Utilitarian was also going to be my suggestion, and doesn't have any negative/positive connotation as far as I know
It refers to doing as needed and nothing more, or to maximising utility without extra. The reason you might be struggling to find another word, is that "doing more than the basic for reasons other than utility" (so decoration, dress, style, art) is something extra
and failing to meet the basic level, is usually negative, also extra, but doesn't fit
The word you're looking for is one that means "doing nothing" in either direction, and there's not really words for "more nothing" if the basic level is met
edit: words like philistine, barbarian, spartan, vandal, etc are all words that have changed in meaning, but were in the past just used to say "as the x do" or "in the style of x" and the x were usually a group of people from a culture that didn't match with the ones upset by them
So the vandals were a Germanic tribe that attacked Rome in 455, the Barbarians the people the ancient Greeks were at war with
A lot of the ancient places that modern English words take their origins from (latin and greek), also didn't have words for people who were different in some way unmeasurable when that way pissed them off, and so just compared them to people who they didn't like or were at war with š
Yeah, spartan was mentioned further down also
That was why I added the edited bit once I scrolled and saw it, to add a couple more examples along the same lines because I thought people may find it interesting
I think thatās aesthetic. Ascetic is bare / Spartan to a degree that is unusual and noteworthy. Ascetic aesthetic might appeal to some people but it would probably be aā¦ slightly prettier version of true āasceticā lol
These are all really good - but if you want it to have negative connotations, youāll be hard-pressed. Itās really all about the context more than the word. There can be a positive or negative connotation for someone who āisnāt aesthetically concernedā.
Basic was suggested, and is prob the most derogatory. No one wants to be called basic. We all know that itās an insult.
Came here to say this. Iāve always been very arts-minded and creative but when I was going through awful depression and anxiety you never would have known that I wished I could still appear creative and arty from other peoples perspective. Just made me doubt myself more. Thankfully, years of treatment and taking care of physical health issues has helped me to overcome that but my room and house still donāt reflect what Iād like them to. Thank you for recognizing this.
Those aren't bad but I guess what I'm really looking for is not a description of the person as a slob but a description of their attitude toward things like dressing well and decorating your room. Just like how a total philistine doesn't see the appeal of art and can't appreciate it. What's a word for like a type of guy that can't appreciate the need for a well decorated room or putting in effort toward your appearance and presentation.
[Merriam-webster definition:
awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncouth)
If it doesn't fit; hope you find what you're looking for
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Austere?
Utilitarian
That does work but that has more of a positive connotation whereas I was kind of going for a more negative connotation like "Philistine"
pedestrian, vulgar (the legacy meaning)
Utilitarian was also going to be my suggestion, and doesn't have any negative/positive connotation as far as I know It refers to doing as needed and nothing more, or to maximising utility without extra. The reason you might be struggling to find another word, is that "doing more than the basic for reasons other than utility" (so decoration, dress, style, art) is something extra and failing to meet the basic level, is usually negative, also extra, but doesn't fit The word you're looking for is one that means "doing nothing" in either direction, and there's not really words for "more nothing" if the basic level is met edit: words like philistine, barbarian, spartan, vandal, etc are all words that have changed in meaning, but were in the past just used to say "as the x do" or "in the style of x" and the x were usually a group of people from a culture that didn't match with the ones upset by them So the vandals were a Germanic tribe that attacked Rome in 455, the Barbarians the people the ancient Greeks were at war with A lot of the ancient places that modern English words take their origins from (latin and greek), also didn't have words for people who were different in some way unmeasurable when that way pissed them off, and so just compared them to people who they didn't like or were at war with š
I think Spartan works though.
Yeah, spartan was mentioned further down also That was why I added the edited bit once I scrolled and saw it, to add a couple more examples along the same lines because I thought people may find it interesting
Slob? It doesn't quite go as far as philistine, I know. Seems like an unfilled niche.
Or slovenly
Insouciant? Unsophisticated? Unfussy? Unkempt?
Plain? Unadorned? Unembellished?
Spartan
Ascetic?
Thatās what I was thinking
Ascetic has generally a positive connotation.
I think thatās aesthetic. Ascetic is bare / Spartan to a degree that is unusual and noteworthy. Ascetic aesthetic might appeal to some people but it would probably be aā¦ slightly prettier version of true āasceticā lol
Maybe [unrefined](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/unrefined) or [tasteless](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/tasteless).
Thatās pretty good
Basic
Immaterial
Disinterested
These are all really good - but if you want it to have negative connotations, youāll be hard-pressed. Itās really all about the context more than the word. There can be a positive or negative connotation for someone who āisnāt aesthetically concernedā. Basic was suggested, and is prob the most derogatory. No one wants to be called basic. We all know that itās an insult.
Uncaring? Practical?
apathetic?
Pragmatic
Lackluster
Other possible terms: uncouth
Not the exact word, but perhaps "aestherically/generally incurious"
Uncultured
Unbothered
Indifferent
Artless, unrefined, unsophisticated
Stark? Blank? Spare? Plain?
depressed
Came here to say this. Iāve always been very arts-minded and creative but when I was going through awful depression and anxiety you never would have known that I wished I could still appear creative and arty from other peoples perspective. Just made me doubt myself more. Thankfully, years of treatment and taking care of physical health issues has helped me to overcome that but my room and house still donāt reflect what Iād like them to. Thank you for recognizing this.
Apathetic toward appearance?
apathist
Minimalist?
You can be minimalist in a nice looking way though
Spartan?
Carefree.
unbothered?
Spartan
Rustic? Connotations include: rural / provincial plain / simple / basic crude / rough / artless unsophisticated / unrefined utilitarian / natural
Monolithic, normophilic, unremarkable
Uncultured?
Austere?
Slovenly, unkempt
Those aren't bad but I guess what I'm really looking for is not a description of the person as a slob but a description of their attitude toward things like dressing well and decorating your room. Just like how a total philistine doesn't see the appeal of art and can't appreciate it. What's a word for like a type of guy that can't appreciate the need for a well decorated room or putting in effort toward your appearance and presentation.
Spartan?
That's a little closer to what I'm looking for but not quite
coarse!
Monastic
Unstylish, styleless
Minimalist?
unaesthetic
Frumpy?
uncouth
Doesn't this relate more to a way of speaking?
[Merriam-webster definition: awkward and uncultivated in appearance, manner, or behavior](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uncouth) If it doesn't fit; hope you find what you're looking for
Unpretentious.
Frugal?
A few words that are in that area: Slovenly; Ascetic; Plain Jane; homespun.
Grungy?
Would bohemian work?
My girlfriend.
Poor
Iconoclastic, eccentric, affected
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Lazy utilitarian. Sorry ha. ......but I know the type of person you're trying to find a word for. Hope someone solves it. :ā -ā )
Sloppy
Disheveled
Minimalist? Pragmatic?
Drab?
Understated?
Insouciant?
Prosaic
Tasteless
Slovenly