I can't speak for all men. In fact, I've known some that are much more attuned to esthetics than I am. My husband and I mostly agree on things, certainly the basics such as basic cleanliness -- when the dog and human hair on the floor is ankle deep, time to vacuum or bed making-- no need to tuck anything in ever unless company is coming.
I think we need to talk here about cushions, throw pillows - whatever you want to call those squares of color that I think are vital and my husband views as obstacles to his comfort. And the location of the recliner that still functions but is so ratty I blush when others happen by to visit.
Fantastic reply!! Love the ankle deep in hair comment. 😆 and throw pillows- I picked up 2 Ralph Lauren pillows at a thrift store that were brand new and Tom’s comment was “haven’t we always had those?” 🤦🏻♀️😂
I'm not sure it's every guy but most guys could care less what their living space looks like, including my husband. My ex liked a grand exterior but forbid me from painting the white walls (waste of money) or installing granite (ditto). So, we lived in a house with a grand exterior and painter's grade white everywhere. But ironically, he bought original art work because he thought it was an investment and paid someone to hang it. When I heard leaking in the fireplace, he forbade me from calling a repair person. That cost him rather dearly when he sold, years, later, after our divorce, and had to fix all the mold and water in that area. LOL
I don’t claim to care about every detail, but if asked I usually have an opinion, and if that opinion is ignored, then it’s aggravating. One thing I hate is the color gray. The color of a corpse. Color is life.
I’ve been known to tolerate subpar living conditions, but I don’t think it’s that men don’t care so much as that they can compartmentalize if living alone. Sometimes recharging in a chair is time well spent.
A good chair is VERY important- for recharging, reading, or even watching TV :) And I’m with you on the color grey! So how did you answer the poll? (If you did- but maybe the options were too limiting)
I love order. As I age I realize dirt is also not part of order.
Something that makes it easier is to keep cleaning supplies nearby. Like in every bathroom. And now with cordless vacuums and a spare battery there is never a reason to put off just vacuuming it up.
So I am learning.
There is a generalization in early years of adulthood that men keep their car interiors clean and could care less about living areas, while women keep their living areas clean but seem to just leave stuff in the car.
My wife still has to drop hints about some cleaning items, and I still make a trip back to the garage with handfulls of tissues/napkins and other garbage before I drive off in any other car in our house...
I think you’ve always cared about all the details. At least, since living in CA, I can’t remember a place where you lived that you didn’t pay attention to everything- the art, furniture, even your koi pond! I even remember when you decked out your guest bathroom with special soaps and a bathrobe. That was cool.
Rog definitely only cares about a comfy place to sit. If he had a computer & a LaZboy, he’d be perfectly content. He does do the yard work, but all home design, landscaping & renovations are my design. He helps do the heavy lifting, but I do most of it.😀
That doesn’t surprise me. You’re very creative and he’s just grateful that you make the place nice. Amd heavy lifting is a great contribution!! Actually we might be a lot like you two 😁
I'm a guy, and I definitely care about how my house looks. In most cases my wife will pick out the aesthetics in our house, and I will probably agree with 95% of her choices. If I am not in favor of something I will mention it to her. My main concern is that the house is somewhat neat, since at times every surface of our house will get covered with paper, and none of it will be mine. It also drives me crazy when tray tables begin to take on a "piece of furniture status" in a room. At the same time I admit that I will not always notice the lack of cleanliness in the house, but my wife will only have to ask me once before I will chip in on the cleaning.
You make a really good point, Bill, about the difference between neat and clean. Tidy is good feng shui- makes for a calmer more peaceful energy in the home. Cleanliness drills down deeper into details. Thanks for responding!
I'm usually pretty lazy about it, but every so often I just get in the mood to completely reorganize some facet of my home or work environment, like the kitchen or bathroom for example.
Yes! That’s when you know it’s right! you can feel the feng shui, the flow, the ease, the harmony! Funny how long we can live in disarray and then, when we fix it, we think, why didn’t I do this sooner? :)
This was very interesting! My husband wants nothing to do with it and he doesn't care what his space looks like. The only thing he cares about are his houseplants but that only started during Covid. On the other hand, all the blue collar men I meet tell me they are the ones choosing all the finishes.
