A trip to Clutterville
I recently spent a week as a guest in Rachel's home. Though we have been very close friends for at least 15 years, I had never before set foot there.
During my years in my former city, where she still lives, I didn't give it more than occasional thought; we lived at opposite ends of a metropolis, and often met halfway, after work or on Saturday morning for breakfast. But now, newly empty-nested, she invited me to stay.
And I learned why her home has been off limits.
She quoted her mother: "Everything is all over everywhere!" Rachel had to come out of the bulging closet; she's a Clutter Queen, with emphasis on books, papers, CDs, file folders. Beauty products, kitchen gear, clothes.
If forewarned, I'd predict an uneasy perch amid the mess. But I wholly enjoyed visiting for two reasons: first, because despite teetering piles, the house was immaculate, and second, her vibrant decor enveloped me in busy beauty, something to delight the eye at every corner.
Rachel's possessions decorate her like the ribbons the birds draped around Wendy in Disney's "Peter Pan". I admit that on the first night, while trying to fall asleep in a bedroom festooned with a daughter's left-behind hats, vertiginous heels, and more makeup than a Sephora warehouse (is this hereditary?) I mentally shopped the Ikea catalog for a massive Billy System injection. Then I realized this 'muchness' matches Rachel's exuberant, generous nature.
She says one reason why she has amassed so much is to heal the effects of a childhood of frequent moves, in which she was often forced to abandon her toys and books.
When another friend visited my home, she looked at my desk and asked "But where do you keep everything?" The answer is, I have no 'everything'. And yet I'm taking time today for another clean-out.
You Have to Keep on Top of It is the motto of the clutter-averse.
If you're unhappy about your plenitude, purge mercilessly, arrange what's left in spruce containers (I like Semikolon), and request that your loved ones give gifts you can use up.
Rachel's home was no less welcoming for its genial jumble; on my return journey I reflected on why some of us yearn for the spare and orderly while others embrace an overflowing bounty.
Which are you? Are you happy that way?
During my years in my former city, where she still lives, I didn't give it more than occasional thought; we lived at opposite ends of a metropolis, and often met halfway, after work or on Saturday morning for breakfast. But now, newly empty-nested, she invited me to stay.
And I learned why her home has been off limits.
She quoted her mother: "Everything is all over everywhere!" Rachel had to come out of the bulging closet; she's a Clutter Queen, with emphasis on books, papers, CDs, file folders. Beauty products, kitchen gear, clothes.
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| Rachel's desk (facsimile) |
Rachel's possessions decorate her like the ribbons the birds draped around Wendy in Disney's "Peter Pan". I admit that on the first night, while trying to fall asleep in a bedroom festooned with a daughter's left-behind hats, vertiginous heels, and more makeup than a Sephora warehouse (is this hereditary?) I mentally shopped the Ikea catalog for a massive Billy System injection. Then I realized this 'muchness' matches Rachel's exuberant, generous nature.
She says one reason why she has amassed so much is to heal the effects of a childhood of frequent moves, in which she was often forced to abandon her toys and books.
 |
| My desk (actual) |
You Have to Keep on Top of It is the motto of the clutter-averse.
If you're unhappy about your plenitude, purge mercilessly, arrange what's left in spruce containers (I like Semikolon), and request that your loved ones give gifts you can use up.
Rachel's home was no less welcoming for its genial jumble; on my return journey I reflected on why some of us yearn for the spare and orderly while others embrace an overflowing bounty.
Which are you? Are you happy that way?
Comments
I am impressed by your kind response to your temperamentally different friend.
Although I haven't reached your level of spareness, I do keep my stuff well organized and in it's place. Of course, it's not just about tidiness, I also try hard not to accumulate. These days I'm more conscious that a downsizing move might be in my future - an additional motive for keeping an eye on stuff-creep and for letting things go to new homes. The approaching icy days of winter will be a perfect time for another de-cluttering sweep through the house. As so often happens, your post is very timely.
I actually enjoy spending time in over stuffed houses and perusing all the clutter. I find it rather like being in a museum and when I get home to my small space I feel a sense of calm wash over me...although there might be the odd dust bunny and cobweb, there's no place like home!
Isn't it wonderful that we can be guests in our friends homes now that we are retired...a mini vacation that is free and offers many opportunities to sit and reconnect with friends?
I agree with Hostess - it is wonderful to visit a friend and reconnect, even if I do envy their uncluttered home!
I've been purging a lot of things ove the past months, but now I've met a dead end, precisely because those I haven't managed to cart to a charity shop or bazaar are in bags, but the approaching icy days of winter make it almost impossible to take them there, damn it!
Oh well, I'll find a way.
Bunny: Yours sounds like such an inviting childhood home, full of memories for not only the family but friends.
LauraH: When preparing for our move, I was aghast at how much had piled up in drawers and nooks, despite my long habit of being clutter-averse.
Pam: You are one lucky woman. Rachel's husband, a professional photographer, works from a home office and is by necessity precise and orderly. Friction arises, especially when he has a big assignment.
materfamilias: A friend who lives on Toronto island asks visitors to not arrive with anything in hand, unless cleared with her first, for that reason. Her storage is very limited. Carting things on and off islands is a whole art unto itself.
Murphy: Messier? Can it be so? ;)
Northmoon: Beware! After reading such blogs, you might one day give in to an uncontrollable urge to declutter!
LPC: I guessed that from seeing your beautiful wild/manicured garden.
NancyK: What works for you is the way to be. Our kitchen is clearly on view from the living/dining area, so we keep it very tidy.
unefemme: Well •there• is a post I look forward to reading, and so will many others. The sentimental things are the hardest to deal with.
lagatta: The pens and notebooks are in the drawers; office supplies are on a closet shelf, boxed and labelled; work files and products are in secure cloud storage. The chair (from Design Within Reach, is extremely supportive padded leather, the perfect proportions for my body.
Good for you for donating!
I also don't do nearly as much tidying and putting away as I should. I'd love it if the fairies put my clothes away every night as I end up with a pile of once worn clothes at the end of every week.
Still, I am reasonably rigorous about 'one in, one out' with clothes. Living in a small flat helps keep accumulation down too.
But I know full well that some people are exactly the opposite--they can't think or relax when things are too neat and tidy. Vive la difference!
I'm glad your beautiful chair is also ergonomic.
The key is to not acquire clothing that will be rarely used but that has taken me about 50 years to figure out ;)