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Original poster

Does the novelty of living in a nice house ever wear off?

273 replies

Havanna1 · 23/04/2021 19:36

Before I start, I promise this isn’t a stealth boast, and actually, to a lot of people, our house won’t even be that nice.

We moved 2 years ago to a decent sized house with a big garden in a ‘chocolate box’ rural village. I feel so lucky every day when I drive home to live where we do.

However, I was sitting in the garden just now with a glass of wine, looking at the pretty (field) views, it was so peaceful, silent apart from birdsong and I just felt this overwhelming sense of gratitude.

I get it every time I drive into the drive and after 2 years I’d have thought the novelty would’ve worn off by now. DH said the same, that he feels so happy every time he gets into the drive, when he’s sitting in the back garden etc.

For those that live in pretty much their dream home in their dream location, does the novelty ever wear off? In 10 years time will we be pretty apathetic towards it all?

I worry so much that it’s all going to come crashing down so I’m really trying to enjoy it as I know I might not always feel as fortunate as I do now.

OP posts:
Echobelly · 23/04/2021 21:27

Our house is still a work in progress, so I don't know about nice, but I am still so glad about the extra space. I thank God we've been here and not in our flat (lovely as it was) in lockdown.

Foobydoo · 23/04/2021 21:29

It is because you have found your Shangri-la.

ssd · 23/04/2021 21:30

Id live to see some pictures of these houses

wingsnthat · 23/04/2021 21:32

Yes it definitely can. The grass is always greener elsewhere. You might just end up wanting and craving something different as time goes on. Upsize/downsize. Be nearer/further away from loved ones. New job etc

SavingsQuestions · 23/04/2021 21:34

Wow some of you are so lucky.

I always assumed we'd move when we had kids to a nicer area/house. My heart sinks a bit everytime we drive home 😔

VaVaGloom · 23/04/2021 21:35

I remember how excited I was at moving to our new house 5 years ago. I do still love it & we are very happy here but as human nature goes I do still have a few things I would still want in a 'dream house'. My aspirational searches on rightmove have just gone up a notch.

Previously when we went to stay in hotels or holiday rentals they often had features my old houses didn't but often now our new house is nicer than the places we stay and so it's lovely coming home. I do feel fortunate that my family have a nice home, particularly during the last year.

theemmadilemma · 23/04/2021 21:38

Ohhhh watching with interest. We've been here 5 months and I still can't stop smiling!

Wheelerdeeler · 23/04/2021 21:40

We are in our house over 2 years. Its a 3 bed terrace but we love it. Reality is, it is what we can afford in this area. We are not overlooked. We have wonderful sun in the garden in the evenings. We wake to birdsong as there's loads of trees. It's nothing special but we are so grateful for it.

blueshoes · 23/04/2021 21:41

The novelty never wears off. My heart sings. People who walk down our street turn to look at our house and the wisteria over the front door. They touch the flowers in the planters outside. The houses next to ours have had more work done and look immaculate and grander, I think. We kept our 1930s facade and original features and our front garden is not manicured. But it is ours and ours to love.

WhySoSensitive · 23/04/2021 21:41

11 years in, two houses in the same location but have adored both. Feel very lucky every time I drive home or away!

oobedobe · 23/04/2021 21:41

I think it is just about creating a home you love and enjoy spending time in.

I feel like this about our home, an ordinary 3 bed house, but I am always grateful for the space we have, nice big bedroom/walk-in closet, projector in the basement, children have their own rooms, nice south facingdeck in the garden, great storage space, not overlooked at the back or front, close to nature paths, ponds etc.

For my work i am often in much fancier grander homes, and mine can feel a little small after spending the day in one of those, but I still prefer my cosy little house in many ways.

If I am ever tempted to move, I just do the figures and realize I do not want to owe the bank a massive amount and that cures that feeling.

blueshoes · 23/04/2021 21:43

Our back garden sees robins, parakeets, squirrels, neighbour's cats. A busy little oasis of green.

nzeire · 23/04/2021 21:43

12 years in our slightly rotten, old crooked mad house... I absolutely adore it. No money to do it up, but every little thing we do to it makes me happy... tiny, surrounded by big done up villas, we feel pretty lucky!

gottakeeponmovin · 23/04/2021 21:47

I adore my house. It's my dream home and one of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen. I still go wow every time I drive towards it 8 years later.

