People left stunned after discovering why people have wicker hearts on their doors and windows

Hanging wicker hearts on display around the home has a hidden meaning

However, it turns out the innocent-seeming items have a deeper meaning when hung for on display to outside the home.

The hidden meaning was shared by social media users after one person noted just how many they saw in their neighbourhood.

"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," the original poster wrote on Mumsnet.

"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."

They added: "Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon, or is it just my very middle class suburb of a fairly dull town?"

However, the OP was quickly told the real meaning behind the hanging hearts by an influx of fellow users ready to share their knowledge.

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

A second put: "Holy s**t. My next door neighbours are swingers. - runs to hide wicker heart in dining room."

"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 rumours do spread," a third said.

Users over on Twitter, now known as X, have also cottoned on to the surprising hidden meaning.

"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," one person asked.

One responder wrote: "I do hope not, we have one in the sitting room window...." 

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

While a third said: "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!"