Never shoes in doors. It's not really an asian family thing, and I also just find it weird because a) Having shoes on sucks (to me) b) Having shoes on makes your feet stink c) Are your shoes not...
Never shoes in doors. It's not really an asian family thing, and I also just find it weird because
I don't wear shoes/boots indoors - as soon as I get home I change into pajamas for comfort and either go barefoot or wear these thick padded socks that are nice and comfy.
I don't wear shoes/boots indoors - as soon as I get home I change into pajamas for comfort and either go barefoot or wear these thick padded socks that are nice and comfy.
American - growing up my family wore shoes in the house, except for me. I've personally always hated shoes, I put them on when I'm leaving and they come off as the very first thing I do when I...
American - growing up my family wore shoes in the house, except for me. I've personally always hated shoes, I put them on when I'm leaving and they come off as the very first thing I do when I step inside.
Socks or barefoot around the house for me and I also have a space near the door for shoes. Pretty much the same pattern as you - I might keep them on if I'm just running inside to grab something I forgot. I even have a pair of hard bottom slippers for quick trips outside just so I don't have to put shoes back on.
I don't even like to wear outside clothes in the house. You wouldn't catch me wearing jeans indoors. I change into soft, comfortable clothing as soon as I'm home, and I'll get re-dressed if I have to go do something later.
Not a temperature thing for me. I take the bus often and I DON'T want that dirt on my bed, or on my computer chair, or anywhere that I spend a lot of time really.
Not a temperature thing for me. I take the bus often and I DON'T want that dirt on my bed, or on my computer chair, or anywhere that I spend a lot of time really.
I live in California, definitely partially a temp thing. I have some pairs of comfortable jeans, some that are more "fitted", I think of them more for their sturdiness than comfort. At home I wear...
I live in California, definitely partially a temp thing. I have some pairs of comfortable jeans, some that are more "fitted", I think of them more for their sturdiness than comfort. At home I wear basketball style shorts, cotton sweats, or similar. Or even just boxer briefs, if it's real hot.
I, too, will immediately change out of jeans or chinos as soon as I get home unless I know I'll be heading back out soon. Admittedly, most of my jeans are a tighter fit (not skinny) as I prefer...
I, too, will immediately change out of jeans or chinos as soon as I get home unless I know I'll be heading back out soon. Admittedly, most of my jeans are a tighter fit (not skinny) as I prefer the look, but even my loose fit jeans are far from "comfortable".
At home, I pretty much live in shorts or jogging bottoms, temperature dependent. Outside of winter, I pretty much live in shorts inside and out unless I'm going somewhere it would be inappropriate. But more and more places have shorts becoming appropriate to me lately. My work place is filled with mostly tech types rocking up in shorts and Crocs or running shoes. Most restaurants I visit are not formal enough that I'd bother to change out of shorts, either.
It has actually got to the point that wearing jeans or chinos really feels like "dressing up". But anyway, I've strayed quite far off from the original topic...
The only time I keep jeans on in the house is if I'm planning to leave again. If I'm home and staying home then changing into comfy pants for the rest of the night is worth it, back when I was...
The only time I keep jeans on in the house is if I'm planning to leave again. If I'm home and staying home then changing into comfy pants for the rest of the night is worth it, back when I was single and living alone I'd just drop my pants once the door was shut and just go without. Even in a cool house which I tended to use as little heating/ac as possible I'd just use a blanket as that's far more comfortable than wearing pants.
But if I'm leaving again it's worth it to not have to change out of the pants and then back into them.
Soon as I'm inside the house, shoes are off, and I have a pair of house slippers that swap places with my shoes. I do the same as yourself if I'm out back with the BBQ, I might sneak in to grab...
Soon as I'm inside the house, shoes are off, and I have a pair of house slippers that swap places with my shoes.
I do the same as yourself if I'm out back with the BBQ, I might sneak in to grab something, but I'm just as likely to ask for it to be delivered if it's time sensitive like forgetting to grab a clean plate to put the meat that's cooked on.
Shoes were always off immediately when arriving home my entire time growing up, and even though I have laminate/hardwood floors, I still don't want to have to wipe down shoe prints anywhere in the house if I can avoid it, I already put it off more than I should.
No shoes. I’m in Japan so it’s pretty common to be required to take off our shoes. In the past couple of months I’ve taken off my shoes off at a temple, a restaurant, my dentist’s office, my...
No shoes. I’m in Japan so it’s pretty common to be required to take off our shoes. In the past couple of months I’ve taken off my shoes off at a temple, a restaurant, my dentist’s office, my therapist’s office, and the stained glass workshop I go to. It’s a bit of a hassle in the summer when I’m wearing sandals with bare feet because I need to carry socks with me (since it’s improper and a bit gross to wear communal slippers on bare feet).
