17 January 2019

Clutter

At one extreme there are people who live in uncluttered, minimalist environments. At the other extreme there are hoarders who never throw anything away and live in chaotic, jumbled circumstances. Most of us exist between those extremes.

Those who champion tidiness and have expunged "unnecessary" things from their homes will often attempt to claim the higher ground - as if to say that the minimalist way is the best way. And those who live with clutter will occasionally chastise themselves as though apologising for their muddled  and somewhat disorganised lives.

For must of us achieving a state of happy equilibrium in our homes is a constant battle. We are always putting things away, tidying up, making decisions about keeping or jettisoning things. A lot of it is deeply psychological.

Those whose lives and homes have a fastidious, spartan quality may be seeking to ditch what is past - preferring to demonstrate that they are focused on the future. Conversely, those who surround themselves with clutter may be seeking to hang on to what is gone - looking back for comfort  and understanding rather than forging forward and embracing the future.

I just snapped a couple of pictures in my own residence. We have two mantelpieces downstairs and both are adorned with things. Every item means something to us. They conjure up memories of past times, past people, past travels or discoveries. But perhaps a minimalist visitor might simply view all of this stuff as clutter to be expunged from our home environment.

We never planned that the mantelpieces would evolve like this. It just happened. I have the feeling that very often the home environments we create speak outwardly about our inner selves. 


30 comments:

  1. And, you will probably note...most homes that are spartan...have little heart in them!

    There are somethings that we cherish...they may mean nothing to anyone else...but to us, they are priceless...unable to be replaced at any cost.

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    1. The spartan home might as well be a corporate hotel suite.

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  2. I'm somewhere in the middle. I have things that are full of memories, things that make me feel happy, things that I think are lovely, and, I have 'stuff' that I am working on getting rid of. I won't miss the 'stuff' and having it all gone will give me more space and a feeling of freedom.

    I need color surrounding me, inside and out.

    Homes that are sparse lack a lot of character. They tell nothing of the ones who live there. They look as if no one lives there. Just my 2 cents worth.

    Getting rid of the 'stuff' is an ongoing process and feels good when it happens. I don't want to be part of the latest 'fad'. It seems to me that a lot of people are going to have regrets later on for getting rid of some things that maybe they should have kept.

    FlowerLady

    P.S. I am here via Crafty Cats Corner.

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    1. Thank you for calling by Lorraine and for reflecting so thoughtfully on this matter.

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  3. I'm more of a William Morris follower in my own home "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” I quite enjoy clutter in other people's houses though. What's the story behind the guy in the red shorts?

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    1. That's Pinocchio. He was in my childhood home before I was born. It was once possible to wind him up and he would walk and his head would nod but for that to happen again he would need major surgery.

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  4. I've recently read a book by Barbara Kingsolver that addressed the problem of "too much" and the way getting rid of unneeded and really unwanted stuff can free us to live more fully and to appreciate that which is truly worth appreciating. You are exactly right about the deeply psychological aspect of it all. I know that invest emotions into things which are otherwise meaningless. Sometime that's okay. Sometimes it's best just to let it go.

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    1. I wonder what Barbara Kingsolver's home is like. She sounds like a real funtime kind of gal.

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  5. I like my apt. to be tidy and organized - and I also like things to be "contained" - in cabinets or on bookcases and I don't own a lot of knick knacks - but - I like my home to be comfortable - for me and for my friends.
    I have done a lot of de-cluttering over the past few years and enjoy the fact that I can find items when I need them and that I don't have to move 4 pieces before I find the one thing I want. It's just more calming.
    But - much as I love Marie Kondo's method of folding (and my drawers looking amazing) - I'm not giving up my books for anyone! :-)

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    1. I sounds as though your a living inside a lifestyle magazine Margie!

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  6. I would never call those "cluttered" mantelpieces. Everything is carefully placed and clearly kept up. I think the problem is when our things take over our spaces and make them hard to clean and manage!

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    1. I go through cleaning and tidying purges once in a while. It depends on my state of mind and the time of year.

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  7. I can't stand clutter and am always taking stuff to the charity shop. I have my bits of ornaments that I have had for years and am fond of but I don't like lots of stuff.
    By the way YP, I'm not about to top myself just yet, just blowing off a bit of steam, thanks for your concern though.
    Briony
    x

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    1. You are better than we are when it comes to clutter Briony. Sorry if I accidentally caused offence earlier - I was just trying to put myself in your shoes.

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  8. The same thing happens here. Not all the things we have were bought by us. People give you things and you have to display them. For me, after that, anything goes.

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    1. Previously you have shown your blog fans special souvenirs from the north. I guess they bring back wonderful memories.

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  9. I got tired of dusting things and packed away most of our ornament-type possessions when my husband was replacing our flooring a couple of years ago. I haven't missed one thing yet. There are stacks of books everywhere and that's really all I want. May I ask who does the dusting in your house?

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    1. Yes you may ask but I may not answer as I do not wish to call my masculinity into question!

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  10. I want the little green vase

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    1. You will have to fight Shirley and she fights dirty!

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  11. Marie Kondo has obviously made it onto your radar! I have been musing on a post about the whole decluttering phenomenon.....

    Your mantelpieces are lovely, both in themselves and as displays

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    1. Marie Kondo? Yeah. There has been some serious stuff about this on the radio recently.

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    2. Marie Kondo is the decluttering lady whose series came out on netflix for the new year. In the wake of the series release, decluttering has become such a craze that charities here are asking people to stop donating because they can't process it all

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  12. All our surfaces are covered in " stuff". Ornaments, plants, presents from family.....everything means something to me. It is very difficult to do any dusting....therefore that is a rare activity !
    Did you know that Ian and his pal got a mention in the Waitrose " Weekend" paper that I got yesterday ? The whole paper was given over to vegan " things" and recipes.

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    1. No. I didn't know about that Frances. Thanks.

      As for cleaning your surfaces, you need a French maid's outfit and a pink feather duster.

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    2. My OH would love that!!

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  13. Its not going to happen !

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