Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Four Houses
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Amateur home decorators snark on their fellow contestants.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
FOUR HOUSES features homeowners showing off their design styles in hopes of winning a $10,000 prize. Each episode features four contestants surveying each others' homes, which range from being homey and sophisticated to just all-out wacky. They then give the other designers' homes overall scores out of 10, and then rank them according to the home's originality, style, and livability. The owner of the house to score the best wins the cash and a chance to feature their house in Better Homes & Gardens magazine.
Is It Any Good?
The series offers a voyeuristic chance to look at the design aesthetics of people who aren't interior designers, but who enjoy exploring their own creative side when it comes to home decorating. While looking at the different designs, which range from beige and bland to colorfully over-the-top, is interesting, the fun also comes from watching the reactions of the contestants looking at them.
The scoring is designed to keep contestants focused on the designs rather than what suits their personal tastes, but this doesn't stop them from offering some rather obnoxious opinions about their fellow contestants' decorating choices. But this aside, the show offers some mildly humorous entertainment for reality design show fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about reality shows. Why do you think these contestants agreed to be on a reality show featuring their designs? What do they stand to gain or lose?
What makes good design? Who decides this? Are there specific rules of design people should follow when decorating a home or space? Do these rules every change? Who changes them?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 2, 2012
- Network: TLC
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Reality TV for the Whole Family
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate