People alarmed after realising why people put wicker hearts on their doors or windows

If you've been for a walk lately and spotted a trend for wicker hearts on doors and windows, it turns out it might be more than just a pretty ornament.

A group on social media shared an insight that shocked many people, who thought the decorations were just to make your house look nice.

Users of the Mumsnet forum have shared their suspicions that the decor might not be as innocent as first thought.

A delivery worker revealed their thoughts in a post, saying they'd noticed a new trend while out and about at work.

"Over the course of my approx. three mile walk, I swear I must have seen tens and tens of houses with hearts hanging up in windows, on doors and on gates," they wrote.

Describing the fashionable item, they noted: "All made out of painted punched metal or wicker. They all seemed to be huge, maybe 30cm in diameter.

"Some of them were quite nice I suppose, but I couldn't help but wonder when I missed that particular memo."

If you thought this was just some cute decor, you might want to think again... (Getty Stock Image)

The poster went on to ask: "Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon, or is it just my very middle class suburb of a fairly dull town?"

People rushed to the comment section to offer a solution - and who knew, apparently, it's a way of signalling that swingers live there.

Move over pineapples and pampas grass, apparently it's all about the wicker heart!

"It's what swingers use instead of pampas grass nowadays. You obviously live in a very friendly area," one commented to answer.

Someone else replied, panicking: "Oh dear. I've got a heart shaped blackboard thingy in my kitchen. I write messages to my cleaner on it. I do hope she doesn't think DH and I are swingers. We live in a small village and rumors do spread."

It's left the confines of Mumsnet too, with one person on X asking: "Is it true that a wicker heart on a door or in a window means that swingers live there? Someone told me they're the new pampas grass."

The neighbours might talk if you've got this in the window (Getty Stock Image)

Needless to say, many people who just loved the design for innocent reasons are now rethinking their choice of decor.

"I do hope not, we have one in the sitting room window..." one person replied.

It's also got people taking a closer look at their neighbours.

Someone else wrote: "Ha, so many of my immediate neighbours have those in their windows. At least 15 houses down my road alone. Who knew?"

Another joked: "I don't know but I'll let you know the results of my experiment, the old lady next door has one... Won't be a min!"

The more you know, hey?