Foolintherain · 23/04/2021 21:49

I adore my castle. It's so big and I love the sound of the peacocks that wander the grounds. The moat is a pita to keep clean though.

AuntyMabelandPippin · 23/04/2021 21:51

I used to have an Edwardian house, my absolute favourite house. I thought we'd be there forever, but circumstances meant we had to move locations.

We're now in a much more modern house, but we have the most fabulous views. The house isn't to my liking, as I love old houses, but the views and location can't be bettered.

I think we'll come out of here feet first.

DuckonaBike · 23/04/2021 22:00

@waterproofed

I feel this way about my DCs.

My dream children made flesh. I’m so grateful for them.

But yeah, the house is not too shabby either. We only just moved (3 months) so the novelty definitely hasn’t worn off. @Havanna1 I’m delighted to know you are still smitten 2 years in.

Completely feel the same (about the DCs)!

And back to the house ... moved here 6 years ago and still think it’s lovely. It really makes me happy, it’s our home. It’s wonderful that so many people go on enjoying and appreciating the home they have and the novelty really doesn’t wear off.

MirandaMarple · 23/04/2021 22:05

I know what you mean, OP. I feel like I live in an idyllic holiday let and I'll have to go home soon.

Only been in the house for 10 months. When I moved my top priority was a view and it has that in droves.

It's an old property and every weekend is busy doing stuff for maintenance etc (I read and agree with another property post that an old house becomes a hobby, and it is)

I adore the house, actually tell people I'm in love with it.

Confusedandshaken · 23/04/2021 22:05

@Foolintherain

I adore my castle. It's so big and I love the sound of the peacocks that wander the grounds. The moat is a pita to keep clean though.
Lol. My aunt used to have peacocks (in the garden of her very shabby smallholding) and the noise they made was atrocious. They eventually went wild fending for themselves in a wood behind the house. The people that eventually bought the house made it a condition that the peacocks were rounded up and disposed of before they would exchange contracts on the property. I can only assume the people that took them on had 100s of acres or were deaf.

The male used to wander into the road and stop traffic by spreading his increasingly shabby looking tail feathers!

murbblurb · 23/04/2021 22:07

Never. Just praying that the threat to the area never happens - our fuckwit government and their road obsession...

Woodlandbelle · 23/04/2021 22:09

I love our house too. Its a bit of a dream and took a lot of work. I love it more than I did when we moved in.

HmmmmmmInteresting · 23/04/2021 22:09

Lol. My aunt used to have peacocks (in the garden of her very shabby smallholding) and the noise they made was atrocious. They eventually went wild fending for themselves in a wood behind the house. The people that eventually bought the house made it a condition that the peacocks were rounded up and disposed of before they would exchange contracts on the property. I can only assume the people that took them on had 100s of acres or were deaf.

The male used to wander into the road and stop traffic by spreading his increasingly shabby looking tail feathers!

LOL, at this, and at @Foolintherain's joke Grin

icdtap · 23/04/2021 22:10

I love my flat even more now since the pandemic started as I've been in it more.
I've had it for 14 years now and I had a wobble about 3 or 4 years ago but that was probably due to having dirty bastard ex living in it. I wanted somewhere bigger etcetc.

So I think you might have phases where the novelty wears off but it comes back.
Or you might want to update the kitchen or bathroom and then you get a fresh wind of novelty for a while

MzHz · 23/04/2021 22:12

Our house has an innate peace that is tangible

If people come to disturb that, the atmosphere changes

We protect this house and have worked had to fix all the wrongs and bodges, in turn it feels like it’s protecting us right back.

We have fucking awful neighbours, but we’re winning... slowly. But even they can’t penetrate the peace of our home

This is potentially our last house, there’s nowhere I like more than this house (and I do a LOT of Country Life property porn)

It’s so nice to know that so many are so content too. That’s really heart warming

AlohaMolly · 23/04/2021 22:13

I actually quite dislike the actual house I live in, but this is the location I dreamed about raising a family in, ever since I was 16 and, two years later, I moved 300 miles away from my family to make sure that happened.

10 years after I did that, I brought my son home to this house, where we can see mountains from our backyard, walk to lakes, forests, waterfalls, slate mountains/quarries and those aforementioned mountains from our front door. DS is in reception and adores his school, 8 minutes walk from home. It’s just perfect and, every day, not even joking, I feel lucky. Today it was because I could see all the mountaintops clearly in the bright blue sky.