According to a bit of research I just did, taking shoes off indoors was customary in Japan even back in the Yayoi period, which was from 300 BC to 250 AD. The primary reasons were the hot, humid...
According to a bit of research I just did, taking shoes off indoors was customary in Japan even back in the Yayoi period, which was from 300 BC to 250 AD.
The primary reasons were the hot, humid climate, housing design, and spiritual beliefs. Traditionally, houses were built with raised foundations to allow air flow between the floor and the ground. People slept and sat directly on the floor. So removing shoes was a way to keep the floor clean. Also, the raised foundation formed a clear boundary between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’. It was believed that gods reside inside the house. To bring in impurities from the lower outside world into the elevated sacred space inside the house would offend the gods.
In modern-day Japan, restaurants that have zashiki-style seating or sunken-floor-style seating where customers are seated on the floor require shoes to be removed for both hygiene and comfort (I get that, to people of other cultures, it might seem less hygienic and more uncomfortable to be eating on the floor barefoot). Hygiene is also why dentists might require removal of shoes, since the patient’s shoes would rest on the chair in the reclined position. I’m guessing both comfort and hygiene for my therapist’s office since they have a play room for children and kids tend to play sitting on the floor. As for my stained glass workshop, this is where tradition trumps logic and safety. It’s held in a traditionally constructed former residence with a raised foundation so outdoor shoes are an absolute no-no, even if you end up with splinters of glass in your feet (slippers can only do so much).
It depends on the restaurant and place though. I don't take my shoes of in Japan at the hospital when I got for checkups. I do at my little dental clinic (wear the provided slippers). I don't take...
It depends on the restaurant and place though. I don't take my shoes of in Japan at the hospital when I got for checkups. I do at my little dental clinic (wear the provided slippers). I don't take my shoes off at most restaurants, but if there are Japanese rooms (tatami), then absolutely.
I imagine at the very least it has something to do with keep the space you live in clean. Given that floors traditionally acted as the place to sit and sleep, who in their right mind would want to do that in a filthy place?
As you say that, culturally deeper, it seems to be a division of spaces. Inside / outside. A place for work vs the private space of home. The fact that you need to take sports shoes off outside and use different sports shoes inside the gym speaks to that, as does things like "designated areas of concrete connecting buildings" being designated as "okay for indoor shoes to walk on" (seen in several of my schools). So, THIS concrete is bad, but the concrete inbetween these lines is clean? Yes.
I've been a slipper/ flip flop guy for ages. I got orthotics a few months back but wasn't wearing them enough to adjust properly. I unfortunately ended up developing a nasty case of plantar...
I've been a slipper/ flip flop guy for ages. I got orthotics a few months back but wasn't wearing them enough to adjust properly. I unfortunately ended up developing a nasty case of plantar fascia, which sucks to high heaven.
So my "foot guy" told me to wear the orthotics all the time, inside and outside. After two weeks of methodically cleaning my shoes after being outside I recently went and bought a second pair of shoes exclusively for wearing the orthotics inside.
It's a bit weird. Kind of constricting.... but I am adapting to the orthotics so I guess "foot guy" was right!
But growing up and until this recent development, it was absolutely no shoes inside!
I've grown up in America, but shoes always came off at my house. Granted my parents were Soviet immigrants. The logic is you want your living space cleaner than the outdoors. You don't want to...
I've grown up in America, but shoes always came off at my house. Granted my parents were Soviet immigrants.
The logic is you want your living space cleaner than the outdoors. You don't want to bring the outdoors into your house any further than you want to.
Actors wear shoes on set because it's not going to be clean, and there might be some dropped screws and whatnot hanging around. Definitely breaks immersion sometimes though lol.
Actors wear shoes on set because it's not going to be clean, and there might be some dropped screws and whatnot hanging around. Definitely breaks immersion sometimes though lol.
Shoes on until I remember to take them off. I don't always know when I'm going places so I just tend to leave them on until night. However I also work from home so most days they just aren't on...
Shoes on until I remember to take them off. I don't always know when I'm going places so I just tend to leave them on until night.
However I also work from home so most days they just aren't on until I need to go somewhere
Like you, I’m Canadian and can’t imagine wearing my shoes indoors. It would make such a mess. I grew up in the very far north, where winter lasted from October until late April - early May so...
Like you, I’m Canadian and can’t imagine wearing my shoes indoors. It would make such a mess. I grew up in the very far north, where winter lasted from October until late April - early May so snowy, wet boots were kind of the order of the day. Now that I live in a slightly less snowy area, I do tend to wear a lot of very high stiletto heels. Which, frankly, I can’t wait to take off at the end of the day.
