‘Sorry @MailOnline is this article a joke because I am HOWLING’, tweeted @lilyalicelouise, posting a screenshot of a feature that was published by the Mail Online yesterday. ‘How to avoid turning your home into a manrepeller’ the headline read, ‘Interiors therapist reveals the items that could be making your abode off-putting to men.’
Going on to explore to insight of interiors therapist Suzanne Roynon, the feature concludes that having too many images of single women in your home suggests you’re happier alone, having a cactus is unwelcoming and gloomily titled books put people off because they’re ‘depressing’. Alongside her clutter – which can apparently increase irritability- and buddha statue – a sign of poverty and isolation – the writer found her home to be something of a ‘manrepeller’.
Suffice to say, the piece was mocked endlessly online. With Lily Alice Louise’s tweet receiving 14,000 likes and hundreds of responses. ‘A large ham on a plate shows visitors you would rather be eating ham than talking to them,’ Alistair Coleman responded. ‘Mirrors: indicates you like looking at yourself, but you should only be for him to look at. Refrigerator: suggests coldness. Windows and doors: too much like vaginal opening, could be emasculating,’ another added.
And while the general hilarity of the suggestions speak for themselves, there are a few great tips to take from all of this. Want a man to leave immediately after a one-night stand? Line your window sill with cacti. Don’t want the guy friend you’re inviting round for dinner to get the wrong idea? Have a buddha centre-piece on your dining table. Generally aren’t into having men invade the sacred space of your home? Fill your bookshelf with sad novels and have it facing the door so when you open it they are blasted away like a vampire.
Seriously though, while the article itself clearly isn’t being taken at face value by most readers – at least Twitter would have us believe so – there is something to be said about the ongoing need to police women’s lives. Our sexuality, our careers, our bodies, the list goes on, but now even our homes too?
Wanting to centre your home environment around women who love to be alone, wanting to create a space that empowers you with other pictures of women, how is this in any way something to be chastised? To suggest it repels men is not only entirely assuming of a woman’s intentions in decorating her home, a man’s ability to think beyond physical items but also is massively contradictory of what cis heterosexual men supposedly love in all popular culture. A cool easy breezy relationship with no drama, a woman that isn’t high maintenance.
‘It’s the interior of a strong single woman,’ one of the quotes by Suzanne reads ‘But what it’s telling people is: “I’m fine on my own. I don’t need anybody else. I am perfectly comfortable as I am. Don’t mess with me.”’
Click through for some genuinely great small bedroom hacks...
Small Bedroom Hacks Pinterest - Grazia
1 of 61. Shelves Shelves Shelves
If you're not renting and are allowed to put up shelves then get a drill and do it immediately. If you're feeling handy, run them all along the top of the room and shove all those books you never read on them. Done and done.
2 of 62. Cubes
Everyone had these Ikea cubes at some point in their life. Double one up and use the insides of the cubes for trinklets and photos and the top for a lamp and flowers – look how great you are at utlising space.
3 of 63. Drawers
If your landlord has been kind enough to get you a bed with drawers then you're seriously lucky. If they haven't, ask for a new bed (because if you don't ask, you don't get) or get a cheap one from Gumtree. It will save your life, and your floor space.
4 of 64. Mason Jar Organisers
Instead of spreading jars all over the little desk space you have, build one into your wall. So handy, so space conscious. You tiny room pro.
5 of 65. Built-In Rails
OK, so your room will not look like this, because this room is bigger than a castle. BUT, you need to get a built in rail. Chances are you can't fit a wardrobe in your teeny chubby hole, so instead of having everything sprawled across the floor – hang them.
6 of 66. Vanity Space
This is genius. Just look at it. Yes, it would probably take a whole day to build but imagine how chuffed you'd be everytime you went to do your makeup at this absolutely stellar built-in vanity space.
To me this reads that someone is secure in their own company, not dependent on them for validation and so less likely to be jealous or insecure and therefore more in need of emotional support. Is this not exactly what straight men claim to want of their partners? Or are we to assume they so emotionally ignorant they haven’t made that link and would rather have someone who needs their constant validation, then sits confused why their relationship is so draining? Either way, it’s wildly presumptuous, and frankly offensive to us all.
Well, at least this time we got some good interior tips to keep these kind of men out during our daily dose of sexism...