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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people want a nice house?

342 replies

tittletattlelolo · 02/04/2019 16:33

My two friends are into buying plants/cushions/ornaments/flowers etc etc for their house but i don't get it.
What's the point? Only the people living in it see it.
As long as you have the basics fridge /bed etc
Why do you need all the rest?
A bloody tray with scented candles /those smelly things with the sticks etc
I've tried to get into homey things but I just can't
Am I the only woman who doesn't get it?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Busybusybust · 02/04/2019 17:26

I think see means that ‘stuff’ which The Range is full of. The wooden letters spelling ‘love’, artificial cactus plants, etc.

Horrible unnecessary junk.

GrumpyOldMare · 02/04/2019 17:27

Oh, and like some others a lot/most of my stuff is secondhand. All of my furniture is secondhand

Snap. The only thing that was bought from new in my lounge is the tv and two salt lamps.And my cooker,washing machine and microwave in the kitchen. Everything else is second/third or fourth hand. All slightly shabby (like me) but I love that look.

My favourite item of furniture is my pc desk,bought in a BHF shop,real wood and probably at least 30 years old! £10!

HopefulAgain10 · 02/04/2019 17:27

My dh and I are introverted and love being at home. And doing home decor is something we both enjoy. I love spending time in a beautiful home.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 02/04/2019 17:29

I just like my home to be an expression of my quiet good taste.

To not understand why people want a nice house?
Original poster
tittletattlelolo · 02/04/2019 17:29

I've started watching a youtuber called mrsmeldrum
Not sure if any of you watch her,it's all very instagrammy with her too.
Any recommendations of good YouTube channels that might help me get into it ?

OP posts:
goingonabearhunt1 · 02/04/2019 17:29

YABU men like plants and blankets too Grin

Also, it's not only those living there who see it, assuming you have visitors occasionally?

Orangecookie · 02/04/2019 17:30

Yes but you can be minimalist and still homely and cosy.

I hate letters, hate candles, hate artificial cactuses and hate clutter.

But the few plants, flowers, cushions and pictures I have I really like. Is that what you mean OP?

Big difference between a cold, soulless, empty house with just basics. And a home without a million ornaments of elephants.

goingonabearhunt1 · 02/04/2019 17:30

But it doesn't just have to just be generic items, it would be interesting pictures, things you've picked up on your travels or that friends gave you etc. These things can have good feelings attached.

Original poster
tittletattlelolo · 02/04/2019 17:31

@Orangecookie its all the b&m "bath" "wash"
All the love life and laugh wall art ..it's just too much for me.

OP posts:
goingonabearhunt1 · 02/04/2019 17:31

Also my cat likes blankets and cushions Grin

NunoGoncalves · 02/04/2019 17:31

OP

The simple reason is that we live in a capitalist society where we are bombarded with advertising every day from the moment we are born telling us to want things. Telling us how great things are! We are brainwashed and socialised into feeling "more comfortable" in homes surrounded by things.

That's the same reason people spend so much on "nice" cars and new clothes, etc.

EdWinchester · 02/04/2019 17:32

I love my house, it gives me great pleasure.

Utilitarian and spartan wouldn’t do it for me.

But agree, fake flowers on the hob is most odd.

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 02/04/2019 17:34

When I met my DH he was like you 😂
He would hvae a sofa, table, tv in the living room.
I have that and shelves, blankets, cushions, pictures on walls, candles, trillion dustcatchers, etc.
He got used to it and when we had to pack everything up once, he was monaing that the room feels empty nad cold😁

corythatwas · 02/04/2019 17:35

idlevice Tue 02-Apr-19 16:58:58
"But a high proportion of this kind of stuff is purposeless; it's just tat with an unsustainable product lifecycle, fucking the environment using raw materials & energy to make & packaging it, transporting it across the world and eventually a lot ending up in landfill."

Most of my ornaments are at least a generation old, many several generations. If I don't keep them, they'll go in the landfill. Family photographs from the Victorian age onwards, even still using my greatgrandparents' old sheets and towels.

As for my flowers, they add oxygen to the house and I am interested in growing and propagating them. No different from having a garden.

krustykittens · 02/04/2019 17:35

OP, I find reading interior design magazines help. You can flick though all sorts of houses and see what kind of decor appeals to you most and work off that when you are buying stuff.

Boysey45 · 02/04/2019 17:37

Because its nice to have a comfortable cosy home where you can relax and enjoy spending time.
OP you sound like a prison cell might be right up your street.

NunoGoncalves · 02/04/2019 17:37

Most of my ornaments are at least a generation old, many several generations. If I don't keep them, they'll go in the landfill. Family photographs from the Victorian age onwards, even still using my greatgrandparents' old sheets and towels

None of that disproves what the PP you quoted was saying, though. She said "a high proportion of this kind of stuff is purposeless; it's just tat with an unsustainable product lifecycle", which is true. A very high proportion.

InspectorClouseauMNdivision · 02/04/2019 17:39

Tbh, I wouldn't push it OP.
So what that you are not into having lots of things around your home? There is no shame in not being into candles and flowers.
Are YOU happy with how your home looks?
If yes, then why would you change it?
If not, then get yourself some magazines and ignore instagram.

Not everyone has a same taste. Some like it simple, some like fluffy curtains🤷‍♀️

origamiunicorn · 02/04/2019 17:40

Yeah YABU. That's the difference between a house and a home IP. Even if no one ever saw it except DP and me, we'd still want it looking nice. It's your space, your sanctuary away from the world it just a box to live in.

Original poster
tittletattlelolo · 02/04/2019 17:42

I never said there was any shame in it,I said I didn't get it and couldn't get into it.
I've tried but to no avail.

OP posts:
Sashkin · 02/04/2019 17:42

OP, your posts are coming across as really contradictory. First you want to know why anybody would want a nice house, then you admit that your definition of “nice house” is restricted to “Mrs Hinch’s house” (whoever the fuck she is), when most people do NOT want a house like that, or think it’s particularly nice. Then you say that you DO want a house like that, but haven’t managed to execute it despite your best efforts. So you obviously do see the appeal (I really don’t, though I do put my chopping board on my hob when I can’t be arsed to clear space on the countertop).

Is this just a stealth attempt to slag off Mrs Hinch again? AIBU does love an anti-Mrs Hinch thread, it’s terribly boring for the rest of us.

Rottencooking · 02/04/2019 17:43

What a stupid thread!

Roussette · 02/04/2019 17:43

What's the point? Only the people living in it see it

No. We love entertaining. Lots of people see parts of our house.

I've just had my lounge painted and changed after 21 years (too long) and it's made me happy because it's clean and fresh. Now just got to decide what to do with all the crap that I had around as I want it more simplistic...

If you don't want to have 'stuff' in your home OP, don't!!

Roussette · 02/04/2019 17:44

what is Mrs Hinch? Never heard of her

NunoGoncalves · 02/04/2019 17:44

Capitalism is fuelled by consumerism and desire. If we never wanted anything, people would find it difficult to make money and the rich would have trouble staying rich. So the media, the marketing machine and society in general strive to generate unending desire among the masses.

Look, it even has you wondering if there's something wrong with you because you don't want more stuff that you don't need!

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