A friend of mine who lives in Arizona told me is that the dust there is getting inside no matter what you do. So you keep your shoes on to protect your feet and just sleep every day. I don’t have any personal experience with that myself, so take that for what it’s worth.
I live in the Pacific, it's hot and humid here. The culture here is that you always take your shoes or sandals off before you enter a house. I personally hate socks and shoes, so I usually always...
I live in the Pacific, it's hot and humid here. The culture here is that you always take your shoes or sandals off before you enter a house. I personally hate socks and shoes, so I usually always wear sandals or walk around bare foot even for quick trip outside. I love the freedom of being bare foot. If my feet are too dirty before I enter my house, I'll hose off before hand. I also clean my feet with a pumice stone and give my self pedicures, because its important to take care of your hands and feet being we use them so much.
I go barefoot as much as I can, which means that I often put socks on to go into the house until I have time to clean my feet. :) I definitely NEVER wear shoes in the house, never have, and I grew...
I go barefoot as much as I can, which means that I often put socks on to go into the house until I have time to clean my feet. :) I definitely NEVER wear shoes in the house, never have, and I grew up in the US.
My family is a "shoes off in the house" family, but we're an immigrant family and most people in this country (New Zealand) seem to wear shoes indoors. I don't know if shoes off is the norm back...
My family is a "shoes off in the house" family, but we're an immigrant family and most people in this country (New Zealand) seem to wear shoes indoors. I don't know if shoes off is the norm back in my birth country as I have little memory of it.
I still take my shoes off indoors (even at other people's houses), but my partner does not.
As a kiwi: shoes off inside, shoes off outside. Really though, I am wearing shoes inside at the moment after going back inside from my (unattached) home office building. Haven't taken them off yet...
As a kiwi: shoes off inside, shoes off outside.
Really though, I am wearing shoes inside at the moment after going back inside from my (unattached) home office building. Haven't taken them off yet but will soon.
Most of the time I would be wearing jandals outside and easily slip them off at the door.
Midwestern American here (of Asian descent). I take my shoes off as soon as I get in, and then I wear flip flips around my place. Even with socks because I'm a monster. Really, it's because my...
Midwestern American here (of Asian descent). I take my shoes off as soon as I get in, and then I wear flip flips around my place. Even with socks because I'm a monster. Really, it's because my feet get cold.
I think it differs when visiting someone's house. Like I've been to friends' places where we're hanging out for a short amount of time (like an hour or two). I probably won't take my shoes off unless asked or I see them do it. And I'm largely the same way with my friends. They can take their shoes off, but I'm not gonna enforce it. But if a friend is staying longer or overnight or something, then yeah, I'll expect them to take their shoes off. And they usually will anyway without being prompted.
I like to wear shoes in the house, my partner hates it so we don't. I'm from the United States, as is she, so maybe it's a nationality thing (my dad is English, hers in German) or a socio-economic...
I like to wear shoes in the house, my partner hates it so we don't. I'm from the United States, as is she, so maybe it's a nationality thing (my dad is English, hers in German) or a socio-economic thing (my parents grew up poor, her's grew up very wealthy) but I really don't know. The only time I was a leave your shoes at the door person was when I lived in a pretty rough urban area with a good deal of urine on the sidewalks.
She is also a slipper in the house person. Personally, I can't stand slippers. They make my feet sweat.
If I had it my way I'd go barefoot all of the time, inside and out. In the summer months, I'll often work on my "summer feet" to get them a bit more rough and ready on hot pavement, gravel paths, and the rocky shoreline.
I am barefoot as long/often as I can be because unless I'm out somewhere I don't need to be in shoes. At home? Shoes are for outdoor hazards more than they are for anything else, and these hazards...
I am barefoot as long/often as I can be because unless I'm out somewhere I don't need to be in shoes.
At home? Shoes are for outdoor hazards more than they are for anything else, and these hazards aren't an issue at home. That said, I also run around my apartment complex/walk down my street barefoot because I just like being barefoot, but if I'm going farther I'll put on some sandals (I'm partial to Xero Shoes Z-Trek or their DIY, but have a pair of their San Marcos as well).
Like others have claimed, I'm very much a "indoor/outdoor clothes" person. I wear T-shirts most of the time in any context, so ti's the same shirts, but I wear atlhletic shorts or sweatpants depending on the weather and how hot/cold it is.
If I'm at somebody else's house I'll usually keep my shoes on unless it's a close family member and I'm going to be there all day.
Typically take them off. Times I don’t is when I’m workin literally on the house. Example is I recently replaced a fan. I’m not wearing socks while I work with electricity.
Typically take them off. Times I don’t is when I’m workin literally on the house. Example is I recently replaced a fan. I’m not wearing socks while I work with electricity.
Socks don't have a rubber sole (to protect you from electricity.) They also often build up a static charge. Just off the top of my head, and I might be wrong about their reasons.
