Recently, I came across the cutest product — the GurglePot. The beautiful, clean design of this fish-shaped pitcher was enough to win me over, but the gurgling sound it makes when it pours sealed the deal. This week, we’re giving you the chance to win ten Gurglepots in a variety of colors. All you have to do is answer our question before 12/11c, Monday, June 21. Be sure to provide a valid email address so we can contact you if you win.
This week we want to know, when is cute decor too cute? Do you draw the line at pink marabou pillows? What about canisters with a puppy motif? You have until 12/11c Monday to answer. Click for official rules.
When people use Christmas lights as year-round decorations!
I love cute accents and whimsey to add conversation and keep me feeling young and for the grandchildren to enjoy my home!!!
The blue/pink mix that looks like it will break if you touch it. That is way too much for me
I thought the sound makes it a great piece, especially for flower lovers
Cute decor is too cute when the decor is dominated by cute. For instance, I have a friend who likes lighthouses. Lighthouses are everywhere and on everything–wall hangings, knick knacks, dishes, pillows, lamps, etc. Also, I'd recommend staying away from childish-looking decor choices, if it isn't a child's room. I like a touch of whimsy or a conversation piece; but don't carry a "cute" theme too far.
Anything in moderation is ok. A couple throw pillows with pink flowers or ruffles are ok but a whole room of pink flowers and ruffles looks like a flower garden gone wrong!
Too cute is cartoon characters!
I prefer clean lines and no fuss. The more you have, the more you have to dust!
The fish is to cute–But I love it! Reminds me of a cool day on the water!
Oh man. Overly used animal statues, the color pink, and annoying quotations painted/pasted around the house.
Your questions really depends on the age of the decorator…if you are twelve, I think this is fine. Or if you live alone, and this makes you happy, there, again, go for it. To me, decorating is all about what makes you happy and not what you find pictured in a magazine. Decorating is as fickle as fashion…what's in today, will be out tomorrow.
I'm not a big fan of hearts so a room or house with hearts everywhere is too cute.
Anything can be done tastefully…yes…even puppies and kittens, BUT in small doses. If ya like puppies and kitties and want it to be known…have one or two little, tasteful things spread throughout the house. That's my personal favorite. Although, you can also do a couple other things…have one big statement piece. If done with style..even if it's bordering on tacky…but placed or paired with something complimentary..it can be pretty cool. If you have a nice built in with shelves, you can also set out a collection spread out among other things…maybe in monochromatic colors that aren't too "in your face". When the rooster craze was going on, I had two big pieces. One was a 3 foot tall handmade wooden rooster that was great for my kitchen and then in another room I had a nice two foot recycled metal green rooster than complimented an adjoining room that I used to bring in the color from the other room to join them a bit better. I always got compliments on those two pieces because they made a statement without being all over the place like so many other people were doing.
"When is cute decor *too* cute?" Actually, that's quite easy. When the decor is no longer appropriate to the age and intended functionality of the user, that's when it's too cute.
Example 1: Miley Cyrus posters, pink fluffy pillows from Target, lavender floral bedding, pastel patchwork throw rug. OK for your 11 year old tween girl; downright creepy for a 35 year old guy.
Example 2: Stuffed animals and knick-knacks in the office. OK for a 21 year old receptionist for only the week of Valentine's Day; completely inappropriate any other time of the year and for her 45 year old manager who's the mother of three.
Example 3: The Laura Ashley look all over your home. Fine when it was current in the 1980s. Now it's 2010. Even Laura's updated her look; you should consider doing so as well.
Anytime you use the word "cute" to describe a room more than a couple of times…it's definitely too cute.
Cute design belongs in a child's room ,as a rule,but a little whimsy never hurt anyone.I collect pitchers,and have them displayed in my kitchen/breakfast room/TV room on top of the cabinets and on peg hooks up near the ceiling,where they are visible,but not cluttering up surfaces.Guests often comment on the collection,which is very eclectic.
too many is the only way something becomes too cute!
Remember when everyone thought APPLES were the way to decorate?…..a few were okay…..a whole bushel…not so cute!
Stuff with too many frills, or printed with cutesy kitties or puppies, or pink feathery stuff, or stuff with hearts and ribbons on it. That kind of stuff belongs in a little girls room.
Cute decor is too cute when it looks more like a cartoon than real life!
Some cute is ok, but I draw the line on pink – reminds too much of Barbie's Dream House
Cute decor is okay if it's balanced out. A cute little pink pillow is fine. Especially if I can find maybe some more masculine items for the room such as a set of wooden candlesticks. However puppy inspired canisters do not belong anywhere but a pet shoppe or grooming salon. I want my home to feel like adults live there and not as if it's my daughters bedroom. (Her room is super cute with a chandelier and custom painting on the walls. ) I think the key is learning to balance cute with other influences.
