Reading People

Our home is our castle. It is usually the most private, personal, and permanent environment we enjoy. At work, others almost always control appearances to some degree; and even when they don't, we may not reveal much of ourselves in such a public place. But home—that's different. Once you enter the space someone has created for her own comfort, you are in a position to find out some very pertinent information about her. If she shares her home with someone else, it may be more challenging to identify who is responsible for what features, but with close observation, a little time, and a few tactful questions, you can almost always find out.

Reading someone's home means looking around the "public" areas, not digging through the medicine cabinet. I mention this only because some people are terrible snoops, and I draw the line there. Privacy is sacred. Besides, if you're a good observer you don't need to delve into others' intimate territory. I consider "public" territory to be the neighborhood, the outdoor areas, the living room, the family room, the kitchen, and the guest bathroom. When you first visit and are taken on a "tour" you might get a peek at the bedrooms, too, but generally I'd consider them off limits.