Socks don't have a rubber sole (to protect you from electricity.) They also often build up a static charge. Just off the top of my head, and I might be wrong about their reasons.
I'm a shoes-off girl most of the time at home, though whether I wear them at other people's houses varies. Meanwhile my family doesn't really go barefoot, but they do have slippers they wear just...
I'm a shoes-off girl most of the time at home, though whether I wear them at other people's houses varies. Meanwhile my family doesn't really go barefoot, but they do have slippers they wear just at home. They'll wear those to go outside briefly like with the dog or to grab mail too.
I live in Japan. I had the entire volleyball team yelling at me in alarm the one time I was so tired I forgot to take off my outside trainers and walked into the foyer to the gymnasium . . .
I live in Japan. I had the entire volleyball team yelling at me in alarm the one time I was so tired I forgot to take off my outside trainers and walked into the foyer to the gymnasium . . .
Shoes come off immediately when I get home. I might have them on if I’m getting ready to leave and waiting for the SO. All hard floors in the house, I would never wear them on carpet.
Shoes come off immediately when I get home. I might have them on if I’m getting ready to leave and waiting for the SO. All hard floors in the house, I would never wear them on carpet.
I'm Australian, and to me it depends on the home. My apartment is mostly tiled. I wear thongs (flip flops) indoors because they're more comfortable and insulate my feet from the cold. The tiles...
I'm Australian, and to me it depends on the home.
My apartment is mostly tiled. I wear thongs (flip flops) indoors because they're more comfortable and insulate my feet from the cold. The tiles are rough so I don't have to worry about scratches, and I don't mind washing them occasionally.
I'd never wear footwear on a carpeted or wooden floor though.
When I visit somebody, I take my footwear off by default unless the homeowner tells me otherwise.
UK here. At my parents' house, shoes on in the house. At my house, shoes off in the house. My partner is German. Shoes off in the house, and "Hausschuhe" (slippers) on.
UK here.
At my parents' house, shoes on in the house.
At my house, shoes off in the house.
My partner is German. Shoes off in the house, and "Hausschuhe" (slippers) on.
I prefer barefoot at all times, and only wear shoes outside because of the risk of injury and simply the dirt on the pavement. I even go regularly barefoot at work, and I notice it inspires mostly...
I prefer barefoot at all times, and only wear shoes outside because of the risk of injury and simply the dirt on the pavement. I even go regularly barefoot at work, and I notice it inspires mostly the younger colleagues - however they go only as far as the socks.
As far as customs go, some houses prefer shoes off, also for visitors, some don't care (mostly as a courtesy to the visitor). Mostly you see the hosts without shoes, in socks or slippers.
I wear slippers or sliders (weather dependent) at home but not for cleanliness. We have a dog so you can’t avoid outside germs coming in, you just have to clean the floors more. If I need to be...
I wear slippers or sliders (weather dependent) at home but not for cleanliness. We have a dog so you can’t avoid outside germs coming in, you just have to clean the floors more. If I need to be very productive sometimes I keep my trainers on - it puts me in the active mindset and stops me sitting down
I only wear shoes at work... Or, if it's thundering outside, a pair of sandals. The work shoes come off once I'm inside, and the sandals come off in the car, at the latest.
I only wear shoes at work... Or, if it's thundering outside, a pair of sandals. The work shoes come off once I'm inside, and the sandals come off in the car, at the latest.
If I'm at my or my sister's house, shoes are immediately off because I know the floors are clean (I cannot stand walking on sand/crumbs/ whatever). Everywhere else it seems strange to take my...
If I'm at my or my sister's house, shoes are immediately off because I know the floors are clean (I cannot stand walking on sand/crumbs/ whatever). Everywhere else it seems strange to take my shoes off. I don't know why as I invite my guests to take their shoes off if they want. Everybody should be comfy in my home.
I live in the NE US, and until relatively recently, the idea of shoes off in another person's home was a, pardon the pun, foreign concept. But I've never liked shoes or socks. As a kid, I went...
I live in the NE US, and until relatively recently, the idea of shoes off in another person's home was a, pardon the pun, foreign concept. But I've never liked shoes or socks. As a kid, I went around barefoot so much I built up what I call rhino feet. As an adult, I never go out barefoot, and I have specific indoor shoes (water shoes, really, because I have cats and I have a fear of stepping in hairballs in the middle of the night.) In my bedroom, though, which is where I am.... it's barefoot, always.
Having shoes on seems bizarre. I'm also Canadian, and the only places I've been to where you keep shoes on inside are permanently dirty-ish places like frat houses and such. I also can't imagine...
Having shoes on seems bizarre. I'm also Canadian, and the only places I've been to where you keep shoes on inside are permanently dirty-ish places like frat houses and such. I also can't imagine wearing shoes on carpet, where something like mud that tracks onto it would be difficult to remove.
