Why are so many houses so similar?

[PoorOldCat]

I get updates from rightmove every day and I think about 90% of the houses have really similar interiors.

Everyone seems to have laminate floor, brown leather sofas, the ubiquitous 'feature wall' in some awful oversized floral pattern, steel and black framed things and huge tellys. And the kitchens and bathrooms all seem to be the P shaped shower bath and the varying shades of beige tiles.

I don't understand why, it's like looking at a display in B&Q over and over again. It's so ugly. But most of all it's so dull.

Do people like this stuff or is it just fashion, which no one really likes aside from the fact it makes your house look identical to other people's?

Finding a house to be proper nosey at, that has some sort of identity of its own is hard work.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to do or why it pisses me off so much, and I certainly don't want to offend anyone who does like their house this way...all the agents seem to say these are beautifully presented and will be very popular, so maybe it is just me who hates it, in which case, I'll take the flack

But why is it so popular to have your house like this? Because I just don't understand.

My place is a new build but I like to think it's welcoming and not like every other house! I can't go mad with the vintage stuff as it wouldn't look right. On the other hand the walls aren't magnolia, yes there's a feature wall but there's also antique mirrors and things to look at. I like people to wander and pick things up. Some pics
Kitchen
instagram.com/p/htcX17Nd6z/

Bedroom
instagram.com/p/fjAXZBtdwj/

Living room (hides from feature wall haters)
instagram.com/p/htcjS0Nd68/

Hi goodasitgets, I really agree with what others are saying, I think the most important thing is to be comfortable in the space you live in but no matter what we have in our homes we can always improve how the space feels. one trick is to give each object it's space. For example try pulling your sofa few inches away from the wall and see the effect. Let me know what u think about my comment :)

Really interesting thread... And watching HUTH this morning really sims it up- developer doing up the lovely Victorian terrace rips out the beautiful original cornicing and fireplaces and bannister, and the f**g EA are gushing over it. It's vandalism....!! I think you can retain period features and make properties neutral enough to rent or sell.

Someone cleverer than me will I'm sure correct me, but I understand that Victorian era properties are generally well built, but Georgian properties were not. More than that, there was a big view in the post war period the Georgian properties were bland boxes not worthy of saving! I think the same feeling now goes for Victorian properties- they're not old enough to warrant the special protection that Georgian properties do (ie lisiting status), but come with similar flaws (poorly insulated, expensive to maintain?)

I had an interesting comment on my house from my niece - who lives in exactly the sort of house the OP was talking about (magnolia, beige, leather sofas, looking like something straight out of the Next at home catalogue). My house is full of dark wood furniture (mostly inherited), mismatches sofas, fabrics and carpets sourced directly from the Middle East and India... Anyway, she said "what's amazing Auntie Santa, is that although nothing matches, it all goes". It was a total revelation to her --as the entire family lives in indentikit bland Next At Home boxes.

Mine is a bland 80s box, but I have tried to do something a bit more classic/original inside if you ignore the greige walls, granite ?orktops and shaker island kitchen

My house says
Father Ted eat your heart out

I saw the tail end of HUTH, I saw the 1930's house where the fireplace, lovely wood as well was removed.

Our 1940s NCB terrace (built to the same internal layout as the council properties down the road) doesn't have period features to restore or be sensitive to. That said, it suits a slightly cottagey IKEA meets Laura Ashley look just fine. I agree that there does appear to be a rather unimaginative standard look to so many houses, but for a lot of people, that is what's affordable and easy to source. Not everyone has £25,000 to spend on a kitchen. I certainly wouldn't spend that on ours, as it would be about 40% of the value of the house. When we change the kitchen, it will be a simple B&Q jobby for a few thousand. We've kept hold of the old 1980s kitchen for the decade we've been here as the old fashioned oak doors are beautiful, but the base units are rotten and it's not well laid out, so we do need to change it.

We have a tiny 1980s ex housing association box.

historic and interesting just doesn't look right. We've got odd bits of inherited furniture r instead of looking Classic and understated they just look old and out of place.

I think the house you start with makes a difference. Tiny 1980s bland box shape suits ikea style furniture it seems. I'd love a large country cottage like relatives that I could really explore style with but I'm limited h house and budget wise.

Agree goodness.
Our house was built in 1985 and has had a conservatory and garage conversion so lots of living space, but the furniture and styles I like (Art Deco) would not look right at all.
Our oak ikea furniture does look right, however.

To me, the whole point about a home is just that... it is a home. That means it should reflect the personalities and the needs of the people who live in it.