I can't speak for all men. In fact, I've known some that are much more attuned to esthetics than I am. My husband and I mostly agree on things, certainly the basics such as basic cleanliness -- when the dog and human hair on the floor is ankle deep, time to vacuum or bed making-- no need to tuck anything in ever unless company is coming.
I think we need to talk here about cushions, throw pillows - whatever you want to call those squares of color that I think are vital and my husband views as obstacles to his comfort. And the location of the recliner that still functions but is so ratty I blush when others happen by to visit.
Fantastic reply!! Love the ankle deep in hair comment. 😆 and throw pillows- I picked up 2 Ralph Lauren pillows at a thrift store that were brand new and Tom’s comment was “haven’t we always had those?” 🤦🏻♀️😂
I'm not sure it's every guy but most guys could care less what their living space looks like, including my husband. My ex liked a grand exterior but forbid me from painting the white walls (waste of money) or installing granite (ditto). So, we lived in a house with a grand exterior and painter's grade white everywhere. But ironically, he bought original art work because he thought it was an investment and paid someone to hang it. When I heard leaking in the fireplace, he forbade me from calling a repair person. That cost him rather dearly when he sold, years, later, after our divorce, and had to fix all the mold and water in that area. LOL
Yikes! Your ex sounds like a nightmare. Glad he’s your ex!
I don’t claim to care about every detail, but if asked I usually have an opinion, and if that opinion is ignored, then it’s aggravating. One thing I hate is the color gray. The color of a corpse. Color is life.
I’ve been known to tolerate subpar living conditions, but I don’t think it’s that men don’t care so much as that they can compartmentalize if living alone. Sometimes recharging in a chair is time well spent.
A good chair is VERY important- for recharging, reading, or even watching TV :) And I’m with you on the color grey! So how did you answer the poll? (If you did- but maybe the options were too limiting)
I love order. As I age I realize dirt is also not part of order.
Something that makes it easier is to keep cleaning supplies nearby. Like in every bathroom. And now with cordless vacuums and a spare battery there is never a reason to put off just vacuuming it up.
So I am learning.
There is a generalization in early years of adulthood that men keep their car interiors clean and could care less about living areas, while women keep their living areas clean but seem to just leave stuff in the car.
My wife still has to drop hints about some cleaning items, and I still make a trip back to the garage with handfulls of tissues/napkins and other garbage before I drive off in any other car in our house...
I think you’ve always cared about all the details. At least, since living in CA, I can’t remember a place where you lived that you didn’t pay attention to everything- the art, furniture, even your koi pond! I even remember when you decked out your guest bathroom with special soaps and a bathrobe. That was cool.
Rog definitely only cares about a comfy place to sit. If he had a computer & a LaZboy, he’d be perfectly content. He does do the yard work, but all home design, landscaping & renovations are my design. He helps do the heavy lifting, but I do most of it.😀
That doesn’t surprise me. You’re very creative and he’s just grateful that you make the place nice. Amd heavy lifting is a great contribution!! Actually we might be a lot like you two 😁
I'm a guy, and I definitely care about how my house looks. In most cases my wife will pick out the aesthetics in our house, and I will probably agree with 95% of her choices. If I am not in favor of something I will mention it to her. My main concern is that the house is somewhat neat, since at times every surface of our house will get covered with paper, and none of it will be mine. It also drives me crazy when tray tables begin to take on a "piece of furniture status" in a room. At the same time I admit that I will not always notice the lack of cleanliness in the house, but my wife will only have to ask me once before I will chip in on the cleaning.
You make a really good point, Bill, about the difference between neat and clean. Tidy is good feng shui- makes for a calmer more peaceful energy in the home. Cleanliness drills down deeper into details. Thanks for responding!
I'm usually pretty lazy about it, but every so often I just get in the mood to completely reorganize some facet of my home or work environment, like the kitchen or bathroom for example.
The resultant feng shui always brings me joy.
Yes! That’s when you know it’s right! you can feel the feng shui, the flow, the ease, the harmony! Funny how long we can live in disarray and then, when we fix it, we think, why didn’t I do this sooner? :)
This was very interesting! My husband wants nothing to do with it and he doesn't care what his space looks like. The only thing he cares about are his houseplants but that only started during Covid. On the other hand, all the blue collar men I meet tell me they are the ones choosing all the finishes.
Hah! I would have expected it the other way around!
My UPS delivery person showed me all the pictures of his man cave and how he picked everything.