10 Signs You’re Addicted to Kitsch
Is ‘eccentric’ the most appropriate adjective to describe your home? Welcome to the wonderful world of kitsch!
It’s fair to say that kitsch is a niche style, which often crosses over into the realms of camp and retro. It’s a garish and gaudy world populated by cute cartoon animals, mass-market art and a disproportionately high number of flamingos and pineapples…
Dismissed by some as lowbrow and in poor taste, lovers of kitsch embrace the look with tongues very firmly in cheeks for that very reason. So sit back on your inflatable hand, switch off that Beyond the Candelabra DVD, make yourself a Snowball and find out if you’re eligible to join the kitsch club!
Dismissed by some as lowbrow and in poor taste, lovers of kitsch embrace the look with tongues very firmly in cheeks for that very reason. So sit back on your inflatable hand, switch off that Beyond the Candelabra DVD, make yourself a Snowball and find out if you’re eligible to join the kitsch club!
You have a penchant for playful souvenirs
Whether it’s a model of a London bus from your travels, an Elvis figurine, bling-tastic religious iconography or a pair of inflatable monkeys, you’ll seek out the most playful knick-knackery you can find. If it’s fluorescent, has flashing lights or a button you can press to make it speak – so much the better.
Whether it’s a model of a London bus from your travels, an Elvis figurine, bling-tastic religious iconography or a pair of inflatable monkeys, you’ll seek out the most playful knick-knackery you can find. If it’s fluorescent, has flashing lights or a button you can press to make it speak – so much the better.
Flamingo Decoration
There’s a flamingo in your hallway/living room/bathroom
There’s something about these distinctive pink birds that just screams high campery and all things kitsch. You may have some other examples in your garden, adorning a decorative plate or perhaps you’ve opted for flamingo wallpaper in the downstairs loo?
There’s something about these distinctive pink birds that just screams high campery and all things kitsch. You may have some other examples in your garden, adorning a decorative plate or perhaps you’ve opted for flamingo wallpaper in the downstairs loo?
The expression ‘neutral colour palette’ makes you pull a face
Muted shades are for wimps in your book. Scanning the Porter’s Paints colour chart, your eyes skip past ‘Iceberg’ and ‘Grey Gum’, and are instantly drawn to ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Yellow Brick Road’.
Experimenting with garish, clashing colours is your thing, and you couldn’t care less if your choices aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Muted shades are for wimps in your book. Scanning the Porter’s Paints colour chart, your eyes skip past ‘Iceberg’ and ‘Grey Gum’, and are instantly drawn to ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Yellow Brick Road’.
Experimenting with garish, clashing colours is your thing, and you couldn’t care less if your choices aren’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Your shelves always feature a Bambi, Dumbo, Moomin or Baby Lapin
Cute vintage cartoon characters with over-sized eyes, especially the ones from Scandinavia and Japan, make you go ga-ga. As the Japanese say… kawaii*!
* It translates as ‘cute’.
Cute vintage cartoon characters with over-sized eyes, especially the ones from Scandinavia and Japan, make you go ga-ga. As the Japanese say… kawaii*!
* It translates as ‘cute’.
Giant animals greet your guests
It could be a pink plastic poodle in the parlour, a ceramic cockatiel lamp-base in the bedroom or a bear sculpture in the hallway, kitted out in waistcoat and fez. The more outlandish the better as far as you’re concerned!
It could be a pink plastic poodle in the parlour, a ceramic cockatiel lamp-base in the bedroom or a bear sculpture in the hallway, kitted out in waistcoat and fez. The more outlandish the better as far as you’re concerned!
Your style cues come from old reruns of Neighbours
Forget Miranda Kerr, your style icon is Neighbours’ Madge Bishop back in the good old days. Her naff style is synonymous with bad taste, which in your book is good. There are oodles of modern interpretations of retro classics like this bird mural on Etsy, but you’re still convinced you’ll find an original 1960s set of three at a car boot sale one day.
Forget Miranda Kerr, your style icon is Neighbours’ Madge Bishop back in the good old days. Her naff style is synonymous with bad taste, which in your book is good. There are oodles of modern interpretations of retro classics like this bird mural on Etsy, but you’re still convinced you’ll find an original 1960s set of three at a car boot sale one day.
You don’t do subtle
A series of delicate botanical prints neatly arranged along a picture rail? Nope, not for you. But a giant folksy wall mural depicting the tale of Little Red Riding Hood? Yep, that’s more like it! And as for the rule about having one dominant design feature as the star of the show? Well, you just don’t buy it and are happy to mix it up with additional pattern on the other walls, and a checkerboard floor to boot.
Colour-confident design ideas
A series of delicate botanical prints neatly arranged along a picture rail? Nope, not for you. But a giant folksy wall mural depicting the tale of Little Red Riding Hood? Yep, that’s more like it! And as for the rule about having one dominant design feature as the star of the show? Well, you just don’t buy it and are happy to mix it up with additional pattern on the other walls, and a checkerboard floor to boot.
Colour-confident design ideas
Your motto is ‘if in doubt, supersize it’
Why buy lots of little letters to pop in a printer’s tray when going large has so much more impact? If there’s a blank wall in your home, it won’t stay like that for long, and you’ve bookmarked a plethora of websites that will blow-up images and transpose them onto wallpaper for your next project.
Super-size it with in-your-face portraits
Why buy lots of little letters to pop in a printer’s tray when going large has so much more impact? If there’s a blank wall in your home, it won’t stay like that for long, and you’ve bookmarked a plethora of websites that will blow-up images and transpose them onto wallpaper for your next project.
Super-size it with in-your-face portraits
Your home is dubbed ‘the party house’ by all your friends
People feel relaxed in your home, partly because the decor doesn’t take itself too seriously, and partly because there’s a glitter ball and a fabulous drinks trolley that’s always stocked with an array of retro spirits. Eggnog anyone?
And after a few drinks, your quirky collections and bizarre decorating style may even win over a few more fans.
TELL US…
Are you a lover of kitsch? Share your thoughts and pictures in the Comments below.
People feel relaxed in your home, partly because the decor doesn’t take itself too seriously, and partly because there’s a glitter ball and a fabulous drinks trolley that’s always stocked with an array of retro spirits. Eggnog anyone?
And after a few drinks, your quirky collections and bizarre decorating style may even win over a few more fans.
TELL US…
Are you a lover of kitsch? Share your thoughts and pictures in the Comments below.
This deliciously playful dining room ticks every kitsch box – the animal print, gaudy pink chandelier, pop art and cartoon animals – there’s even a collection of retro kids’ lunch boxes on display. It’s a riot of juicy colour, bursting with childlike playfulness.
If it doesn’t make you instantly want to redecorate the whole room, then you might be addicted to kitsch.
Think you’d rather a retro look?