How to Actually Use Pinterest as a Homemaker Without Falling Into the Comparison Trap
By Evelyn, Lovely Home Blog
Pinterest. That dreamy, scrollable platform full of recipes, cleaning hacks, and picture-perfect pantries.
But also? That overwhelming rabbit hole where we can go looking for “simple dinner ideas” and somehow end up 45 minutes later knee-deep in a tutorial for DIY clay earrings we’ll never make… and still no clue what we’re cooking for dinner.
If you’ve ever closed Pinterest feeling less-than instead of inspired, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way.
I’ve started using Pinterest differently—and I want to share with you how it’s changed the way I approach homemaking, habit building, and even self-worth.
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✨ Use Pinterest to Reflect Your Real Life
I used to pin aspirational things—massive farmhouse kitchens, capsule wardrobes that required a whole new closet, or meals I’d never cook in a million years. But now?
I create boards that reflect how I actually want to live:
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“How I’d Actually Like to Cook”
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“Cleaning Routines That Don’t Make Me Cry”
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“Marriage Things I Want to Try (Not Master)”
It sounds small, but shifting my Pinterest boards from dream-only to dream-within-reach changed everything. These boards serve me, not some internet ideal of who I should be.
🌷 Pin for Habits, Not Insecurities
Before I pin anything, I ask myself:
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Will this support my current season of life?
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Will this inspire peace or spark comparison?
If it doesn’t help me show up better in my home or marriage, it’s not worth pinning. I’m not trying to become someone else—I’m becoming more of the homemaker God is shaping me to be.
Some of my go-to boards right now?
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Simple, realistic dinner ideas
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Gentle home reset routines
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Marriage encouragement posts I actually reread
📌 Boundaries with Pinterest? Yes, Please.
Let’s be honest. We’ve all fallen into the Pinterest black hole. That’s why I set boundaries:
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I name my goal before opening the app. (“Find 3 freezer meal recipes.”)
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I get in, get what I need, and get out.
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I reserve “just-for-fun” scrolling for designated cozy moments.
Pinterest is a tool, not a trap. If I treat it like a relationship—with purpose and limits—it serves me well.
🔒 Use Secret Boards for Honest Growth
One of my favorite features? Secret boards.
I use them like visual journals. I’ll pin:
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Marriage notes
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Habits I’m working on
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iPhone screenshots of progress or encouragement
No audience, no pressure. Just gentle reminders of who I’m becoming in Christ—not curated perfection, just real progress.
🧺 Turn Pinterest Into a Personalized How-To Manual
Forget waiting to become “the type of woman who keeps a routine.” Instead, I’ve made Pinterest my manual:
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How to stay consistent with laundry
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How to clean when I’m overwhelmed
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How to stop procrastinating
Instead of hoping I’ll get better, I pin steps that help me take action now. No perfection—just grace and forward motion.
🧁 Choose Progress Over Perfection
Pinterest doesn’t need to be a highlight reel. My boards are full of real-life things like:
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3-ingredient dinners
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Weekend reset checklists
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Small entryway cleaning routines
Pretty photos are nice, but I’d rather have peaceful and functional than “Pinterest-worthy.” Progress matters more than aesthetics.
I still remember my old homeschool video teacher saying, “Practice makes progress.” Not perfection. And that’s stuck with me ever since.
🗂️ Organize, Refresh, and Delete Your Boards
My boards are constantly evolving. I delete ones that no longer serve me, especially if they trigger discontentment. You can even archive meaningful boards you want to revisit (like my sister’s wedding planning board), without keeping them in daily view.
Pinterest should bring clarity, not clutter. If a board doesn’t reflect your current season or honor your God-given life, bless and release it.
🧥 Bonus: Style Your Closet Without Shopping
I even use Pinterest to organize outfits I already own! I’ll pin inspiration photos that match what I have—not what I wish I had—so it feels like I’m shopping my own closet. That’s homemaking creativity at its finest.
Pinterest can absolutely be a life-giving tool when we use it with intention. I hope this post gives you a fresh vision for your own boards. Let them reflect your life, your season, your calling.
And hey—don’t forget: you are lovely, and so is your home.
With love,
Evelyn 💛
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