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?

I’m firmly working class. I have/had a good fair few of the offending items. I’ve always been about having a hygge home. Comfy, cosy and warm that people can enjoy being in. Adding bits that reflect your taste and personality. I guess live laugh love signs were just to add decor and reflect a happy home, as naff/cliche as they have become.

I have taken this thread in good humour. It’s mainly a discussion of fashions that go out of date and are regarded as naff and yes, the lower classes are probably the wider target market for them. So what. The upper classes in their rambling abodes with dust and Birkenstocks and overgrown monsteras are not so amazing 😁

I for one hate the twee ‘live laugh love’ and ‘gin o clock’ signs but my BFF has one and her home is warm, cosy and a loving, clean environment for her family to live in. Do I judge her for that sign. Absolutely not! Nor the little bits of bling.

Let’s all lighten up a bit...

Not sure if you can say ‘lower class’ anymore!

I really dislike log burners - in the wrong house. Fine in a country cottage or barn but in a house where everything else is super modern? No. (I know this won't be popular!)

I'm also finding the excess of Farrow and Ball paint rather dull. Some are nice but again some people seem to think buying F&B makes a multitude of other sins disappear - it doesn't, especially when you're painting tiles!!

I also have a strong dislike for pebbles/stones on flower beds.

Eek no. I mean working class, lower mid class.

I don’t define by classes personally. Who does these days?!

Crushed velvet
Mirrored furniture
Fake panelling and character property features in new builds
red/raspberry carpet
pale leather sofas
Disney items on display (unless they belong to a child of course)

Naff signs with 70's humour that say things like "My wife and I were happy for 20 years....then we met". I hate that shit.

Also Live Laugh Love / Dance like no one's watching quotes

I don’t define by classes personally. Who does these days?!

Everyone, but no one on MN will admit it. Hopefully we no longer judge people negatively according to class, but there are still significant culture and social differences between different social demographics in the UK (and in the US and Australia, even though they pretend to be classless). Anyone who claims otherwise is extremely inobservant or a liar.

Knife block shaped like a person, I truly hate this!

Also (and I've only ever seen this on Instagram "homes") but people who put their books on bookshelves the wrong way round - so spines are inwards, pages are outwards. WHY!

I remember seeing it on some sponsored ad on Facebook and the poor fells had nothing but comments on his bookshelves all over the ad

@kindaclassy

I am curious, if you know you will get offended by a thread like this, why do you even bother to read it?

The title couldn't be clearer

Am certainly not offended. I find them funny as it shows just how judgemental people can be.

I can't think of a single occasion where I have judged someone else's home as "naff" or been able to list things in it that I thought were "naff". I appreciate people have different tastes. I like the things in my home. Others like the way things are decorated in theirs.

Only on Mumsnet is photos of your family on the wall considered naff!

@Anystarinthesky

Knife block shaped like a person, I truly hate this!

Bit off tangent, but that was the kind of thing you used to get in those "ATHENA" shops in the 90's! I wonder if anyone else remembers those?

They'd sell things like melted Pepsi bottles, clocks made out of CD's and many, many posters of unicorns?

My DH talks about things being naff etc. I think it’s all about personal taste and creating a home that is your space and a place you love. I’ve seen people who have saved for years to buy a first home and then hear people criticising furniture bought at Next, to them that is aspirational. It’s a bit like when BJ said he couldn’t furnish is flat from John Lewis, for me that would be living the dream as Lewis’ is just lovely.
I come from mixed heritage and things like carpets on walls and patterned bed spreads are in a lot of homes. I don’t like that at all, I much prefer minimalism but I respect the cultural references etc.
So I think it is fine to like or not like stuff, but let’s never judge people as life can be short 💕

"plantar faciiitis" sounds terribly posh and much more upper class than joggers heel.

I didn't even know it was called that. I just call it what my podiatrist said it was.

If you have plantar faciitis you need to wear shoes, preferably ones "dispensed" at a specialist shoe shop. Slippers and socks will not help at all.

Completely an aside from this thread but they do help a little. I didn't know there were specialist shoe shops who can dispense specialist shoes. Sounds very worth investigating as I have been in pain for 8 months+. Can you advise any specific places to investigate? I am still on WL for podiatrist so would be good to get ahead of his advise.

@Doilooklikeatourist

We were house hunting , one that immediately went on the don’t touch with a barge pole list , after a drive by had This house Is filled With love and laughter Written in curly wire by the front door 🤢🤢🤢

You could remove the sign if you bought the house!!

Wondering what people have on their walls instead of family portraits etc?

@NewPage

My DH talks about things being naff etc. I think it’s all about personal taste and creating a home that is your space and a place you love. I’ve seen people who have saved for years to buy a first home and then hear people criticising furniture bought at Next, to them that is aspirational. It’s a bit like when BJ said he couldn’t furnish is flat from John Lewis, for me that would be living the dream as Lewis’ is just lovely. I come from mixed heritage and things like carpets on walls and patterned bed spreads are in a lot of homes. I don’t like that at all, I much prefer minimalism but I respect the cultural references etc. So I think it is fine to like or not like stuff, but let’s never judge people as life can be short 💕

This 100%

@HeronLanyon

In the interest of balance because everyone who likes the above things (and they are popular) stays quiet - Loads of dusty old books Old wooden furniture Abstract art Clutter Gardens full of plants and messy Lots of colour Pretentious wicker/marble/cast iron things and overpriced foody things. Etc

A user called HeronLanyon finds abstract art naff? Really?!

Furnishing my home at John Lewis would be my dream! Some people honestly have no idea of reality.
My house would definitely be considered naff to many on here.

I have a few of those dreaded quote signs. Most of them were given to me and reflect me and funny things. They’re funny quotes (not LLL however). They’re not painted on, just on hooks. I don’t get why people would be “totally put off” from buying a house with them in. They don’t need to stay!

I would love a hot tub! But my overlooked courtyard garden wouldn’t accommodate it well (before we even start the cost!)

I’m also one with lots of cushions, blankets, throws and pictures around the place. It makes it homely and comfortable.

I know everything is down to taste at the end of the day. I visit friends homes sometimes and think in my head “oh god what have you done to this room” but never mind, it isn’t my house!

What the heck is wrong with family photos?! Or are we just talking about staged photos with everyone matching on oversized canvases?

I do agree on artificial grass though!

And I love my books and can’t part with them. Managed to Chuck the bulk of DVDs recently.

My personal gripe thing is fake panelling, especially in modern homes. It doesn’t work in 70s built houses.

Dad used to have a No Smoking sign that I think he nicked from a restaurant.

surfer it was, as stated, for balance

Had to laugh about 70s retro furniture being well made. I remember in the 70s people complaining about the quality of furniture as in "they don't build them like they used to" "won't last five minutes" etc.

@AgathaAllAlong

Only on Mumsnet is photos of your family on the wall considered naff!

You know that MN posters are real-life people don't you?

It is naff, but so what?

@kennelmaid

Had to laugh about 70s retro furniture being well made. I remember in the 70s people complaining about the quality of furniture as in "they don't build them like they used to" "won't last five minutes" etc.

I wasn't even born, but isn't the concept of buying furniture like a sofa and having to bin them after a few years relatively recent?