Have you ever heard people say “Hilary from Love It or List It” and wondered what it really means? Many people see this phrase online or on TV but don’t fully understand what “Love It” or “List It” means — or who Hilary even is!
Don’t worry — you’re not alone. This guide will make it super easy to understand the meaning, difference, and correct usage of Love It or List It.
By the end, you’ll know:
✅ Who Hilary is
✅ What the show Love It or List It means
✅ The difference between “Love It” and “List It”
✅ How to use these words in real English sentences
Let’s start by breaking it down step by step!
💡 What Does “Hilary Love It or List It” Mean?
The phrase “Hilary Love It or List It” comes from the popular home renovation TV show Love It or List It.
It stars Hilary Farr, a designer, and David Visentin, a real estate agent.
👩 Who Is Hilary?
Hilary Farr is a professional interior designer and TV host known for helping homeowners fall back in love with their houses.
In the show, she remodels homes to make them more beautiful and functional.
Examples:
- Hilary redesigned the kitchen so beautifully that the owners decided to love it.
- Many fans say Hilary is the reason they watch Love It or List It.
- Hilary uses creative design ideas to make old homes feel new again.
🏠 What Does “Love It or List It” Mean?
The title Love It or List It is a clever way of saying:
👉 “Will you stay in your current home or sell it?”
- Love It = Stay in the home after renovation.
- List It = Sell the home and move somewhere new.
Examples:
- After Hilary’s renovation, the family decided to love it.
- The kitchen was still too small, so they chose to list it.
- It’s always hard to decide whether to love it or list it!
⚖️ The Key Difference Between “Love It” and “List It”
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Used When | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Love It | You decide to keep your home after seeing the renovations. | You’re happy with the changes. | “Hilary’s design made them love it.” |
| List It | You decide to sell your home and move. | You want a new place to live. | “Even after the updates, they listed it for sale.” |
🧠 Quick Tip to Remember:
- Love It = Stay
- List It = Leave
Think of it like this:
If your house feels brand new after Hilary’s work — you love it.
If not, you list it and move on!
🚫 Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Here are some mix-ups people often make with the phrase Love It or List It:
| ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| “Hilary Love or List It Show” | “Hilary Love It or List It Show” | The word “It” must appear after both “Love” and “List.” |
| “Love or List It” | “Love It or List It” | “It” refers to the house, so it’s necessary. |
| “List or Love It” | “Love It or List It” | The original order is important — it’s the show’s title. |
Tip:
Always keep the phrase exactly as Love It or List It — that’s the correct and recognizable form.
🏡 When to Use “Love It”
Use Love It when you want to say that someone decided to stay in their home or enjoys something a lot.
Examples:
- They loved Hilary’s new kitchen design — they decided to love it.
- “Are you going to sell your house?” — “No, I love it now!”
- After repainting her bedroom, she said, “I totally love it.”
- Kids often say “I love it!” when they get a gift they like.
- Hilary’s designs make people fall in love with their homes again.
Memory Trick:
When you “love it,” you keep it. Love = stay.
🏘️ When to Use “List It”
Use List It when you’re talking about selling a property or putting something up for sale (especially houses).
Examples:
- “We decided to list it after Hilary’s renovation didn’t fix the main problem.”
- “They’ll list it next week because they found a bigger home.”
- “You should list it now while the market is high.”
- “After much debate, the couple chose to list it.”
- “Hilary tried her best, but they listed it anyway!”
Memory Trick:
When you “list it,” you leave it. List = sell or move on.
🧾 Quick Recap: Love It vs List It
✅ Love It
- Means: Keep or stay in your home.
- Emotion: Happiness or satisfaction.
- Example: “We love it after the renovation!”
✅ List It
- Means: Sell or move.
- Emotion: Disappointment or need for change.
- Example: “We decided to list it and find a bigger place.”
🔹 Quick Rule:
“Love It” = Stay.
“List It” = Leave.
So whenever you hear Hilary Love It or List It, think of it as:
➡ “Hilary helps families decide whether to stay or move!”
📚 Advanced Tips: A Little History & Usage
- The show Love It or List It first aired in 2008 and became famous for Hilary’s design battles with David.
- The phrase has become part of pop culture, often used jokingly when people must make a choice between keeping or replacing something.
Examples:
- “My old phone still works — I think I’ll love it.”
- “This car keeps breaking down — time to list it!”
Even though the phrase started as a TV show title, it’s now used in everyday English to describe tough choices between fixing something or moving on.
🧩 Mini Quiz: Test Your Understanding
Fill in the blanks with Love It or List It:
- The kitchen looks amazing now — I think I’ll ________.
- The family didn’t like the small bedrooms, so they decided to ________.
- After new furniture and paint, she said, “I really ________!”
- The old house still had plumbing issues, so they chose to ________.
- Hilary’s design magic made them completely ________!
(Answers: 1. Love It, 2. List It, 3. Love It, 4. List It, 5. Love It)
❓ FAQs About “Hilary Love It or List It”
1. Who is Hilary on Love It or List It?
Hilary Farr is an interior designer and TV host who renovates homes on the show.
2. What does “Love It or List It” mean?
It means deciding whether to stay in your renovated home (love it) or sell it (list it).
3. Is Hilary still on the show?
Yes, Hilary Farr has been one of the main hosts for many years.
4. Can “Love It or List It” be used in daily conversation?
Yes! People often use it to describe choosing between fixing or replacing something.
5. Why do people confuse “Love It” and “List It”?
Because they sound similar, but one means stay and the other means sell — opposite meanings!
🏁 Conclusion
Now you know exactly what “Hilary Love It or List It” means — and how to use “Love It” and “List It” correctly in English.
Remember:
- “Love It” = Stay and enjoy it.
- “List It” = Sell or move on.
Next time you watch Hilary’s show or hear someone say it, you’ll know they’re talking about a simple choice — to love it or list it!
✨ Keep practicing, and soon you’ll use phrases like a pro.
Marianne Solace is a lifestyle and personal-growth writer for WordContrast.com. Her work blends inspiration with practicality, offering thoughtful insights on wellness, creativity, and mindful living. When she’s not writing, Marianne enjoys journaling with a cup of coffee, exploring art museums, and helping others find balance through the written word.
