Having for show items in the house...

[Unreasonablebetty]

I might be being a bit... Or a lot U,
But I like to buy certain things for show,
Like I've got certain tea towels, for show.
Certain knives to show
Towels to show,
Cushions also to show.

We have slightly less pretty versions of all these things that are for use, but I do like to keep some things looking nice, like the tea towels that hang in the kitchen and bathroom that look nice and crisp,

I just bought new cushions that were only put on the sofa today. My husband came home and flopped down in his paint covered work clothes, took his boots and socks off, and tried to use one of my new cushions as a footrest.
Not five foot away is a perfectly good foot rest. But he wants to use my cushions.
This set me off, squealing like a banshee that his sweaty smelly feet do not belong on my new cushions, in fact they were moved away so DD didn't cost them in felt tip. And why is he laying on one of them?

He thinks it's U to have cushions that he can't lay on, or rub his feet all over,
I think it's perfectly fine, there are other cushions too, another 6 or 7 in total in the living room, but he surely shouldn't expect to rub his feet on my cushions?? No one wants foot smelling cushions surrounding them??
I might be being quite pedantic, and it might just be that other stuff he does is getting to me, but this is really annoying me as when it gets cold I love to make the house homely and buy nice new cushions and generally nicer for us, and he seems to lack respect for our home.
It's not like he didn't know that I have for show items, I've always been the same the five years I've known him.

Is it that mad to say, them few cushions are for you to pick up sit with on your lap or on the floor, but they're love hearts, I don't want you distorting the shape??

I share your love of cushions and throws OP, I really do and I have tonnes on my beds and sofas but they all get sat on, leaned on, used and abused and manage to stay looking good with regular plumping / washing / dry cleaning. Is it perhaps the things you are buying that aren't performing well? Perhaps not as hardwearing as they should be?

I live alone now so it's easy (bar the cat throwing up on things) but when I lived with ExDPs, I'll agree it was difficult to keep things looking pristine so I didn't bother. I prefer the homely look though/very natural and lived in.

I think the key to this would be to relax your style a little or banish your DP to the shed

HoundoftheBaskervilles Your poor mother.

OP, I've just seen your underwear story. LTB. That is all.

My cushions are not 'for show' however I wouldn't be very impressed if someone took their shows and socks off and rubbed their feet all over them!

Spell caster- ah white sheets! I remember having them when I was younger. I used to have to bleach them quite often. But at the time it was just me and DDs stuff to wash... I used to have to be really on top of the washing so I could clean then every few days. I make do with cream or grey bedding now. Blacks just as bad!

Frosty cake- good idea. He was almost banished outside in the rain last night. I was really not impressed by his antics.
We do use the throws, can't stand the feel of cold leather! Most of the cushions have held up well, I've currently got two sets, the new ones and the older ones, both on at the moment, so they're doing fine. It's just that he bends stuff all out of shape. I don't have a problem with anyone else. I had guests for tea this morning. They were perfectly respectful. I'm just trying to avoid the trashed look that my husband might cause. Your house sounds lovely new- except for the cat sick.

Whois- exactly!

I don't keep things for "show".

Obvioously if I have guests, I make sure there are clean towels, etc, and the house is clean and tidy, but beyond that, I don't have things like best crockery, etc.

I'd rather get stuff that's nice but not so expensive that I daren't use it, and use that stuff all the time, while keeping real care of it.

But then, DP and the DCs are not the type to come in and disrespect the house, so are also careful. I do try to keep clutter to a minimum, so I don't buy things like cushions, candles, etc, anyway.

I get the feeling that's the real issue behind the OP; that the DH was being disrespectful to the house stuff. OP might be more relaxed if she wasn't putting up with stinky feet on cushions, and so on.

Frosty cake- lol, I should have. That was a few years ago now. But I think it's an ultimate Mr Betty moment!

Nope, i get twitchy at shoes on in a house. Just looks so wrong. I'm not a fussy house person at all but can't handle people walking about the house in their shoes.

Definitely not a Northern thing, just a "bonkers person" thing IME.

Thanks to those reassuring me it's not a Northern thing. I just don't know how I got to be sooooo old without even knowing people did this.

I can't get my head round it.

Ah sorry mintoil- nope not a northern thing. I'm in the south east.

I don't think it's that bonkers - why not have things in your house that you like to look at, especially when you spend most of your time there. Many people would rather wear a pair of heels than a pair of comfortable boots, we don't think that's bonkers (well, maybe I do a little! ).

I presume old 'show' things get put into normal rotation when replaced with new 'show' things.

Oh my word OP you must be a real delight to live with.
So glad I have the minimalist mentality, I only own what I need and what I use. I can't abide clutter.
And as for keeping things for best, what is better then your own husband, children and family?

I'm struggling with the logistics of this.

So, say you're in the bathroom and you've just washed your hands. Are you supposed to ignore the "show" towel that's hanging up, and use another one? If so, where is the "non-show" towel?
Does it hang next to the show towel? But surely that would ruin the showiness of the show towel. Or are the towels for everyday use all put away somewhere, and not on hand at all?

Ditto the kitchen stuff. If I want to chop an onion, for example, am I supposed to ignore the "naice" knives that are out and on hand, and instead ferret around to find the old "for use" knives? Or are both sets of knives out together in a knifeblock?

Nine cushions on a two seater sofa! That would seriously irritate me. And I hate it when chi-chi hotels pile cushions onto the bed - all that happens is that I have to throw them off and try not to fall over them if I get up in the night.

My nan always had 2 rooms.

On my 16th birthday I was upgraded from the normal room to the best room ( it was only for adults) I never felt so uncomfortable in all my life.

My MIL has an entire room that's just for show there are two big sofas that haven't been sat on for 7 years and a tv that hasn't been watched in 7 years

I saw a post on fb the other day (not someone I know but a friend of a friend) where someone was saying that her husband had put her "show logs" on their open fire.

Yep, show logs.

She had a basket of logs by the fire that were nice, aesthetically pleasing logs, not for burning but just to look nice .

Oh dear OP good job you don't live with me!
Lavender cat loves a cushion, he leaves a patch of fur behind when he moves off (and a little bit of dribble)

Show logs? Wow. Why not go further, have show laundry, brand new size 8 clothes. Show loo roll maybe, too? Show bread, nice artisan French bread, hang up a show ham. Show toys in the kid's bedroom, some handmade wooden lovelies, maybe a huge antique rocking horse.

I might get a show husband,
He can sit in the corner looking pretty

Lavender Don't bother. I brought one once in but DH refused to hide in the closet until the guests were gone.

I have could have a show child. She looks angelic enough...

Fine if it makes you happy.

I find 'for show' items very obvious and very naff.

I want a show husband. Is he a George Clooney lookalike?