Northerners & Southerners Different Taste in Home Furnishings

phoebe1989seb

DH and I (in our forties) are from Hampshire, now living in Wiltshire via Essex. We are definitely not fans of frilly, chintzy interiors with twee ornaments, but also hate minimalism, twigs, 'greige' and those signs referred to by namecheck.

However, we collect Arts & Crafts furniture and love Art Nouveau, Pre-raphaelite art etc which is not to everyone's taste We have various collections of what some would call *stuff* - for example art pottery (we collect a certain type) and have previously collected vast quantities of taxidermy butterflies

When we lived briefly in East Essex (3 years) we noticed that people there had that love for chintzy, over the top (and what we also considered to be slightly *Northern*) taste!

Pennywise2012

My theory is that it's more of an age thing than a geography thing. The 'northern look' is a pensioners look, and the 'southern look' is a younger peoples look.

If that's the case, then either more Northern old people move house than their Southern counterparts, or more Southern younger people move house.

Based on precisely zero empirical evidence, I think it's that more Southern younger people move house. And because I'm a Northerner, I have the vague and unformed suspicion that it's because of That London.

geoffky

we are minimalistic.. and married..

BritAbroad

I'm a northerner, and love super contemporary, clean lines, and ultra-modern furniture. In saying that, I also like to throw something quirky or unusual into the mix. I love natural textures and materials, and I like most rooms to have a nod to the outdoors, eg plants etc. I'm not a minimalist, but I don't like tons of clutter either.

Where I live though, home decor styles are stuck in the 1980s (or worse!) which makes it a bit of a challenge to get decent stuff. My house was built in the 90s but the bathrooms look like something from the 1970s, and not in a good way!

breadlinebetty

chrissie57 wrote: »

Of course it differs - the South has a softer climate so the horrible stark hotel look is reasonable. It also reflects the Southern personality, of course:cool:

Up North, you probably need 'softer' and more comfortable surroundings.

I couldn't answer the poll because I don't like fussy but I detest cold 'hotel' decor. As a previous poster pointed out, this thread is for the out of the ordinary, but also they are houses for sale and I imagine that quite a lot of the sparse ones have hidden clutter stuffed into attics and cupboards:)

I can kind of see that....with.the weather being more grey and dull up north people like to compensate by decorating their homes all frilly?:)

cwcw

:rotfl::rotfl:What complete tosh.

Decor has nothing to do with geography or weather, more to do with age and fashion. The weather being 1 degree cooler and 2mm more rain per year than a few miles down the M1 has zero bearing on interior decor!

Perhaps another possible explanation is that, after paying £350,000 for their shoebox 1 bed flat in an over populated and polluted city and working 60 hours a week (plus commuting another 20 hours per week on overcrowded public transport), that Londoners simply have no money or time left over to decorate and minimalism is borne out of necessity!

If you haven't guessed, I live in the north (however that is defined..), and voted plain.

MrsBno.3

I am a southerner. I can't stand clutter or frills but I also hate cold clinical sitting rooms with the dark brown leather couch and wood floors. No twigs either. Give me a sqidgy sofa and a wood burner anyday.

[Deleted User]

What a stupid thread, I'm sorry but it just seems a little inappropriate. I also think certain posters should keep misinformed opinions to themselves.:cool:

Lizling

There's a problem here with the question. No one is likely to say that like 'frilly' any more than they're going to say they've got bad taste. It should have been a more neutral choice like minimalist vs cosy or modern vs a vintage/classic look.

I think it's quite likely that tastes do vary by region. For one thing house styles and sizes are different, so it makes sense. E.g, I'd definitely go ultra-modern in a little flat in a big glass central London tower block because it suits a modern building and it makes the rooms look bigger, but if I lived in a big house in the countryside I'd go for a more traditional look.

Swan_2

the poll makes no sense, so can't answer with any veracity


what if you're a Northerner who likes plain? ... no option

what if you're a Northerner who likes frilly? ... no option

what if you're a Sourtherner who likes frilly? ... no option

what if you're a Sourtherner who likes plain? ... no option


EDIT ... bollox