11 Things People Quietly Notice About Your House Without Saying A Single Word
The state of your home reveals quite a lot about you.
triocean | Shutterstock From the second someone walks into your home, they're able to notice things that reveal a lot about you. They might immediately start forming quiet assumptions about the way you live and how you take care of your space, perhaps even taking mental notes about all of the little things you don't even register. Whether it's the pile of shoes by your door or the way your entrance always smells like freshly baked cookies, there are certain things people quietly notice about your house without saying a single word.
Whatever the case may be, people definitely don't mean to judge the contents of another person's house, but we simply can't help it. Despite the fact of how observant someone may be when entering a house that they don't live in, they will rarely say anything out loud. They won't mention the sink full of dishes or the hand soap you left in the guest bathroom that smells quite good. Instead, they'll file these details away, which tell more of a story about your space than you probably ever could yourself.
Here are 11 things people quietly notice about your house without saying a single word
1. The temperature
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Guests might not say anything about it, but the temperature your house is at can usually be something they notice once they enter. A cozy, slightly warm space might make people feel as if they can easily relax on your couch and feel quite comfortable. On the other hand, if your house is a bit cooler in temperature, people may feel more alert and even refreshed.
While the temperature in your house is usually a backdrop to everything else, the feeling of comfortability that guests might feel when they think a house has the perfect temperature for them tends to linger long after they leave. It makes your home a place that's inviting, but it can turn people slightly off to the point where they may even dread having to come over knowing that it'll make them feel a bit miserable.
2. The clutter (or lack of it)
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Clutter is often one of the very first things people quietly notice about your house without saying a single word. Considering you're the one in your house the most, you probably don't bat an eye at the pile of unopened mail by your front door, or the pile of shoes thrown haphazardly in the corner of your living room.
But when a guest is walking in, with fresh eyes they're able to take all of that in immediately. On average, an estimated 54% of Americans admitted to feeling overwhelmed with the clutter they have in their home. While having clutter doesn't mean you're a dirty person by any means, it can become a lot when that clutter is only multiplying instead of decreasing.
The same way that people can notice a lot about your home based on the clutter, they can also tell when there's a significant lack of it too. They enter your home and observe that everything has its designated place. They might feel more relaxed because of the fact that nothing is shoved into a corner or piled up high on a table.
3. What's on your coffee table
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Your coffee table often gives the first impression of both your living room and your home. Considering it's usually in the center of the room, people's eyes immediately gravitate towards it without even thinking.
They can tell if you've put a lot of thought into the things on your coffee table, like books, candles, and stylish coasters, or if there's just random clutter, multiple different remotes, and dirty mugs from the coffee or tea you had that morning.Guests may not comment on it at all, but they're definitely taking it all in.
Having a neat and curated coffee table means that you're someone who probably cares about order, while if you're someone that just has a lot going on, it might mean that with everything else happening in life, the last thing you care about is making sure your coffee table looks put together. Whatever the case may be, it's still a snapshot into your life and the style that you have going on.
4. The smell
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The moment that a person enters your home, their nose immediately picks up on the smell that permeates the air. They can tell if you've just lit a candle or an incense, or if you haven't taken out your garbage yet.
The smell of your home the second a person walks through the door often means they'll just associate that with your space at all times. It doesn't matter if you've rearranged your furniture, put some more artwork on the walls, or changed the lighting in the room, the smell sometimes matters way more than all of that.
Environmental psychologist Sally Augustin explained that when we're somewhere that smells good, like a person's home, "our mood improves and when that happens, we are more effective problem-solvers, we think more creatively, and we get along better with other people, for example."
A good smell can just put someone at ease automatically, and it doesn't have to be some fancy, good smell either. You don't need expensive candles to create a smell that people enjoy. It can be something as simple as opening up the windows or making sure you've gotten rid of the trash in your kitchen.
5. The snacks in your pantry
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The snacks in your pantry reveal quite a lot about you, especially when it comes to your taste. The rows of different flavor potato chips, granola bars, various candy, and even the healthy snacks that you have stocked up can tell guests exactly the kind of house they've just stepped into. It reveals a bit about your habits and your daily life.
Organization matters, too, especially if you're someone that cares a lot about how your pantry looks, whether you're someone that has labels for everything and prefers to transfer snacks to a clear container rather than keeping them in their original packaging.
It might not seem like that big of a deal, but if you're someone that enjoys hosting people all of the time, you probably put a lot of work into the kinds of snacks that you have available for people to enjoy. But if you're accustomed to only really providing snacks for yourself, your pantry might be a bit less occupied. Either way, no matter how much of a small detail it might come across as, the impression of your home is all the same.
