Was recently discussing with someone that it’s really weird that, on the internet, Britain is repeatedly labelled a “shoes on indoors” society, because nobody we know has shoes on indoors (in their own home). Britain is a wet and muddy country.
Does anyone here do shoes on indoors? Where are you all from?
UK too, shoes off too, have never lived anywhere where shoes on indoors was a common thing
The only reason I can think is that underfloor heating is relatively rare here and if you’ve got hard floors it’ll be cold to walk on, but then slippers exist so idk really
It might be in including having slippers or “indoor shoes”. Nigeria is there as a shoes on, but from my understanding, its only slippers/flip flops specificly for indoors, that are normal.
Edit: Talked to my Nigerian friend, shoes off is expected, and slippers are just a personal preference. The map is just wrong.
Same for Japan. No chance they’re wearing full hiking boots or sneakers inside the house in Japan - the shoe cabinet is built in right next to the front door of houses, tiny apartments, temples, many restaurants, etc. I assume the schools still do too.
Canada is labelled as shoes off but we also have slippers.
Although not sure about Nigeria, are slippers and flip flops like expected to be worn or just available?
For me I have slippers which are worn often but it’s not expected that anyone inside wear them. Most people just wear socks if they come to visit. And myself I go barefoot unless my feet get cold then I grab the slippers.
Although not sure about Nigeria, are slippers and flip flops like expected to be worn or just available?
In my (limitted) experience, its expected. When I visited a friend who was Nigerian, they offered me slippers to wear in the house, and they felt uncomfortable going barefoot in my (Canadian) house.
Edit: Talked to my Nigerian friend, shoes off is expected, and slippers are just a personal preference. The map is just wrong.
Yeah that’s probably why it’s labelled as shoes on then I imagine and why Canada is labelled shoes off since any sort of foot covering is expected / not expected.
I reckon it depends on how warm someone’s home is and how good their circulation is. If I don’t have shoes on indoors, then for half the year it feels like my feet have been stabbed because they get so cold (slippers are not enough), but I don’t wear the same shoes indoors as outdoors. I suspect that if we set the heating higher and the house wasn’t constructed in a way that makes the floor always much colder than a few inches above the floor, this wouldn’t be a problem.
That’s interesting, I hqve a different experience - i used to have horrible foot circulation as a kid but i got into the habit of never wearing socks in my house (don’t like the texture, enjoy feeling air on feet and them being cooler) and i haven’t had the bad foot circulation since then… as far as i can tell. I have been wearing them for this winter though.
To me, the big decider is plush carpets. The first level of my house is mostly hardwood and tile. The second floor, and living rooms have plush carpets. So if someone is unloading a car, getting ready to leave, or just general in/out stuff, sure leave the shoes on. Once you’ve decided to stay, get those shoes off and be welcome in the cozy areas of the house.
Which, coincidentally, is also the areas where other warm stuff is.
US here. Depends really. If I’m working around the house I like my shoes on but when it’s time to shutdown. They off, maybe some flip flops if I head out to the pool
Was recently discussing with someone that it’s really weird that, on the internet, Britain is repeatedly labelled a “shoes on indoors” society, because nobody we know has shoes on indoors (in their own home). Britain is a wet and muddy country.
Does anyone here do shoes on indoors? Where are you all from?
I’ve seen both in the UK. Personally, I’m a shoes off guy. Means less cleaning needed.
For me, in Italy it’s both, in 90% of the cases the situation is like:
You get in, remove the shoes and go barefoot/with slippers, if it’s like a party, festivity etc etc, usually no one cares to get off the shoes
There’s obviously no need for durable footwear when your whole country is a boot.
UK too, shoes off too, have never lived anywhere where shoes on indoors was a common thing
The only reason I can think is that underfloor heating is relatively rare here and if you’ve got hard floors it’ll be cold to walk on, but then slippers exist so idk really
It might be in including having slippers or “indoor shoes”. Nigeria is there as a shoes on, but from my understanding, its only slippers/flip flops specificly for indoors, that are normal.
Edit: Talked to my Nigerian friend, shoes off is expected, and slippers are just a personal preference. The map is just wrong.
Same for Japan. No chance they’re wearing full hiking boots or sneakers inside the house in Japan - the shoe cabinet is built in right next to the front door of houses, tiny apartments, temples, many restaurants, etc. I assume the schools still do too.
Canada is labelled as shoes off but we also have slippers.
Although not sure about Nigeria, are slippers and flip flops like expected to be worn or just available?
For me I have slippers which are worn often but it’s not expected that anyone inside wear them. Most people just wear socks if they come to visit. And myself I go barefoot unless my feet get cold then I grab the slippers.
In my (limitted) experience, its expected. When I visited a friend who was Nigerian, they offered me slippers to wear in the house, and they felt uncomfortable going barefoot in my (Canadian) house.
Edit: Talked to my Nigerian friend, shoes off is expected, and slippers are just a personal preference. The map is just wrong.
Yeah that’s probably why it’s labelled as shoes on then I imagine and why Canada is labelled shoes off since any sort of foot covering is expected / not expected.
Correction: asked my friend, and shoes off is the normal expectation in Nigeria. Slippers are just a personal preference, so the chart is just wrong.
I reckon it depends on how warm someone’s home is and how good their circulation is. If I don’t have shoes on indoors, then for half the year it feels like my feet have been stabbed because they get so cold (slippers are not enough), but I don’t wear the same shoes indoors as outdoors. I suspect that if we set the heating higher and the house wasn’t constructed in a way that makes the floor always much colder than a few inches above the floor, this wouldn’t be a problem.
That’s interesting, I hqve a different experience - i used to have horrible foot circulation as a kid but i got into the habit of never wearing socks in my house (don’t like the texture, enjoy feeling air on feet and them being cooler) and i haven’t had the bad foot circulation since then… as far as i can tell. I have been wearing them for this winter though.
Get some down booties. It’s like your feet are cocooned in a loving embrace of warmth and comfort.
To me, the big decider is plush carpets. The first level of my house is mostly hardwood and tile. The second floor, and living rooms have plush carpets. So if someone is unloading a car, getting ready to leave, or just general in/out stuff, sure leave the shoes on. Once you’ve decided to stay, get those shoes off and be welcome in the cozy areas of the house.
Which, coincidentally, is also the areas where other warm stuff is.
US here. Depends really. If I’m working around the house I like my shoes on but when it’s time to shutdown. They off, maybe some flip flops if I head out to the pool
Yeah I’m US and my parents were always at least annoyed if we wore our shoes further into the house than right by the door.
Same with France, many if not most no longer wear shoes inside of their homes.