Anyone else enjoy living in organized chaos over a meticulously neat home?
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Some clutter is acceptable - I think they call it "sensory stimuli". Typically artists and writers have this -- loads of books, artwork, piles of things, collectibles, etc. They have things around them that they love to keep motivated. Putting folks like this into a sterile, modernist, spartan environment would drive them nuts.
My mother is cluttery - not a full-fledged hoarder but doesn't care much about scrubbing, cleaning, or having a well-organized house. When I was younger, I thought it was alright to live that way. Now I cannot stand it. No more excess crap laying around or stuff we never use or don't like. Our livingroom and parlor though are well-lived in -- pillows, stuff on the coffee tables, sofa throws, some unread mail, etc. but nothing that can't be picked up and straightened out in 15 minutes.
Cleaning takes A LOT of work and I don't know how people keep up unless they hire a cleaning service.
My mom stresses over clutter, and she has two kids who still live at home (6 and 7) and my stepfather works a lot.
Probably why she gets so angry over stupid little thing.
I personally like some clutter, things that are used/touched frequently are left out. Things that are used rarely usually have a place..somewhere. I'd probably be much neater if I had the energy, but it was hard to keep up with school-stuff and Army ROTC stuff at the same time, without all the room-cleaning.
Some clutter is acceptable - I think they call it "sensory stimuli". Typically artists and writers have this -- loads of books, artwork, piles of things, collectibles, etc. They have things around them that they love to keep motivated. Putting folks like this into a sterile, modernist, spartan environment would drive them nuts.
My mother is cluttery - not a full-fledged hoarder but doesn't care much about scrubbing, cleaning, or having a well-organized house. When I was younger, I thought it was alright to live that way. Now I cannot stand it. No more excess crap laying around or stuff we never use or don't like. Our livingroom and parlor though are well-lived in -- pillows, stuff on the coffee tables, sofa throws, some unread mail, etc. but nothing that can't be picked up and straightened out in 15 minutes.
Cleaning takes A LOT of work and I don't know how people keep up unless they hire a cleaning service.
That's how our house is. We have paintings all over the place (both on the wall and on the floor leaned up against the wall where it's supposed to go ), I have a metric crapton of books spread all over the house and the both of us have random little projects all over the place. The kitchen is usually clean, as is the bathroom but everywhere else is just a tad cluttered.
Every once in a while we'll get irritated by the clutter and spotlessly clean the house, but within a few days it's back to where it usually is. I think I just need to give up and realize that's how we're comfortable living
That's how our house is. We have paintings all over the place (both on the wall and on the floor leaned up against the wall where it's supposed to go ), I have a metric crapton of books spread all over the house and the both of us have random little projects all over the place. The kitchen is usually clean, as is the bathroom but everywhere else is just a tad cluttered.
My whole house used to be like this but now I want some rooms far more presentable than others. My library will probably always be like this --paintings, tons of books, well-worn Oriental carpet, objects from travels, bird feathers, plants, etc. I always called it: "Old World Meets New World." And probably my room. I'm thinking about hanging all antique and vintage mirrors on one wall. And maybe the same thing with some paintings and prints. That's a European thing, right? Filling a wall with paintings like a salon?
We keep one room neat and clutter free. I do not mind clutter so much but I cannot stand a dirty house. Thus, I will occaisionally move everything out of a room, clean up all the dirt and dust and then put everythig back (if I have time).
It seems like I could spend the rest of my life just sorting stuff.
The problem with clutter is that things get lost. Today I had to take my daughter's car to work since my keys disappeared somewhere and all of the spare sets are loong lost.
I am definitely anal, my wife not as much, but she has her "OCD" things. I would say we have both let up a bit now that we have a 3 and 5 year old. I do prefer to keep certain rooms neat (kitchen, dining room, family room), but the kids can have at the rest of the house. We have a cleaning lady who comes twice a month so we don't have a choice, but to pick up before she comes. It kind of forces us to keep the house somewhat organized.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
), I have a metric crapton of books spread all over the house and the both of us have random little projects all over the place. The kitchen is usually clean, as is the bathroom but everywhere else is just a tad cluttered. 