We’re a no shoe household. Downstairs is all hard floor so if absolutely needed then shoes can be kept on to quickly grab something, but upstairs is carpeted for the most part so definitely no...
We’re a no shoe household. Downstairs is all hard floor so if absolutely needed then shoes can be kept on to quickly grab something, but upstairs is carpeted for the most part so definitely no shoes. To be honest, I’m UK based and I could probably count on my hands the number of houses I’ve been in where shoes were allowed, and at least half of those were student houses. I’d suggest it’s fairly uncommon here, though I’m a no socks guy too. Barefoot is just more comfy!
I'm Ukrainian living in Panama. I don't visit other's house much, but what I've noticed old generation keeps shoes on, but new generation takes them off. Me and my wife take shoes off in our...
I'm Ukrainian living in Panama. I don't visit other's house much, but what I've noticed old generation keeps shoes on, but new generation takes them off. Me and my wife take shoes off in our house, but keeping them on when visiting our friend from Texas who is always shoes on (at least flip flops).
I used to wear slippers in my house. A time in a studio type apartment made me get used to barefoot, my muscle memory is out of it. Never went with shoes in house, that's be a bit unhygenic(got my...
I used to wear slippers in my house. A time in a studio type apartment made me get used to barefoot, my muscle memory is out of it. Never went with shoes in house, that's be a bit unhygenic(got my cousin sprawling around)
Non-white Northern England person here. When I enter my house, shoes come off immediately and it's slippers/socks/barefoot around the house depending on how warm I am at any given time! I'm also...
Non-white Northern England person here.
When I enter my house, shoes come off immediately and it's slippers/socks/barefoot around the house depending on how warm I am at any given time! I'm also not super precious at the border, and will occasionally nip to put the bin out in my slippers, or nip inside to fetch something in my shoes - but it always does feel a bit icky to do that. Usually, I have crocs for hanging out in the back yard in sunny days, or popping out to put the bin out.
One scenario that doesn't seem to have been mentioned yet: If a guest visits for a few hours, they usually keep their shoes on for the entire visit, and that's fine too. In my experience it's extremely unusual to go into a [white, British person's] house as a guest and take your shoes off at the door. If a host were to ask the guest to take their shoes off, culturally, it would be seen as them being a bit fussy. As a guest, taking your shoes off at someone else's house is culturally seen as "making yourself feel a bit too comfortable" or overfamiliarity - even at a very good friend's house. I usually do take my shoes off when I visit people because it seems polite to me and it always feels mildly awkward when I do.
My best friend is the only person I know who wears shoes in the house full-time. He literally gets out of bed and puts them on first thing the morning. Everyone else I know finds this absolutely appalling behavior, and it boggles my mind and makes me feel a bit nauseous just to think about it.
Never shoes in doors. It's not really an asian family thing, and I also just find it weird because
a) Having shoes on sucks (to me)
b) Having shoes on makes your feet stink
c) Are your shoes not dirty from the outside?
I don't wear shoes/boots indoors - as soon as I get home I change into pajamas for comfort and either go barefoot or wear these thick padded socks that are nice and comfy.
I’m the same. I can’t wear shoes indoors and I know I need to for medical reasons. I just can’t stand shoes or socks as a sensory thing in general.
American - growing up my family wore shoes in the house, except for me. I've personally always hated shoes, I put them on when I'm leaving and they come off as the very first thing I do when I step inside.
Socks or barefoot around the house for me and I also have a space near the door for shoes. Pretty much the same pattern as you - I might keep them on if I'm just running inside to grab something I forgot. I even have a pair of hard bottom slippers for quick trips outside just so I don't have to put shoes back on.
I don't even like to wear outside clothes in the house. You wouldn't catch me wearing jeans indoors. I change into soft, comfortable clothing as soon as I'm home, and I'll get re-dressed if I have to go do something later.
Not a temperature thing for me. I take the bus often and I DON'T want that dirt on my bed, or on my computer chair, or anywhere that I spend a lot of time really.
I live in California, definitely partially a temp thing. I have some pairs of comfortable jeans, some that are more "fitted", I think of them more for their sturdiness than comfort. At home I wear basketball style shorts, cotton sweats, or similar. Or even just boxer briefs, if it's real hot.
I, too, will immediately change out of jeans or chinos as soon as I get home unless I know I'll be heading back out soon. Admittedly, most of my jeans are a tighter fit (not skinny) as I prefer the look, but even my loose fit jeans are far from "comfortable".