I'm sure a lot of people would turn their noses up at our house, particularly at the uPVC windows, but it is warm, welcoming and comfortable. As long as you are happy in your home then nobody else's opinion should matter

OP, I think a few people on this thread have taken you as saying that everyone should conform to your taste. But I get that you're saying the opposite: that it's a shame so many people feel that to protect the resale value of their home they should magnolia-and-beige it, even if that's not what they actually like.

I don't have any more artistic flair than the next person, and my house is not beautiful or original. (Though I do have an impressive list of probably quite irrational decor hates, including spotlights, breakfast bars, kitchen islands, standalone baths, wall-hung TVs, dining suites and most especially those fabric covers you get for dining chairs.) But I do enjoy a bit of diversity, a bit of being able to read something about the owners from their home.

clam, I actually like your 3rd house - you could really do something with that! The 1st one gave me the heebie-jeebies. Looks like vampires live there.

Devora I don't think it's the OP's posts that give those impressions but those of other posters agreeing with each other which imply there is some kind of style rules like brown leather sofas, uPVC windows, modernised homes, etc are always naff.

What is wrong with a dining suite Devora?

I have just replaced ours and it looks so much better than our old teak table and chairs. The colour goes better with the room as well - yellow walls, blue patterned curtains and light oak laminate flooring (yes I know, but it was there when we moved in and I don't hate laminate floors)

Where do you eat your dinner?

Thanks Devora - and Piscivorus, I agree with you too about a home being just that. It's the only place you can have how you want - if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity/finances/etc to do so.

I have a brown leather sofa. But in a different sort of context - it's not on a background of mag walls and an acrylic rug and some 'wall art' from Argos, and teal striped curtains from Dunelm mill. More like dodgy anaglypta from 1985, (but we're renting)

I don't think brown sofas are naff at all. I think the fashion for certain things is naff - but that is indeed more about the ubiquity of them than the objects themselves.

I DID say it was probably irrational, Bunbaker - I'm not expecting anyone to agree with me . Same goes for kitchen islands - I'm sure there's a million reasons why they're a great thing, but they still give me the creeps.

I eat my dinner off mismatched chairs (5 from local restaurant clear-out) and a nasty orangey pine table that came with the house. I've painted the lot with chalk paint and thrown a tablecloth over. I can't wait till I can afford to do up my kitchen - your dining suite is undoubtedly far nicer

That set up would just look awful in my tiny dining room in my 1996 built house.

We don't have a dining table. I had one for years and never used it - it's now my computer desk, which I am sitting at eating my dinner from a dish with a spoon next to the keyboard

My children seem to manage fine eating on their laps in the living room...yikes, parenting fail

I hate eating from a plate on my lap. It gives me a stomach ache to eat hunched over my food.

We eat as a family round the dining table. We often have friends over for a meal as well.

Different lives, different homes.

My dining room table is currently upside down being used as a den...

At least in the new house DD will have a playroom and I can eat my dinner in the kitchen!

I have only just got my dining table back!
It's been home to a huge papier mâché brachiosaurus over half term
thanks ds1s science teacher

Isn't it funny?
In our last house we did loads of work and extended and made a huge dining kitchen. Range oven, wooden worktops the works.
I hated it!
The Belfast sink didn't keep the heat of the water in and I smashed loads of stuff in it.
The range oven was a nightmare to clean and I rarely used all the hobs and never used the grill.
The wooden worktop looks fab, by its so impractical.
And I really disliked eating surrounded by the detritus and smells of cooking (although tbf I am a very messy cook)
I have a much smaller kitchen now and prefer it. I like eating away from all the mess.
I also hate kitchen islands but can't really explain why.

Tell me about painting chairs... I have mismatched ones. Do I need to sand first... Just paint? That chalk paint... Do I need to wax?

They look awful at the moment!

I wouldn't manage without a table. What do you do if you have guests for dinner? We've a tiny house but I couldn't not have a table to easy from.

Thing is, it takes resources to make your house beautiful. Money really helps, but if you don't have that then time, DIY skills or just unswerving dedication. I do admire people who make their homes truly their own, even if I don't share their taste.

Same with fashion. I know a beautiful outfit when I see it, but I don't give any priority to it for myself. My wardrobe is the equivalent of brown leather sofas and laminate flooring. I don't feel defensive about that, and it doesn't stop me admiring those who choose to be more stylish.

Yes I agree. We would have a very different house if we had the money to replace things, or buy some pretty rugs etc etc. Ii'd love some original artwork (some lovely non expensive local artists) I'd love to do the "lego table" that is going around on facebook. Lots and lots of ideas, but without any resources we can't do them!