What do you notice when walking in someone's house? - Page 2

[accountclosed3]

what a fascinating question!

we are now TV free (and home free, and basically own 12 boxes of books, 1 chair, 2 trunks of toys/instruments, two lap tops and 10 bags of clothes and etceteras to take with us to new zealand).

we are staying with friends who are TV lite, but their TV is HUGE (like, a zillion inches or something). by TV lite, i mean they watch TV occasionally after their LO goes to bed at 8.

the first thing i noticed when i moved into their home was the clutter. i bet that, a year or so ago, you would have noticed the same thing at my house. and you would have for the past decade.

but in Oct, i got our house down to a bare minimum (to sell it--we sold it before it went on the market though), and then i kept paring down until we got to what we own right now. for the first time in his life, my husband lived clutter free and *loved* it and wants to continue.

we will be TV free (though screen lite---we love movies and watch them about 1-2x per month) in NZ, and i think we might just stay that way (i'm hoping! DH is not entirely "on board.").

but it is true that you do notice whatever is most striking about a place when you first enter. i felt that our TV was too striking in our last house--even though we only used it to play CDs and those occasional movies!

we look forward to this adventure. i wonder what people will think when we do have a place in NZ? too empty? LOL

[Honey693]

That seems really weird that people ask. I know a lot of people who have their TVs downstairs in the rec/family room (us included) and the living room is couches, chairs and bookcases.

I usually notice their couches. I hate ours and have serious couch lust these days. I also notice where they have their shoes. I hate the way we store shoes so I'm on the lookout for a better idea.

[St. Margaret]

Originally Posted by fustian

The first thing I notice when I enter someone's house is whether it feels comfortable to me. Lived and loved in.

I also like to see what books people have in their houses, if any. I love perusing book collections. A surprising number of people don't seem to have any books around. However, it would be considered rude to say "Where are your books?"

You would think I have no books if you visited me, but my bedroom and DD's are stuffed to the gills with books. I used to have them downstairs, but recently we reorganized the house. I was a little worried about having an entire room with no books displayed! (DD has an entire shelf in her nook under the stairs, too)

I would never notice a "missing" TV. I would notice if the place felt like it had a good vibe-- clean and comfy.

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by AFWife

I wanted to ask this in TV Free because so many have said when visitors come in the first thing they ask is, "Where's your TV?" So, I wanted to know what you, as TV Free Mamas, notice when walking in a house??

Well, I'm not TV free, but the first things I notice about a person's house is if it's welcoming, with open spaces, comfy places to sit, clean, smells fresh but not perfumed, has a spacious kitchen, is uncluttered, the colors, furniture layout, pictures hanging on the wall, and whether or not they have animals. I don't think I'd even notice whether or not they have a TV.

[suziek]

We are thinking of putting our house on the market and had our realtor here the other day. He asked me where the tv was three times--in the living room an bedroom and kids' room. funny.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by Sailor

The first question that always pops into my head, and has always popped into my head - ever since I knew how to read - is "where are all the books?"

I come from a family of bookworms, and I'm one myself. Every single member of my family has a house filled wall to wall with books. No wallpaper for us - just books, lol.

My house is slightly less than this as I'm a minimalist. I try to stick to just one bookcase. But, I still have stacks and stacks of library books lying around everywhere.

I don't know if the people I know hide all their books or just don't read, but it's the very first thing I notice - the lack of books.
.

Me, too.

Which reminds me of the Anna Quindlen quote: "I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the type of people who think decorating a house consists mainly of building enough bookshelves."

[rainyday]

I don't know very many people who have their TV in the living room, so when I do see one right there, I'm always surprised.

Otherwise, I notice scent.

[*bejeweled*]

I always notice the way a home smells. Later how comfortable and welcoming it is.

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by rainyday

I don't know very many people who have their TV in the living room, so when I do see one right there, I'm always surprised.

Otherwise, I notice scent.

Where else would a TV be?

[Theoretica]

I notice the smell. And I do notice if they have a massive big screen with furniture circling it like some kind of ritual performance

[choli]

I'm not a TV free person, though I don't watch it much. However, when I go to someone's house, I hardly notice the house at all, I'm usually focused on the people. Much more interesting...

[LisainCalifornia]

Originally Posted by MommyKelly

People always ask us where is our TV. Followed by they either think I am kidding, or ask me " What do you do to keep the kids quiet?" Which I find sad.

I notice the toys if they are out, or I try to see whats on the bookcase if there is one.

That is interesting--because I have never used our tv to keep anyone (including kids) quiet--just to watch and enjoy--just like we enjoy the computer which I am sure YOU do too!

I guess I just don't get this question....

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by LisainCalifornia

That is interesting--because I have never used our tv to keep anyone (including kids) quiet--just to watch and enjoy--just like we enjoy the computer which I am sure YOU do too!

I guess I just don't get this question....

Honestly, since we ditched the TV's a couple years ago I can't believe how many people ask me where it is, or how I get anything done without it. So it makes sense to me to ask from a different perspective

When I had it I didn't use it like that either, but I'm pretty comfortable wagering that isn't the societal norm, ykwim?

[Mrs.Burke]

Funny but the first thing I notice in someones house is also the TV maybe that's why people wonder where is the TV..

[RoundAbout]

I find this topic really interesting. We are not TV free but definitely TV-lite (no cable or reception but we enjoy Netflix) and we have a 46 inch flatscreen in the living room and people often don't notice it. It's very weird. We often get questions like "Do you even own a TV?" or "Do you let your son watch any television?" I think this is due to a few things:

1) We seem counter-culture and like the kind of people who don't watch television
2) We have a ton of books that drown out the TV
3) Our TV is never, ever own when company comes over (every one of our friends do this and it seems incredibly rude unless you're gathered together to watch a game or the Oscars or something).
4) Our main seating area is in a sunroom and is not centered around the TV.

I have no idea what I notice in other people's houses first. Clutter definitely catches my eye in a negative way. Family photos are fun to look at.

[honey-lilac]

This thread makes me wonder what my house smells like to outsiders!

[*bejeweled*]

Honey and lilac?

Originally Posted by honey-lilac

This thread makes me wonder what my house smells like to outsiders!

[major_mama11]

The first thing I notice is the smell, always. That and how "lived in" the house looks (ie, what kind of odds and ends are lying around).