There may be another excuse to trash that ugly old rug after all, and this time there's scientific evidence to back it up. Researchers at Saint Peter's College in Jersey City claim that a black-and-white patterned rug can make you feel seasick, according to MSNBC.com.
In a study published by the academic journal Perception, people reported that they felt more symptoms of motion sickness when staring at a black-and-white patterned rug for five minutes than when staring at a gray rug. It may seem like an obvious conclusion (or not) that busy patterns can cause dizziness, but researchers can't seem to actually put their finger on the exact physiological causes behind the sick feelings. Although, they suspect the high contrast between the colors and its repeating pattern could be a factor.
What is the possible benefit of this new find? Well, "It's making me seasick," is the perfect excuse to get rid of a patterned rug that you hate but someone else adores. On the other hand, the findings could possibly lead to bigger issues like preventing the sale of your home because it might induce headaches and nausea in potential buyers.
We're intrigued by all this, to say the least. And while we're all for switching out an unsightly carpet for one that's more durable and, well, attractive, we're having a hard time attributing indoor seasickness to an ugly patterned rug...for now. Your thoughts? Let us know in comments below.
To read more about this study, visit The Body Odd on MSNBC.com.
Flickr photo by Michael Mandiberg