At home, I pretty much live in shorts or jogging bottoms, temperature dependent. Outside of winter, I pretty much live in shorts inside and out unless I'm going somewhere it would be inappropriate. But more and more places have shorts becoming appropriate to me lately. My work place is filled with mostly tech types rocking up in shorts and Crocs or running shoes. Most restaurants I visit are not formal enough that I'd bother to change out of shorts, either.
It has actually got to the point that wearing jeans or chinos really feels like "dressing up". But anyway, I've strayed quite far off from the original topic...
I have a white couch, so if someone comes over in a pair of new jeans, they are cordially invited to sit on the floor.
The only time I keep jeans on in the house is if I'm planning to leave again. If I'm home and staying home then changing into comfy pants for the rest of the night is worth it, back when I was single and living alone I'd just drop my pants once the door was shut and just go without. Even in a cool house which I tended to use as little heating/ac as possible I'd just use a blanket as that's far more comfortable than wearing pants.
But if I'm leaving again it's worth it to not have to change out of the pants and then back into them.
Soon as I'm inside the house, shoes are off, and I have a pair of house slippers that swap places with my shoes.
I do the same as yourself if I'm out back with the BBQ, I might sneak in to grab something, but I'm just as likely to ask for it to be delivered if it's time sensitive like forgetting to grab a clean plate to put the meat that's cooked on.
Shoes were always off immediately when arriving home my entire time growing up, and even though I have laminate/hardwood floors, I still don't want to have to wipe down shoe prints anywhere in the house if I can avoid it, I already put it off more than I should.
No shoes. I’m in Japan so it’s pretty common to be required to take off our shoes. In the past couple of months I’ve taken off my shoes off at a temple, a restaurant, my dentist’s office, my therapist’s office, and the stained glass workshop I go to. It’s a bit of a hassle in the summer when I’m wearing sandals with bare feet because I need to carry socks with me (since it’s improper and a bit gross to wear communal slippers on bare feet).
According to a bit of research I just did, taking shoes off indoors was customary in Japan even back in the Yayoi period, which was from 300 BC to 250 AD.
The primary reasons were the hot, humid climate, housing design, and spiritual beliefs. Traditionally, houses were built with raised foundations to allow air flow between the floor and the ground. People slept and sat directly on the floor. So removing shoes was a way to keep the floor clean. Also, the raised foundation formed a clear boundary between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’. It was believed that gods reside inside the house. To bring in impurities from the lower outside world into the elevated sacred space inside the house would offend the gods.
In modern-day Japan, restaurants that have zashiki-style seating or sunken-floor-style seating where customers are seated on the floor require shoes to be removed for both hygiene and comfort (I get that, to people of other cultures, it might seem less hygienic and more uncomfortable to be eating on the floor barefoot). Hygiene is also why dentists might require removal of shoes, since the patient’s shoes would rest on the chair in the reclined position. I’m guessing both comfort and hygiene for my therapist’s office since they have a play room for children and kids tend to play sitting on the floor. As for my stained glass workshop, this is where tradition trumps logic and safety. It’s held in a traditionally constructed former residence with a raised foundation so outdoor shoes are an absolute no-no, even if you end up with splinters of glass in your feet (slippers can only do so much).
It depends on the restaurant and place though. I don't take my shoes of in Japan at the hospital when I got for checkups. I do at my little dental clinic (wear the provided slippers). I don't take my shoes off at most restaurants, but if there are Japanese rooms (tatami), then absolutely.
I imagine at the very least it has something to do with keep the space you live in clean. Given that floors traditionally acted as the place to sit and sleep, who in their right mind would want to do that in a filthy place?
As you say that, culturally deeper, it seems to be a division of spaces. Inside / outside. A place for work vs the private space of home. The fact that you need to take sports shoes off outside and use different sports shoes inside the gym speaks to that, as does things like "designated areas of concrete connecting buildings" being designated as "okay for indoor shoes to walk on" (seen in several of my schools). So, THIS concrete is bad, but the concrete inbetween these lines is clean? Yes.
I've been a slipper/ flip flop guy for ages. I got orthotics a few months back but wasn't wearing them enough to adjust properly. I unfortunately ended up developing a nasty case of plantar fascia, which sucks to high heaven.
So my "foot guy" told me to wear the orthotics all the time, inside and outside. After two weeks of methodically cleaning my shoes after being outside I recently went and bought a second pair of shoes exclusively for wearing the orthotics inside.
It's a bit weird. Kind of constricting.... but I am adapting to the orthotics so I guess "foot guy" was right!
But growing up and until this recent development, it was absolutely no shoes inside!
I've grown up in America, but shoes always came off at my house. Granted my parents were Soviet immigrants.
The logic is you want your living space cleaner than the outdoors. You don't want to bring the outdoors into your house any further than you want to.
The worst is when they have the shoes on the couch or bed 😩
Actors wear shoes on set because it's not going to be clean, and there might be some dropped screws and whatnot hanging around. Definitely breaks immersion sometimes though lol.
