Are Curse Words in Decor Funny or Tacky? The %$#! Lowdown on Profanity in the Home
Getty Images / Etsy Retailers
When you spy a throw pillow that makes you blush, it can be pretty hilarious. But the same accessory you think is hilarious might offend—or downright upset—some folks.
We’ve been in homes with F-bombs on coasters, artwork, dish towels, throw pillows—and even bowl cozies. And this isn’t decor you need to source on the dark web; it’s all right there on wholesome sites like Etsy.
So if you’re having company over or trying to sell your home, should you hide that profanity-laced dish towel? Or display it proudly? After polling the design pros and real estate agents, we’ve learned that the answer falls somewhere in the middle.
Before you hang up that F-bomb poster in your hallway, read this.
Mind your manners
Some of the tamer art you can buy.Etsy.com
Yup, there’s some etiquette connected to home decor that’s a little on the dirty side. Sure, swear words are now allowed on TV, but putting those words on permanent display might upset some people you care about.
So it’s a good idea to gauge the mindset of your family and friends to see how they might react to that racy needlepoint sampler. Would your mother-in-law blanch? If she babysits your toddler twice a week, don’t hang it where she can see it.
On the other hand, if your family swears like a bunch of sailors on shore leave, feel free to add more curse words to your decor.
Think about sales prospects
It’s funny—and not funny.Etsy
Are you thinking of listing your home in the near future? Then making even one potential buyer feel uncomfortable with some dirty decor isn’t worth it.
“It all depends on the type of property you have,” notes Steve Halpern, a real estate agent with Compass in New York City. But in the end, he admits he’d likely remove the offending object, especially “if the curse is displayed for shock value alone.”
Match overall decor
If you’re looking to move, it’s also wise to consider the kind of property you’re offering.
“I understand the concept of being punk rock with your decor, but it has to match what you’re selling and possibly mesh with the presumed buyer profile in your area,” explains Halpern.
Profanity in the home is similar to nude or seminude photography on the walls.
“If these pictures don’t match the aesthetic around them, I wouldn’t include them,” he says.
Consider balance and harmony
Yup, one little wall hanging can have unseen consequences, notes Pamela O’Brien, interior decorator at Pamela Hope Designs. She states plainly that she’s not a fan of “negative imagery or expressions and wouldn’t recommend them to clients.”
“There is a feng shui belief that you shouldn’t surround yourself with bad or unhappy reminders,” explains O’Brien. “But instead focus on the positive. Use affirming and inspirational choices in your decor.”
Stash it in a teen’s room
You might not be keen on a bright orange wall or fuchsia shag carpet in the living room or your own bedroom.
But these shocking yet playful hues are just right for a tween or teen—and the same holds for off-color home accessories.
“I can certainly see these items in a teen space, because that’s where a little angsty vibe and energy are OK,” says Halpern.
In fact, if you can stand it, let your teen go to town with all the expressions he or she thinks are fun. (You can always shut the door!)
Make it tiny
Sometimes it’s sort of playful to happen upon a throw pillow with a bawdy expression on it or one with a needlepoint display of two people doing something, um, private.
One way to keep your favorite item in the rotation is to bury it with a bunch of other pillows on a big couch or bed. Or hang the framed offender up high in a large wall gallery where only you will notice it.
Skew toward whimsy
Go for a compromise between fun and vulgar.Etsy.com
If you’re ready to embrace taste, O’Brien suggests “a bit of fun or tongue-in-cheek references that can add personality to a home.” Her examples include pillows that feature hashtags, punctuation, or popular sayings.
Or be witty when it comes to wall hangings or paper, particularly where irreverence is allowed or even expected, like a masculine den or the laundry room.
“I once found original art for a powder room with the words ‘flower painting coming soon’ and thought it was clever,” says O’Brien. “I enjoyed hanging it up, rather than formal wallpaper.”
So when it comes to your off-color decor, display it proudly for yourself if it makes you smile. And if it makes other people cringe, maybe hide it away when you have company (or an open house).
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