Decorating your house with doodles, like Sam Cox’s home in Kent, is more than a way of covering walls with DIY artwork.
Doodles may look like random images and meaningless scribbles, but they come straight from the subconscious and so are packed with meaning.
Experts say everything from what we draw to where we doodle on a page and the colour of ink we choose can speak volumes about our mood and personality. Here we decode some of the most common doodles...
●Circles and round shapes
typically suggest the doodler is friendly, kind and doesn’t like conflict. They can also suggest a need to feel loved and love others.
● Squares suggest a person who is organised, has good planning skills and likes to be in control.
●Triangles and other pointed shapes – including stars – are a sign of ambition.
●Flowers suggest someone who puts their family and relationships first. If the flower has a large circular centre, it can also be a sign of confidence, and that the doodler may like being the centre of attention. More detailed flowers can be a clue to an obsessive-compulsive personality.
● Hearts, perhaps not surprisingly, show love and romance. The doodler is likely to be sentimental and affectionate.
● Spiders’ webs can suggest feeling trapped, or a sign someone is good at enticing people.
● Self-portraits can suggest someone is egocentric, but drawing other people’s faces shows you are more of a people’s person.
● Wiggly/wavy lines show someone who is adaptable, but can also be indecisive.
● Zigzags are drawn by those who are strong-minded and who enjoy getting on with things.
● Coils and spirals suggest creativity.
● Houses are the sign of stability and security. A neat, pretty house shows a happy home life, but a messy drawing may indicate trouble at home. No windows can be a sign of feeling trapped or unhappiness. If the house is on top of a hill it can suggest isolation or loneliness, while chimney smoke suggests warmth.
● Human figures indicate a successful person, determined to achieve their goals.
● Eyes suggest the doodler has a desire to be noticed, or is fearful they are having their privacy invaded.
● Planes, trains, cars, trucks and other modes of transport represent moving or escape.
● Butterflies and birds reflect a desire for freedom.
● Boxes and cubes suggest a person likes structure. But if the boxes or cubes are stacked, then it could suggest the person feels overwhelmed.
● Bricks, especially placed together in a wall, suggest a barrier between you and what you want.
● If an arrow is drawn pay attention to its direction. Upwards shows optimism and ambition. Downwards shows pessimism and worry. If it is drawn with a heart, then it’s a sign of looking for love.
● Ladders and stairs can represent working towards a target.
● Your initials or doodles of your name again and again reveals you enjoy being the centre of attention.
● The animals you doodle can all mean different things. Drawing a large animal like a rhino or elephant may suggest you are worried about your weight. A fish is said to mean you want to move away from something that is troubling you.
● Patterns suggest a leader, or that you are someone others look up to.
● Drawing large doodles suggests a person who wants to be noticed, while smaller doodlers are likely to be more shy.
● Repeatedly drawing the same shape or object suggests patience.
● Drawing over and over again on the same spot can be a sign of anxiety or even guilt.
● Shading or filling in doodles can indicate boredom, unhappiness or having bottled up anger.
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