Shoes on until I remember to take them off. I don't always know when I'm going places so I just tend to leave them on until night.
However I also work from home so most days they just aren't on until I need to go somewhere
Like you, I’m Canadian and can’t imagine wearing my shoes indoors. It would make such a mess. I grew up in the very far north, where winter lasted from October until late April - early May so snowy, wet boots were kind of the order of the day. Now that I live in a slightly less snowy area, I do tend to wear a lot of very high stiletto heels. Which, frankly, I can’t wait to take off at the end of the day.
A friend of mine who lives in Arizona told me is that the dust there is getting inside no matter what you do. So you keep your shoes on to protect your feet and just sleep every day. I don’t have any personal experience with that myself, so take that for what it’s worth.
I live in the Pacific, it's hot and humid here. The culture here is that you always take your shoes or sandals off before you enter a house. I personally hate socks and shoes, so I usually always wear sandals or walk around bare foot even for quick trip outside. I love the freedom of being bare foot. If my feet are too dirty before I enter my house, I'll hose off before hand. I also clean my feet with a pumice stone and give my self pedicures, because its important to take care of your hands and feet being we use them so much.
I go barefoot as much as I can, which means that I often put socks on to go into the house until I have time to clean my feet. :) I definitely NEVER wear shoes in the house, never have, and I grew up in the US.
My family is a "shoes off in the house" family, but we're an immigrant family and most people in this country (New Zealand) seem to wear shoes indoors. I don't know if shoes off is the norm back in my birth country as I have little memory of it.
I still take my shoes off indoors (even at other people's houses), but my partner does not.
As a kiwi: shoes off inside, shoes off outside.
Really though, I am wearing shoes inside at the moment after going back inside from my (unattached) home office building. Haven't taken them off yet but will soon.
Most of the time I would be wearing jandals outside and easily slip them off at the door.
Midwestern American here (of Asian descent). I take my shoes off as soon as I get in, and then I wear flip flips around my place. Even with socks because I'm a monster. Really, it's because my feet get cold.
I think it differs when visiting someone's house. Like I've been to friends' places where we're hanging out for a short amount of time (like an hour or two). I probably won't take my shoes off unless asked or I see them do it. And I'm largely the same way with my friends. They can take their shoes off, but I'm not gonna enforce it. But if a friend is staying longer or overnight or something, then yeah, I'll expect them to take their shoes off. And they usually will anyway without being prompted.
I like to wear shoes in the house, my partner hates it so we don't. I'm from the United States, as is she, so maybe it's a nationality thing (my dad is English, hers in German) or a socio-economic thing (my parents grew up poor, her's grew up very wealthy) but I really don't know. The only time I was a leave your shoes at the door person was when I lived in a pretty rough urban area with a good deal of urine on the sidewalks.
She is also a slipper in the house person. Personally, I can't stand slippers. They make my feet sweat.
If I had it my way I'd go barefoot all of the time, inside and out. In the summer months, I'll often work on my "summer feet" to get them a bit more rough and ready on hot pavement, gravel paths, and the rocky shoreline.
I am barefoot as long/often as I can be because unless I'm out somewhere I don't need to be in shoes.
At home? Shoes are for outdoor hazards more than they are for anything else, and these hazards aren't an issue at home. That said, I also run around my apartment complex/walk down my street barefoot because I just like being barefoot, but if I'm going farther I'll put on some sandals (I'm partial to Xero Shoes Z-Trek or their DIY, but have a pair of their San Marcos as well).
Like others have claimed, I'm very much a "indoor/outdoor clothes" person. I wear T-shirts most of the time in any context, so ti's the same shirts, but I wear atlhletic shorts or sweatpants depending on the weather and how hot/cold it is.
If I'm at somebody else's house I'll usually keep my shoes on unless it's a close family member and I'm going to be there all day.
I never wear shoes indoors at home. It's uncomfortable and dirty. At home I wear socks or slippers or nothing.
Typically take them off. Times I don’t is when I’m workin literally on the house. Example is I recently replaced a fan. I’m not wearing socks while I work with electricity.
Socks don't have a rubber sole (to protect you from electricity.) They also often build up a static charge. Just off the top of my head, and I might be wrong about their reasons.
I don't wear shoes at home at all. Only when I am outside.
I'm a shoes-off girl most of the time at home, though whether I wear them at other people's houses varies. Meanwhile my family doesn't really go barefoot, but they do have slippers they wear just at home. They'll wear those to go outside briefly like with the dog or to grab mail too.
I live in Japan. I had the entire volleyball team yelling at me in alarm the one time I was so tired I forgot to take off my outside trainers and walked into the foyer to the gymnasium . . .