When someone my age uses Hello Kitty in a room to decorate other than a little girl's room, THAT'S too cute!
Hand done stenciling in every room is way too cute. Maybe one room, but beyond that…
When people don't keep the stuffed animals and cartoon characters to their children's rooms and have it throughout their house.
I really don't like it when things are decorated with one motif, like cows or chickens or flowers. A bit is OK but too much of anything – even cute – is too much.
Any theme that gets out of hand is too cute. I have seen a home that is a different theme in every room, wall paper, nick nacks, matching clocks, lamps and linens. Cats in the kitchen, dolphins in the guest room, it's not just the theme or color, but the over whelming amount of it, and all matchy matchy.
Oh–that's a good question. I mostly believe cute is in the eye of the beholder. I recently dug up from my father-in-law's basement (he's moving/downsizing) some stuff I would have thought way too horrendously cutesy in the 1970s, but now I sort of think it's a good kind of cute in a retro-ironic way.
Okay, here's one sure sign for one small subsection of decor–if it has poorly rhymed doggerel on it, it's definitely too cute! "If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie, wipe the seatie!" The first time I saw this it was "please be neat and wipe the seat," which is kind of cutesy anyway, but…."seatie?"
But mostly I'm of the "if it makes you happy, go for it" school which may be a weird attitude for someone who loves design shows. I love white walls, and I don't care if 100 different designers on 100 different shows scorn them! But my one codicil to that would be that all members of the household have to at least feel okay about it…it would be pretty cruel to decorate with puppies if your kid was scared of dogs, or fill a room with singing pretend fish plaques if you spouse is an avid vegetarian who hates fishing!
sometimes you find ONE thing and design off that. Whatever works for you. You have to be happy with it and nobody else.
A pink and purple living room complete with heart decals on the walls.
I think "cute" is in the eye of the beholder…what's cute to one person may not be cute or acceptable to another…as with anything you can go too far.
well, I have cat figurines from when I was a kid. I can't bear to get rid of them, but I would be very embarrassed to decorate my house with them; so I suppose, like other responders: anything that looks like the children decorated
Pink is hot!!! It depends on the type of pink. Fuschia pink….Hot….. Pink purple….Hot with some deep blues….hot!!. Flowers can also be hot. Orchids….Definitely hot…..Orchids in paintings…HOT HOT….. So you see flowers and pink can be clean and BEAUTIFUL…. and I just want to add one more thing….. CLASSY!!!
I hate it when every piece of furniture matches and everything in the house is the same color — so BORING!
When you walk into a room and find your body freezing up and your first instinct is, "Ugh", it's gone overboard on the "Too Cute" factor. But, one person's idea of "Too Cute" might not be anothers. Too much of any one color or theme would overpower me, but I know folks who thrive in such an environment. Even children's rooms can have too much cuteness. Seems like "Too Cute" tends to become "Frequently Redone".
Well, I have to agree with Amy Sessions, Teddy Bears and teas sets in a grown woman's house without kids is crossing the way to cute border. I think a puppy canister, mind you singular, could be ok. As for the pillows? I've never seen those types of pillows. I like pink, but it can go way off course even in a girls room. TO me, "Cutesy" is a term I relate to for kids, not adults. Must practice restraint.
When the vintage finds and shabby chic look more like your matching bows, fabrics, and lace.
It's too cute when everytime you look at the room or item and you grin and can't stop.
"cutesy" decor doesn't last the test of time-it becomes very dated very quickly-best to stay with neutral decor that goes with anything
Anything "cute" is usually too much for me.
The super cutesy things should be used as accents. I think as long as everything is well coordinated and in moderation, cute is great! Especially when it is something unexpectedly cute, like a water pitcher that gurgles. I want one!
enough "cute" things in the same room that would make you say …how many ___ are there in this room?
Too cute is when someone walks into your house and they are not sure if they just walked into an elementary school or an animal store or flower shop. Your home should reflect a balance of calming and important decor that reflects you and your family without being over the top in an offensive cheesy way.
I think anything cutesy can be manageable as long as it's age appropriate…puppies, kittens, pink…if you're in college, sure. If you're older, then it has to be somewhat ironic to not be overwhelming.
For me, cute decor crosses a line when it's part of a theme. It's all about restraint.
Decorations look better in moderation so one or three of something is enough for me. This GurglePot would be cute in blue or white.
When is cute to cute…When I walked into my bedroom to see my manly husband drowning in pink floral sea of pillows…What he does for love : )
My mom always said the 3 of one thing makes a collection any more than that is an obsession. Obsessions pushes the "too cute" boundary.
Pink and lace are definitely "too cute"
Cute can be classy if it is done in moderation. It also depend upon which kind of room you are decorating. If it is a child's room, then cute can be more dominant. However, having matching cuddly kittens everywhere is grotesque. Frills and fun accent items, kept at a minimum, keep cute from becoming creepy and cluttered.