Interiors: the importance of cosiness

British houses have a reputation for being the coldest in Europe. Moreover, to many people from other countries, British people seem to be ridiculously keen on ‘fresh air’. This reputation is exaggerated. It is partly the result of the fact that houses in Britain are, on average, older than they are in other countries and are not so well insulated. In fact, about three-quarters now have central heating. However, there is a grain of truth in it. Windows, for example, are designed so that they can be conveniently opened to a great variety of degrees - instead of, as in many other countries, either being completely shut or fully open. This way, air can be let into the house in winter without freezing its inhabitants.

Just as the British idea of home is a mental concept as much as a physical reality, so is their idea of domestic comfort. The important thing is to feel cosy - that is, to create an atmosphere which seems warm even if it isn't really warm. This desire usually has priority over aesthetic concerns, which is why the British also have a reputation for bad taste. Most people would rather buy several items of cheap, mass-produced furniture, with chairs and sofas covered in synthetic material, than one more beautiful and more physically comfortable item. The same is true with regard to ornaments - if you want to be cosy, you have to fill the room up.

In Britain, it is regarded by many as very desirable to have a ‘real fire’ (as it is often called). It is [he perfect traditional symbol of warmth because it is what most people used in the past to keep warm. So strong is the attraction of a ‘real fire’ that many houses have an imitation open fire, complete with plastic coal which glows red when it is switched on. Bad taste? So what!

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