Shoes/boots for outside and slides or barefoot for inside.
Shoes come off immediately when I get home. I might have them on if I’m getting ready to leave and waiting for the SO. All hard floors in the house, I would never wear them on carpet.
I'm Australian, and to me it depends on the home.
My apartment is mostly tiled. I wear thongs (flip flops) indoors because they're more comfortable and insulate my feet from the cold. The tiles are rough so I don't have to worry about scratches, and I don't mind washing them occasionally.
I'd never wear footwear on a carpeted or wooden floor though.
When I visit somebody, I take my footwear off by default unless the homeowner tells me otherwise.
UK here.
At my parents' house, shoes on in the house.
At my house, shoes off in the house.
My partner is German. Shoes off in the house, and "Hausschuhe" (slippers) on.
I prefer barefoot at all times, and only wear shoes outside because of the risk of injury and simply the dirt on the pavement. I even go regularly barefoot at work, and I notice it inspires mostly the younger colleagues - however they go only as far as the socks.
As far as customs go, some houses prefer shoes off, also for visitors, some don't care (mostly as a courtesy to the visitor). Mostly you see the hosts without shoes, in socks or slippers.
I pretty much always wear shoes in the house for one reason: a three year old that likes to leave Lego and other toy landmines all over the place.
I wear slippers or sliders (weather dependent) at home but not for cleanliness. We have a dog so you can’t avoid outside germs coming in, you just have to clean the floors more. If I need to be very productive sometimes I keep my trainers on - it puts me in the active mindset and stops me sitting down
Slippers or deck type of shoe
I only wear shoes at work... Or, if it's thundering outside, a pair of sandals. The work shoes come off once I'm inside, and the sandals come off in the car, at the latest.
If I'm at my or my sister's house, shoes are immediately off because I know the floors are clean (I cannot stand walking on sand/crumbs/ whatever). Everywhere else it seems strange to take my shoes off. I don't know why as I invite my guests to take their shoes off if they want. Everybody should be comfy in my home.
I live in the NE US, and until relatively recently, the idea of shoes off in another person's home was a, pardon the pun, foreign concept. But I've never liked shoes or socks. As a kid, I went around barefoot so much I built up what I call rhino feet. As an adult, I never go out barefoot, and I have specific indoor shoes (water shoes, really, because I have cats and I have a fear of stepping in hairballs in the middle of the night.) In my bedroom, though, which is where I am.... it's barefoot, always.
Having shoes on seems bizarre. I'm also Canadian, and the only places I've been to where you keep shoes on inside are permanently dirty-ish places like frat houses and such. I also can't imagine wearing shoes on carpet, where something like mud that tracks onto it would be difficult to remove.
We’re a no shoe household. Downstairs is all hard floor so if absolutely needed then shoes can be kept on to quickly grab something, but upstairs is carpeted for the most part so definitely no shoes. To be honest, I’m UK based and I could probably count on my hands the number of houses I’ve been in where shoes were allowed, and at least half of those were student houses. I’d suggest it’s fairly uncommon here, though I’m a no socks guy too. Barefoot is just more comfy!
I'm Ukrainian living in Panama. I don't visit other's house much, but what I've noticed old generation keeps shoes on, but new generation takes them off. Me and my wife take shoes off in our house, but keeping them on when visiting our friend from Texas who is always shoes on (at least flip flops).
I used to wear slippers in my house. A time in a studio type apartment made me get used to barefoot, my muscle memory is out of it. Never went with shoes in house, that's be a bit unhygenic(got my cousin sprawling around)
Non-white Northern England person here.
When I enter my house, shoes come off immediately and it's slippers/socks/barefoot around the house depending on how warm I am at any given time! I'm also not super precious at the border, and will occasionally nip to put the bin out in my slippers, or nip inside to fetch something in my shoes - but it always does feel a bit icky to do that. Usually, I have crocs for hanging out in the back yard in sunny days, or popping out to put the bin out.
One scenario that doesn't seem to have been mentioned yet: If a guest visits for a few hours, they usually keep their shoes on for the entire visit, and that's fine too. In my experience it's extremely unusual to go into a [white, British person's] house as a guest and take your shoes off at the door. If a host were to ask the guest to take their shoes off, culturally, it would be seen as them being a bit fussy. As a guest, taking your shoes off at someone else's house is culturally seen as "making yourself feel a bit too comfortable" or overfamiliarity - even at a very good friend's house. I usually do take my shoes off when I visit people because it seems polite to me and it always feels mildly awkward when I do.
My best friend is the only person I know who wears shoes in the house full-time. He literally gets out of bed and puts them on first thing the morning. Everyone else I know finds this absolutely appalling behavior, and it boggles my mind and makes me feel a bit nauseous just to think about it.
Edit: just tidying up spelling and grammar