12 very personal details your house reveals about you

Internet-connected televisions can collect data on everything you’re watching and sell it to advertisers – and many are set up to do it by default. (To keep your information private, turn off data sharing in your TV settings.)

Your dirt reveals whether there are more men or women in the household (the sexes shed different types of bacteria). By examining the fungi in your dust, scientists can also predict where you live, down to about a 240km range.

Try these 9 ways to get rid of dust in your home you never thought of.

It’s written on your front door. According to colour experts, a red front door means you’re not afraid to say what you think. A blue door says you’re naturally at ease in most situations. Green broadcasts your traditional values, and black means you’re probably consistent and reserved. Inside the home, extroverts tend to choose open, spacious furniture layouts. If you’re introverted, you probably decorate with soft, solid colours and muted patterns.

A Cornell University study found that women who had just one box of breakfast cereal on the kitchen counter weighed an average of 9kg more than those who didn’t have any cereal in plain view. Women with soft drink sitting out (even diet kinds) weighed an average of 11kg more. People who had a bowl of fruit in the kitchen weighed an average of 6kg less than those who didn’t have fruit out.

Here are 10 bizarre weight loss tricks that work.

If you have purple decor, you have nearly double the intimacy of people with grey bedding, walls, or furniture, says a British survey. Reds and pinks also seem to spice things up, while beige and white may inhibit intimacy.

The answer is in your socks. One survey found that orderly and detailed people tend to have the messiest sock drawers. Experts hypothesise that people who are meticulous are more likely to spend time prioritising and organising more important parts of their lives. Follow these decorating tips to make your home look like a luxe hotel.

If you have many photos of yourself visible, you’re most likely under 35. Previous generations considered it gauche to display photos of themselves, but interior designers report that millennials – accustomed to posting selfies on social media – are much more inclined to show self-portraits.

A Yale University study found that people who take longer showers and baths are more likely to feel lonely and isolated. Researchers believe they subconsciously use hot baths and showers as a substitute for emotional warmth.

These small habits reveal a lot about your personality.

Both things are probable if you think making your bed is a waste of time. One survey of 68,000 people found that those who make their beds in the morning are more likely to enjoy their jobs and to exercise regularly than people who do not. Psychologists say it could be because happy people aim for an orderly life (rather than a chaotic, unorganised one).

Here are 12 things professional organisers declutter every day.

According to an analysis of more than 1,000 burglaries, your home is likely to be a target if it has a sliding glass door or single-pane windows. These are easy for burglars to pry open or break.

I’m a burglar – here’s how to outsmart me.