Artex ceilings – once the go-to bedroom decor in homes across the country – are now seen as one of our top passion killers.
Women say looking up to see the textured decorative finish is enough to put them off – mostly because it reminds them of their mum and dad’s house.
They featured in the top 10 in a survey by hook-up website saucydates.com.
Spokesman David Minns said: “Artex ceilings clearly evoke memories of parents and childhood for many women, which maybe is not where they want to be in the throes of passion.”
He added: “The responses we got to what puts people off sex were absolutely fascinating. We expected our members to say things like bad body odour or bad breath.
“But the feedback was quite subtle and psychologically revealing.”
Artex was a huge fad from the 1970s onward but fell out of favour as tastes changed and fears emerged over its asbestos content, although the levels were relatively low. Now asbestos-free, it is making a comeback among fans of retro interior design.
One web forum for builders reported customer demand, adding: “Artex is back!” Other top passion woes include pets sneaking into the bedroom, visitors in the house, pictures of parents on the wall – and open wardrobe doors. Women ranked bright lights as the worst mood killer, followed by bad background music, with pets in the room completing their top three.
Next was a messy bedroom followed by family photos “looking at you” in fifth place. A cold room was their sixth top gripe.
And a TV on downstairs was seen by women to be even worse than a squeaky bed, which came in eighth place. Ninth is visitors staying in the house and 10th is an Artex ceiling, making them think of their mum and dad’s home.
Men said their pet dog or cat watching was their biggest turn-off – with family photos coming in second place and a floral duvet third most likely to have them wilting.
Fluffy toys and dolls were also a no-no for men – with a squeaky bed more of an issue than bright lights, sixth, or even bad background music, which came seventh.
Next for men was the sound of a TV on downstairs, while other people being in the house was the ninth worst.
But 10th for men is an open wardrobe – because it made them feel uneasy.
