Couch Rules? Do you have couch rules in your house? DH wakes anyone if they fall asleep on the couch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get no napping on the couch - when you lay down the grease from you hair and scalp inevitably gets into the couch materials. Over time it build up and stinks and becomes soiled. It is not easy to get out.

But who is doing the napping for the OP?
It's not the dad because he's against it. It's not little kids because they don't tend to nap on couches. Is it teens? Or parents in law? It has to be an adult that he's against. Who is it?

[Anonymous]

No shoes on the couch and no dogs either but ours flouted that rule.

I'm not against a good nap on the couch but if a family member looked like they were going down for the night on the couch, I'd tell them to go to their actual bed for a better sleep.

Also, the only people's couches I'd ever put my socked feet on are my sister's and parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH grew up in a house where you were awakened if you fell asleep on the couch. Anytime of day, no one was allowed to sleep on the couch. He’s carried this rule with him and it has always annoyed me.He can’t resist waking the person to tell them to go up to their room.

The other annoying couch rule he has lived by is no legs/feet on the couch. I am a person who sits on their legs when sitting on the couch so again, this one irritated me, still does. I can’t break my habit, it’s too comfortable. I admit that I do sit like this at other peoples homes on their couches, and as I type this I do wonder, does this bother them?

I grew up in a house where we often slept the entire night on the couch or lazy-boy. That wasn’t abnormal in my house .

I realize we were both at opposite ends of the spectrum but did your house have couch”rules”?do you currently?

I think your DH sounds awful. That being said, my DH hunches over like Quasimodo or slouches all the way down and puts his sometimes bare and hideous feet up on a surface of equal height (like a conjoining chair) when relaxing or eating. His feet, which are hideous, are not appetizing at face level. He is constantly horizontal, including with company at THEIR houses. I've had to furiously signal him to remove his feet from their dining chairs. It's annoying, so I kind of get having feelings about posture I guess.

[Anonymous]

Op here. To the PP who asked - yes, kids (we have older preteen and teen kids), myself, his brother (sent to guest room), etc..

I believe coming from a relaxed couch home, there are habits I brought with me or family members of mine have that others may disagree with. One example was a relative of mine would sit on the moveable foot rest to play with one of our children every time they visited, when they were little and this drove DH insane. I did not see an issue with it because in my home life, people would sit on foot rests, on the couches, lay across them, slouch on them as places to rest and relax.

Sitting straight up both feet down (mine also do not touch the floor if I sit back, I am short) seems so uncomfortable. I’m not sure how people sit comfortably like that for hours upon hours.

[Anonymous]

Your DH sounds like a control freak, OP.

I’ll admit I don’t love it when our teens nap on our couch because we just have one living/family room, and it’s annoying if they take up the whole couch. But I know they need their sleep and it brings them so much joy.

Our only rule is no sweaty people on the couch. I suppose no shoes either, but no one has ever tried that. We actually eat virtually all our meals at the coffee table while sitting on the couch, which most of our friends find bizarre.

[Anonymous]

I am so surprised to see so many people with such strong feet on couch feelings! Is this a thing? I host often and have multiple deep couches in our home and I have guests curl up their feet or lounge. I wouldn’t ever be offended by it!

I want my house to be a place where people relax and unwind, not have to sit up straight at attention. I also have never thought twice about putting my feet next to me or on an ottoman at friends’ houses. This is blowing me away that it might be offensive!

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't bother me if someone fell asleep on the couch unless they then expected me to not make any noise in the kitchen (our living room and kitchen and both open to each other) or if that's where others were going to watch TV but then couldn't because someone was napping. We have other places we could watch TV in our house so normally that wouldn't be an issue. But just the idea of someone sleeping on the couch isn't a problem to me.

I also always sit with a leg or two underneath me (even sitting in my desk chair as I type this), so that doesn't bother me at all. I wouldn't do it with shoes on, obviously, but otherwise I don't know why it's an issue.

