the title. Let’s be real; “bargain” is not a term that’s ever crossed your lips.
Seriously, HGTV, it’s time to take a step back. Remember the classic show Trading Spaces, where neighbors would redecorate each other’s homes for a couple hundred bucks? Now that was entertaining. Sure, sometimes homeowners ended up in tears confronting their questionable taste neighbors, but most of the time it was a blast and offered decorating tips that we could actually apply. Can we bring back more of that, please? (Good news: it’s on its way back!)
Every time I flip on HGTV, I either feel utterly bewildered (do families actually live in 300-square-foot tiny homes?), annoyed by the entitled snobs upset that their million-dollar mansion lacks a rain shower in the fourth bathroom, or downright depressed about my own humble abode. Before I tuned into HGTV, I had never heard of a “drop zone,” but now I desperately need one for shoes, coats, and other odds and ends.
In stark contrast to the immaculate homes on Property Brothers and the charming decor of Fixer Upper, my family room resembles a scene from a Lego factory explosion. The pictures on the walls are crooked, and there’s a photo of a donkey taped up—yes, the animal, not the other kind (don’t ask). After just a few minutes of watching Rafterhouse, I find myself hating everything about my home, questioning all my life choices, and feeling the urge to rush to Home Depot for DIY supplies for fire pits, bar carts, and rustic bookshelves. I suddenly want to buy ALL the chalk paint.
But here’s the truth: I’m terrible at decorating, and the older I get, the less it matters. My house looks more like the clearance section at Target than a West Elm catalog. And you know what? I don’t give a flying fig. Sure, I enjoy a good throw pillow, but Target has cute ones for $12. So does Amazon, where I can shop in my pajamas without a care. Plus, let’s be honest—shiplap is probably more fun to say than to actually install.
Still, I do want that drop zone. And a second home by the beach wouldn’t hurt either.
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Summary:
HGTV has become a baffling mix of reality and fantasy, presenting home renovations as easy and affordable while showcasing homeowners who seem to have endless budgets and endless complaints. The nostalgia for shows like Trading Spaces highlights the disconnect in current programming, where everyday viewers can’t relate to the extravagant lifestyles portrayed. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that our homes don’t have to look perfect to be loved.