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AIBU?

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BeanQuisine · 01/05/2026 11:05

Social class is not necessarily linked with money, but it's not necessarily linked with "good taste", either.

Hard to think of anyone more vulgar and tacky than Andrew, and people used to call him "your Royal Highness".

PlumPuddingandGravy · 01/05/2026 10:52

The obsession with what’s middle class on MN is just bizarre. Just live your bloody life and do what you want to do.

Threesloths · 01/05/2026 10:45

No. It’s too fake whilst a bit naff round the edges

Anonymouseposter · 01/05/2026 10:44

If being middle class means living in a draughty old house with clutter to clean round and smelly dogs then give me working class, especially with a large comfortable house costing over £600000!

BunnyLake · 01/05/2026 10:43

bohemianwrapsody · 01/05/2026 10:29

But a building in itself cannot be middle class or otherwise. Because class doesn't automatically equate to money.

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Whatever.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 10:37

@Wolmando that doesn’t change the fact money is linked to class

Wolmando · 01/05/2026 10:35

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 10:30

But that has to do with income, not social class.

Class is linked to money though

A lot of people on the telly and in sports have lots of money. They are not all middle class

SixtySomething · 01/05/2026 10:35

IckyIck · 01/05/2026 00:16

Don't bother talking to me, I'm only a baronet.

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I'll talk to you if I like you. Are you an interesting person and what sort of house do you live in? I don't go north of the Thames btw

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 10:30

But that has to do with income, not social class.

Class is linked to money though

bohemianwrapsody · 01/05/2026 10:29

BunnyLake · 01/05/2026 10:02

Again though I think she means judging by the exterior, not by who or what is inside.

No one is going to think this was a purpose built council house or a house built for a king.

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But a building in itself cannot be middle class or otherwise. Because class doesn't automatically equate to money.

Grabity · 01/05/2026 10:27

There’s a huge amount of insecurity on this thread.

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 10:25

To me, a middle-class house has lots of bookshelves and William Morris prints everywhere, and either no telly or a very small, ancient one.

Even the aristocracy have large flat screens!

SixtySomething · 01/05/2026 10:25

LaburnumAnagyroides · 01/05/2026 09:14

Oh well, your loss.
The women in my family tend to be a lot more interesting than the men.

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😆😂

circusrunaways · 01/05/2026 10:25

what I will say about property in the UK is that there are a range of factors that can blur the relationship between class and who lives where/size of house

The main dividing factor is age

Undertheeaves · 01/05/2026 10:14

Ok so I thought the OP was a weird question but nothing prepared me for the weirdness of the replies.

It looks like a lovely house, it's big, clean and tidy and I actually like the decor, it's got a bit of colour going on. For most people in the real world £625k is a huge amount to spend on a house.

I am not sure if that makes me lacking in taste and culture and class, I think it might. Excellent news.

BunnyLake · 01/05/2026 10:02

bohemianwrapsody · 01/05/2026 09:43

People have assumed she means the interior, because there's little way of judging social class by looking at the exterior of the house, especially if not familiar with the area. Tradesmen doing well might live in great big houses. Academics might live in a tiny scruffy terrace. You're conflating money with social class.

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Again though I think she means judging by the exterior, not by who or what is inside.

No one is going to think this was a purpose built council house or a house built for a king.

AfternoonVanessa · 01/05/2026 09:59

My children grew up in a large country house. It was a nightmare. Very expensive, cold but had a library!
A few years ago we bought our first modern house. That has been hard to sell. I now believe the majority of sales are three bed semis.

Fwiw @Inburess I was told to put my antiques in storage and buy/ hire some modern furniture!
Around here it's shiny handless kitchens and grey polypropylene carpets.

Divebar2021 · 01/05/2026 09:55

It’s not really decorated to my taste but it definitely could be. I’m not a fan of modern estates either but this house has a lot more
space than my 1920’s house and I’d love a utility room.

mondaytosunday · 01/05/2026 09:55

The decor is dull (so much grey) and not sure what criteria you mean? Price? Size? Neighbourhood? That size house would cost about £3m near me if not more, but really it has a bit of working class made good vibe about it, IYSWIM, like someone’s idea of what middle class looks like.

Nitgel · 01/05/2026 09:43

Has anyone mentioned the lack of beat up old faithful Volvo yet

CoffeeCantata · 01/05/2026 09:43

Crikeyalmighty · 01/05/2026 09:41

Some very old fashioned ideas of middle class- I actually wonder rather than middle class if the poster means middle income - ! I have lots of books, thousands of records, stuff from travels, we rent though even in early 60s , have a business and I’m pretty sure would be called middle class! and even though I’m not keen on estates I really like this house, just needs personalising a bit - I think some of you don’t think it can be middle class unless it’s what I call a mouse special, Edwardian:Victorian, messy, wallpaper, roll top ancient baths etc -

Exactly!

And definitely no kitchen islands...

bohemianwrapsody · 01/05/2026 09:43

BunnyLake · 01/05/2026 09:36

OP maybe you should have said judging by the exterior, because too many posters are thinking you mean the interior, which I’m assuming you don’t!

People have assumed she means the interior, because there's little way of judging social class by looking at the exterior of the house, especially if not familiar with the area. Tradesmen doing well might live in great big houses. Academics might live in a tiny scruffy terrace. You're conflating money with social class.

Anonymouseposter · 01/05/2026 09:42

bohemianwrapsody · 01/05/2026 09:35

But the post wasn't asking whether the people in the house are happy, it was asking whether the house is middle class or not.

Middle class markers such as books, things on the wall which aren't mass produced, pianos, knick knacks from travels are just that, markers. They're not people trying to curate a particular image.

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I have things on the wall that aren’t mass produced, books, Knick backs, handmade tapestries and even a spaniel. I can nowhere near afford a house like that. It looks very comfortable, easy to clean etc. OP is worried what people would think if she bought a similar one, it’s a shame she cares.

CoffeeCantata · 01/05/2026 09:42

MaybeToxic · 01/05/2026 09:36

So how do you judge a house on social class? By postcode, surely?

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Not at all.

Firstly - getting into a discussion about social class is doomed to failure - no-one can agree, and it's so, so subtle and nuanced that it's almost impossible to talk intelligently about.

Secondly - I know lots of poorly-paid academics who live in tiny flats and houses crammed with books and nice objects and pictures which express education, sophistication and cultural awareness. That's solid-state middle-class in my book.

Also - lots of people in 6 bed houses with about 30 bathrooms who don't know their arse from their elbow in terms of culture. I don't think they're middle class. They're rich, and that's different.

SingingHinny · 01/05/2026 09:41

MaybeToxic · 01/05/2026 09:36

So how do you judge a house on social class? By postcode, surely?

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No, that's income again If you have the money, you can buy yourself a house in the most expensive 'old money' areas.