Gone are the days of keeping up with the Joneses. When it comes to our homes and judging other people’s style, it seems most Brits think they’re the ones others should be emulating.
Home and Garden on Female First
Over half believe their homes are more tastefully decorated than their friends, with a confident two in three people rating their home style as excellent and having a natural flair for interior design.
According to a survey of more than 3,000 people by HomeSense, nearly two decades of home improvement TV shows have given the nation a ‘sixth sense’, that is, a strong sense of style confidence.
Interior designer, Danielle Proud, comments: “Brits are well known for their quirky, individual sense of style, what's new is their confidence. The vibe is less ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, more ‘the Joneses had better keep up with me!’ It’s great seeing home owners tapping into their 'sixth sense' and being so confident with the looks and schemes they piece together. Shops like HomeSense, and auction houses and websites are ideal places to pick up the unique hero pieces that set off today's most stylish interiors.”
The research also reveals that we are not shy about sharing our shopping habits with friends and family as two thirds of respondents admitted to getting a buzz from telling people about bargains they have bagged.
However, a sly 10% of us disguise our thrifty antics by lying and telling friends and family things cost more than they do to create the illusion of exclusivity. An even sneakier one in six people have been prone to telling their partners they purchased products in the sale when they were fully priced.
The top five favourite home improvement items are:
- Audio, TV and home technology – 39%
- Soft furnishings and furniture – 22%
- Cookware, kitchenware and dining accessories – 18%
- Mirrors, artwork and picture frames – 8%
- Room fragrances, scented candles and bathroom accessories – 7%
Spokesperson for HomeSense, Helen Gunter says, “The UK is clearly more house proud than it has ever been and as people’s confidence in their own sense of style grows, it’s great to see boastful Britons opening up their doors to show off their homes. Despite a third of us believing that it costs a fortune to update our interiors, it’s easy to refresh our living environment with a few simple inexpensive accent pieces such as cushions and throws or artwork and accessories to ensure we stamp our own individual style on our homes."
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