Naff things in other people's houses (Tongue in Cheek)

[pinkpapaya]

I know that it is a question of each to his own etc but what do you find naff in other people's homes? I was invited round to neighbour's today to gawp at their new gas barbecue that is the size of a Challenger tank. They were terribly proud of it and the husband was lovingly caressing it whilst the wife was squealing in anticipation of all the hot sausage her man was going to serve her! All I could think was 'Why? Why? Why?' What do you find naff in other people's homes and why?

@FindingMeno

Artificial flowers, lots of family photos on the walls, and every form of scent diffuser/ air freshener known to mankind every few paces.

🙋🏼‍♀️ that's our house.

The artificial flowers are going to the Charity shop next week as I'm decluttering.
We have a family and friends photo wall.
There is a Reed diffuser in the downstairs loo.

@TheBullfinch

I think the problem is that the contents of your house doesnt always reflect your own taste.

Well meaning but misguided friends and family are responsible for some of the questionable items in my house but I cant bear to get rid of them for fear of offending the giver.

One drawback of having a minimalist style is that well meaning people mistake it for poverty and give 'stuff' as gifts because "your house is so bare." I've learned to live with the Ladro figurine but had an unfortunate mishap with the Clarice Cliffe vase.

Hee hee! You sound like my friend whose father decided she needed to collect those Royal Doulton ladies in crinoline dresses when she got married. Each anniversary, another bone china horror! She loathed them and used to have to get them out of the shed and arrange them each time he came to visit!

Artificial flowers, lots of family photos on the walls, and every form of scent diffuser/ air freshener known to mankind every few paces.

@FindingMeno I imagine someone has already said, but potpourii. Dried flowers are kind of nice, but also kitsch/eerie.

To go retro- ornaments of ballerinas, or my nan had 2 matching king charles spaniels.

Oh and Pierrots/Harlequin clowns. But I've had wine and probably need to well and truly RTFT

Those cutesy little signs, often painted on tin and hanging about a bed, that say, "Always Kiss Me Goodnight." It just strikes me as a bit obsessive.

Man cave 😡

MN snobbery about tv sizes never cease to amaze me, the old 51cm tvs are rare, TV sizes are mostly above 100cm

Twigs and pebbly shit. Obvs.

@HeronLanyon

Well only playing if I say there are things in my house which others would not doubt find naff - All word art of any type anywhere Light boxes Kitchen islands Large family photos on the wall (blown up studio portraits) Heart shaped ‘things’ or lots of pink things knickknacks. Mugs with messages or ‘funny’ quotes etc Dish washing brush (I don’t know why) A toilet brush Air freshener plug ins Lots of candles Lots of cushions

Going to commit a sin here and jump in at page 1!

What’s wrong with a kitchen island? I don’t have one, no way I could fit one in, but don’t think I’d ever have an issue with a kitchen that could accommodate one.

@HeronLanyon What's the alternative to a toilet brush? I suppose some people don't use them but most do. I got a posh rubber one cos I break the normal ones, I'm too rough.

Toilet brushes are fine, unless in the hands of my DH. He never flushes / bleaches it after use, leaving it covered in... So, I can see why people hate them!

I buy home interior mags now instead of fashion glossies. Every couple pages, I’ll be like “fucking hell, will you look at this? Wankers!” to DH. Nobody featured ever has any original ideas...

Air fresheners, especially plug-ins or those ones that intermittently spray.

My mum has fiddly hearts etc... hanging from every cupboard door. They get stuck every time you close the doors!

I hate the new dried flowers / old dusty reeds thing... So fugly!

In my own house, I’d love less IKEA.

I maintain that the people who don’t have toilet brushes also don’t have any friends, or at least never invite them around to their house.

You cannot entertain, and not give people the means to clean the loo after themselves. 🤢

The only thing I have mentioned is family photos, but so what? Tell us all how your house is the epitome of good taste OP. In fact please attach photos so I know what my house should look like.

coir doormats
moses baskets
instant coffee

BINGO!

I think I have got a full house now.

I don't think that there is anything left in my house not currently listed.

Do I win something?

Can I have another flamingo?

Woohoooo

Afriend of a friend of my parents made a snarky remark about a painting they have above their fire place. Its a (legitimate) copy of an original. She was disparaging about people who have copies of "proper" artwork and how she would only have originals in her house. Ma and Pa didnt say anything, being a) too good mannered and b) too smug.

The reason its a copy is that the original was wrongly appraised 30
years ago and my father bought it for a song for my mother in an auction. Very low 3 figures. When they were getting it reframed the framer had a hunch, it was reappraised and turned out to be an original which is worth more than their house and is now kept very safely!

I do think that the painting is a bit naff tbh (romantic, not my thing) , but my sister loves it which is why it will be left to her in their wills, with my blessing. So dont judge....you can never be sure

I have four garden gnomes called Charles, Edward, Andrew and Phillip which I bought from the Pound Shop and which I bought as a sort of irony. I know they are naff, but I still like them!

@Atalune

I don’t mind this thread and the naff claims are funny but the inverse snobbery is cringe! Cop on to yourselves.

Oh I have dusty books! Oh get me. I’m better vom vom vom

It's just part of that British class thing where 'wealthy people wear old clothes and only have antique furniture'. So look like shit all the time and their furniture is quite frankly ugly and dusty like the rest of their house.

But yes I have loads of dusty books and a worn carpet and animals and no grey and an overgrown garden for the birds.

Fucking glad I live in Australia where people decorate how they like and no one calls it naff.

I can ignore most things and just breathe as sigh of relief when i get home to my own rather untidy boho/hippy palace and shut the door but I cannot forgive the vile salt and pepper shakers in the kitchen at work which are two cross eyed stupid looking cows with their tongues hanging out. I'm plotting their imminent demise because they offend me everytime I look at them. I can only imagine the horror of working in a factory that produces that rubbish.

@FindingMeno

Artificial flowers, lots of family photos on the walls, and every form of scent diffuser/ air freshener known to mankind every few paces.

You'd better not come over to my place then !

[quote EversoDelighted]@Justkeepleft same here, they are on our patio doors at the far end of the kitchen, there isn't room for curtains and no other sort of blind would work.[/quote]
Same here.

So much grey. I don't understand the current trend. When houshunting a short time ago so many houses appeared to be shot in monochrome until I'd spot a single yellow cushion.

I will defend anyone having reproductions anyway@PyongyangKipperbang. If you love a painting, have it on your wall. A love of a piece of art is joyous, even if you can't afford the original Botticelli 😉

I haven't read the thread and make no apology for it. I'm assuming those massive airbrushed/soft focusy 'couple' photos or wedding photos or pregnancy photos hanging on the wall have been mentioned?

My house is loaded with art copies.

@WeatherwaxLives

I have a pink bathroom suite....

Jealous of this.

Oh dear....

Hearts hanging from cupboard door handles - tick
Artificial flowers - tick
Reed diffusers - tick
It's my home and I don't care if these things are considered naff - tick.