Artex blankets discourage Brits from having sex as they remind people of their mothers

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No Artex please, we’re Brits as retro throws are said to be the country’s biggest passion killers as they seem to remind people of their childhood and their parents

Artex blankets – once the bedroom decoration of choice in homes across the country – are now recognized as one of our top passion killers.

Women say that looking up is enough to see the textured, decorative surface—mostly because it reminds them of their mother and father’s house.

They were in the top 10 in a poll by the hook-up website saucydates.com.

Spokesman David Minns said: “Artex blankets clearly bring back memories of parents and childhood for many women, which may not be where they want to be in the throes of their passion.”

He added: “The answers we got when asked what keeps people from having sex were absolutely fascinating. We expected our members to say things like bad body odor or bad breath.

“But the feedback was quite subtle and psychologically enlightening.”

Artex was a huge fad from the 1970s but fell out of favor as tastes changed and concerns arose about its asbestos content, although levels were relatively low. Now asbestos-free, it’s making a comeback among fans of retro interior design.

A builders’ web forum reported customer demand, adding: “Artex is back!” Other top passions include pets sneaking into the bedroom, visitors in the home, pictures of parents on the wall – and open closet doors. Women ranked bright lights as the worst mood killers, followed by bad background music, with room pets completing their top three.

Next was a messy bedroom, followed by family photos “looking at you” in fifth place. A cold room was her sixth major criticism.

And a downstairs TV was rated even worse by women than a squeaky bed, which came in eighth. The ninth is visitors who live in the house and the tenth is an Artex ceiling that makes them think of their mother and father’s home.

Men said that watching their dog or cat is the most off-putting – with family photos in second place and a floral bedspread in third, most likely to make them wilt.

Fluffy toys and dolls were also taboo for men – with a squeaky bed more of an issue than bright lights, sixths or even bad background music, which landed at number seven.

Next for men was the noise of a downstairs television, while other people in the house were the ninth worst.

But 10th for men is an open closet – because they felt uncomfortable.