Household debates solved: no more arguing about how the toilet paper hangs or where the ketchup lives

last updated 23 June 2022

It is often the little things we do around the home that can trigger the biggest arguments when living with partners. We can all probably admit to being guilty of bickering over where condiments live while unpacking the weekly shop, or getting annoyed if the toilet paper is replaced hanging the opposite way to how you would do it.

Hillarys have carried out research, taking a majority vote to settle these household debates once and for all. They asked 2,296 Britons aged 18 and over, all of whom stated they lived with a partner and would often disagree on the the little things. Thirty three per cent said they were mostly likely to disagree on 'where things should be stored'.

cream wall with red fridge and clock on wall with fruits and drinks

All respondents were initially asked: 'Do you like to do/have things a certain way at home, but find your partner thinks differently?' to which 68 per cent relied yes, with 30 per cent saying they would disagree about 'how to use certain things' and 16 per cent stating 'how quickly things should be done' as another common debate.

So what are the little things that get us all in a huff? Here are the top 10 most common grievances solved once and for all:

bathroom with wooden wall and commode with toilet paper

According to the poll 81 per cent of those quizzed stated that they didn't know why they felt so strongly about things being done is a certain way, it's maybe just something picked up from childhood and doing as our parents do. Whatever the reason there's no denying that it can be a problem if you can't agree to disagree. Maybe this research can go some way to helping settle the debate.

Tanya Irons, spokesperson for Hillarys says of the findings: 'We all like things a certain way, and living with someone initially can be tricky if they don’t agree with the way we do things.

'There are options; if you both like ketchup in different places, why not buy two bottles and have your own? It’s better to talk about it than to do things passively aggressively to get your point across.'

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.