We also allow our dogs on the couches though so maybe I'm far too relaxed for your husband's tastes. Our house is very nicely furnished and always kept very clean but we are also very casual. We figure a house is meant to be lived in, so we don't freak out about what people do on couches, which are literally there for relaxing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I too sit cross cross applesauce or with my feet under me pretty much anywhere. I’m a very flexible person and it’s just more comfortable. Someone said I must have adhd and it calms me to sit like that. I do agree that it calms me at work to sit like that and helps me focus.

I would be annoyed by people sleeping on a couch. It just seems weird. But I came from a family that doesn’t nap. I’d never ever let someone spend the night on my couch. It seems gross them sweating and drooling on my couch when there’s comfy beds.

I don't think people generally spend the night on a couch when there are available beds.

Also, when my husband slept on our couch downstairs after our dogs had surgery, we made the couch up with sheets and he used his normal pillow. So he wasn't sweating or drooling over anything. Also, we have slipcovers so we wash our couch regularly.

[Anonymous]

You folks who think everyone needs to be quiet because someone is napping in a public place might be in abuse situations. Otherwise you’re just wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No shoes on the couch, no dogs on the couch.


But please nap and put your legs/feet up. We area comfortable household. We let people sleep and try to be respectful of each other, regardless of age.

This! I don't put my feet on other people's couches though.

[Anonymous]

My DH loves taking couch naps.In his childhood home his mother wouldn't let anyone nap on the living room couches. So everyone used the rec room couch for naps and it's literally known to all the now adult children as "the napping couch."

We're not that uptight in our household, everyone can nap on whatevr couch they want to nap on. Except me, I'm heading to the bed bc it's loads more comfortable! But I'd never tell people not to nap on the couch. About the only rule is, "no muddy boots on the couch" but that's more practical than anything since, like i said, a lot of people nap on the chesterfield.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should not be putting your feet on other people’s couches. Yuck.

Wait until you learn what I do to my wife on the couch.

[Anonymous]

This is crazy! Lying down on the couch with a good book is one of the great joys of life. I like a nice home but to have such strict rules seems bizarre to me.

I would not put my feet on someone else’s couch though except at the home of family or my very closest friends where hanging out on the couch and lounging is not uncommon (never bare feet though).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH grew up in a house where you were awakened if you fell asleep on the couch. Anytime of day, no one was allowed to sleep on the couch. He’s carried this rule with him and it has always annoyed me.He can’t resist waking the person to tell them to go up to their room.

The other annoying couch rule he has lived by is no legs/feet on the couch. I am a person who sits on their legs when sitting on the couch so again, this one irritated me, still does. I can’t break my habit, it’s too comfortable. I admit that I do sit like this at other peoples homes on their couches, and as I type this I do wonder, does this bother them?

I grew up in a house where we often slept the entire night on the couch or lazy-boy. That wasn’t abnormal in my house .

I realize we were both at opposite ends of the spectrum but did your house have couch”rules”?do you currently?

My WASPy grandparents would blow a gasket if anyone slept on their couch, including at their beach house.. It must be some old school decorum thing? Anyone know how it originated?

My hunch is sleeping on a couch quickly ruins a couch, especially 50+ years ago. The cushions sag, wears the fabric, plus unsanitary and dirties fabric with bodily oils and drool? So to them, it’s both disrespectful to their property and gross?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I too sit cross cross applesauce or with my feet under me pretty much anywhere. I’m a very flexible person and it’s just more comfortable. Someone said I must have adhd and it calms me to sit like that. I do agree that it calms me at work to sit like that and helps me focus.

I would be annoyed by people sleeping on a couch. It just seems weird. But I came from a family that doesn’t nap. I’d never ever let someone spend the night on my couch. It seems gross them sweating and drooling on my couch when there’s comfy beds.

I don't think people generally spend the night on a couch when there are available beds.

Also, when my husband slept on our couch downstairs after our dogs had surgery, we made the couch up with sheets and he used his normal pillow. So he wasn't sweating or drooling over anything. Also, we have slipcovers so we wash our couch regularly.

Wrong! Guests “pass out” on couches all the time, especially when alcohol is involved. Plus I think many guests prefer being near the kitchen and in front of the biggest TV. And some think they’re making it less work for the homeowner by not messing up a guest bed.