6. Cleanliness of your kitchen sink
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The kitchen sink often reveals how put-together your life is at the moment. If you've got a sparkling clean sink with all of your dishes put away it means you might have everything under control, but if you've got a sink full of dirty dishes that seem to only keep piling up, it might mean that your life is too busy for you to tackle keeping up with your kitchen.
Either way, the condition of your kitchen sink is one of the things people quietly notice about your house without saying a single word. And according to a survey from OnePoll on behalf of DishFish, when it comes to handwashing dishes, the worst parts for people are usually scrubbing off caked-on food (44%), feeling like dishes aren't clean (42%), and the amount of time it takes to clean them (32%).
While people may not comment about your sink, a clean one might leave them feeling more comfortable in your home, while a cluttered one will make them uncomfortable and leave the impression that your home may be a bit chaotic.
While your sink doesn't have to be spotless all of the time, guests definitely appreciate it if you've taken the time to at least make a dent in the dirty dishes that are piled high. A quick rinse and wipe before someone comes over can make the biggest difference in getting your place together.
7. The couch
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The couch is not only the main piece in your living room, but it truly sets the tone for your home. Some people care a lot about the aesthetic-look of their couch, whether it has a fun color or pattern, a cool shape, and how big it ends up being.
The moment someone enters your home, they're usually going to sit on the couch to catch-up and socialize, so they're able to notice if you have a comfy couch that they sink into or more of a firm feel. While they may not ever say anything, they're usually forming opinions about how comfortable your home is based on the comfortability of your couch.
On top of the feel, they also notice how clean your couch is as well. If you have pets, they can tell if the pet is always sitting on the couch based on the hair. According to a survey by Joybird, a modern furniture and decor retailer, almost 50% of people say they spend 7 or more hours a week on their sofa, so for the majority, the upholstery and feel of their couch matters greatly, for both guests and hosts.
8. The level of personal touch
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People visiting your home can immediately tell how much work you've put into making it feel like a unique and personable place where you live and spend most of your time. Whether it's having framed photos from trips with family and friends hung up on the walls or quirky knickknacks that you enjoy collecting and having on display, all of that tells a story about the kind of person you are.
"While building a home is still a luxury for most, anything that we do to create a more accommodating space to live in is bound to have a positive impact on how we feel," explained therapist Michael Ungar.
Without these personal additions, a home can just feel like a place where you lay your head at night rather than something that means more to you. These personal elements help create a sense of community as well.
People feel more inclined to visit and spend time in a home that has some sort of character to it and shows the personality of the person who lives in it. A perfectly decorated and curated home can feel like more about impressing others compared to a home that may feel a bit eccentric but personal.
9. Your decor style
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Some people care a lot about the way they decorate their space. They spend a lot of time on Pinterest looking at different vibes that will help them curate their space. From having a more modern and sleek look or a more eclectic and mismatched finds in your home, these are some of the things people quietly notice about your house without saying a single word.
According to a survey by Houzz, 87% of respondents admitted that their home design impacts their overall happiness. Those who redecorated said they were happier (74%), more relaxed (51%) and tidier (35%) at home post-renovation. On top of that, nearly one-third also entertain more often (31%).
Decor isn't just about making your space look pretty, it's also how you're making your space feel too. Guests can pick up on those vibes, which is why your home decor should at least match your style and leave an impression that you care about making your space feel like you.
10. How your laundry is organized
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Whether you're someone that has your laundry baskets lined up neatly, your clothes folded and put away, or you're someone that has your laundry piled up on chairs and thrown haphazardly on your floor, guests can tell the kind of person you are and even your daily habits. Even if you might not be thinking too much about it, the way your laundry is handled really sets the tone for your home's vibe.
Organization doesn't mean that everything has to be perfect either. Some people would rather make sure that their laundry is functional, while other people need it to be folded neatly and out of sight.
There's nothing wrong with either approach, but the key is just about making sure that your guests aren't feeling uncomfortable because they're sitting on the couch next to a pile of your laundry that they might not know is clean or not.
11. The feeling they leave with
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At the end of the day, people tend to remember how being in your home made them feel. They cherish a home that left them feeling cozy because of how inviting everything was, or if they were just on edge and uncomfortable the entire time. From the feel of your sofa to the snacks you keep in your pantry, all of that tends to leave an impression on someone that they sometimes can't ever forget.
The second they walk out of the door, they carry that feeling with them all the way back to their own home. It's the kind of thing that makes them want to visit again and again, or if they would rather hang out somewhere different because of how little they felt being in your home.
Whatever the case may be, the second a guest steps through the door, they're soaking up all of the energy that the house has to offer.
Nia Tipton is a staff writer with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and journalism who covers news and lifestyle topics that focus on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.
