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What does de-cluttered look like to you? - Page 2

post #21 of 88
12/30/08 at 7:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amylcd View Post
This is what my ultimate dream home would look like:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chezlar...7603439433970/
: I love Benita's home, not just because it looks nice but because I think it would feel so good to be in it.

Here's another one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doorsix...7603887374713/

And another one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abchao/...7600038659424/
Sponsored Links
post #22 of 88
12/30/08 at 8:59pm
Oh, those pictures are fantastic. That has totally motivated me to paint my kitchen this week. I have the paint and have been procrastinating. Love love love her house!!
post #23 of 88
12/30/08 at 11:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ksenia View Post
: I love Benita's home, not just because it looks nice but because I think it would feel so good to be in it.

Here's another one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doorsix...7603887374713/

And another one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abchao/...7600038659424/
Nice!
post #24 of 88
12/31/08 at 12:22am
Decluttered to me means:

* like items grouped together and fitting into their designated space (for example, all the books fit on the bookshelves).

* items arranged so that you don't have to move one thing to get to another (so toys can sit next to each other on a shelf rather than being stacked on top of each other).

* meaningful items on display but displayed on the wall or otherwise contained so that horizontal spaces are fairly clear.

Overall, I love having a richness to my surroundings (with books, photos, and items that I find sentimental or entertaining) but I only feel calm if there is a little breathing room/empty space around those items and in each room as a whole.
post #25 of 88
12/31/08 at 12:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KayleeZoo View Post
For me, decluttered looks like all the flat surfaces being bare. That's the first thing I started focusing on in my home, and it's what I notice when I go into other people's homes. If all the counters, tables, etc. are piled high with paper and misc. stuff, I perceive that as clutter.
YES! So true. I cannot stand clutter on counters or tables, especially when it's items that don't belong there.
post #26 of 88
12/31/08 at 3:30pm
I am loving all the links and am getting some good ideas here!
post #27 of 88
12/31/08 at 5:19pm
Everything where it's supposed to be, neatly. That's about it for us. I really don't like "hidden" clutter, like in drawers or closets, either.

I *will* say, although I know some people will disagree, that I find having a designated "clutter" area is VERY helpful for me. If I'm straightening up, or decluttering, and there's something I want to keep, but I'm not sure where to put it, instead of agonizing over it for 15 minutes, finally deciding, and then ending up decluttering an entire other closet when I have no time or patience for it , or feeling like I've "failed" at decluttering Space A because I don't know what to do with Objects X and Y, I just toss it in the clutter bin. I have a drawer in the kitchen for little stuff, and a bin in my daughter's playroom for bigger stuff. I go through it periodically, and usually find the right space (often because I've since decluttered the area it would belong), or, when I'm decluttering some other area, I'll remember, "Aha! That would belong here", and I can just grab it and put it where it belongs then. Much less stress for me that way.
post #28 of 88
12/31/08 at 5:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by katheek77 View Post

I *will* say, although I know some people will disagree, that I find having a designated "clutter" area is VERY helpful for me. If I'm straightening up, or decluttering, and there's something I want to keep, but I'm not sure where to put it, instead of agonizing over it for 15 minutes, finally deciding, and then ending up decluttering an entire other closet when I have no time or patience for it , or feeling like I've "failed" at decluttering Space A because I don't know what to do with Objects X and Y, I just toss it in the clutter bin. I have a drawer in the kitchen for little stuff, and a bin in my daughter's playroom for bigger stuff. I go through it periodically, and usually find the right space (often because I've since decluttered the area it would belong), or, when I'm decluttering some other area, I'll remember, "Aha! That would belong here", and I can just grab it and put it where it belongs then. Much less stress for me that way.
Thank you.I think that will help my stress level too.
post #29 of 88
12/31/08 at 5:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by katheek77 View Post
I really don't like "hidden" clutter, like in drawers or closets, either.

Oh, me too! I think it's the drawers, cabinets, cupboards and closets that truly show how decluttered (or cluttered) a home really is.
post #30 of 88
12/31/08 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by katheek77 View Post
Everything where it's supposed to be, neatly. That's about it for us. I really don't like "hidden" clutter, like in drawers or closets, either.

I *will* say, although I know some people will disagree, that I find having a designated "clutter" area is VERY helpful for me. If I'm straightening up, or decluttering, and there's something I want to keep, but I'm not sure where to put it, instead of agonizing over it for 15 minutes, finally deciding, and then ending up decluttering an entire other closet when I have no time or patience for it , or feeling like I've "failed" at decluttering Space A because I don't know what to do with Objects X and Y, I just toss it in the clutter bin. I have a drawer in the kitchen for little stuff, and a bin in my daughter's playroom for bigger stuff. I go through it periodically, and usually find the right space (often because I've since decluttered the area it would belong), or, when I'm decluttering some other area, I'll remember, "Aha! That would belong here", and I can just grab it and put it where it belongs then. Much less stress for me that way.


i totally agree! and in my house it's this....... the wall of chaos! it's my "organized" chaos, and i LOVE it!
post #31 of 88
12/31/08 at 6:07pm
De-cluttered means there are no miscellaneous knick-knacks taking up space and gathering dust. There are "dumping grounds" in my house that I am always fighting to keep free of junk. They include:

The mantle
the top of the microwave
the kitchen table
the kitchen counters
the dining room floor
another spot in the kitchen that looks like it would've been a built-in telephone table.
the top of the bookshelf in the living room

We do okay for a while avoiding these areas, but eventually it creeps back in, and in a few months the junk is back and driving me bonkers. Then we have to spend time rehoming the junk and throwing stuff away that shouldn't be there!!! Right now on the mantle there is an envelope from Netflix, a camera, a package of "tree fresh" tablets for the Xmas tree, the port for the digital camera card, a lighter, and firestarting cubes. : NONE OF THAT STUFF BELONGS UP THERE!!!!!!

Mantles are for pretty picture frames, candles, and holiday stuff (like my mini xmas trees and nutcrackers, which have to sit amid all that junk). So, that's my idea of de-cluttered.
post #32 of 88
12/31/08 at 6:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mama Poot View Post
Mantles are for pretty picture frames, candles, and holiday stuff (like my mini xmas trees and nutcrackers, which have to sit amid all that junk).
In my house, they're for bobbleheads of your favorite football players.



Seriously...
post #33 of 88
12/31/08 at 6:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAHDS View Post
In my house, they're for bobbleheads of your favorite football players.



Seriously...
As long as there weren't too many of them, I'd be okay with this!!! My DH thinks the mantle is supposed to be "functional" and says that I worry too much about how things look as opposed to how they function (which I interpret to be somewhat true, but offensive and sexist) So this is his rationale for making the mantle look junky. "Fireplace things should be on the fireplace", he says. Why can't we get a basket to put those things in that looks nice and sits next to the logs??? So frustrating....
post #34 of 88
12/31/08 at 7:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by vm9799 View Post
i totally agree! and in my house it's this....... the wall of chaos! it's my "organized" chaos, and i LOVE it!
Nice!Love those baskets!
post #35 of 88
12/31/08 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAHDS View Post
In my house, they're for bobbleheads of your favorite football players.



Seriously...



I don't know what I'm laughing at?I'm the one with a pez collection.It's organized though.
post #36 of 88
12/31/08 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by katheek77 View Post
I *will* say, although I know some people will disagree, that I find having a designated "clutter" area is VERY helpful for me. If I'm straightening up, or decluttering, and there's something I want to keep, but I'm not sure where to put it, instead of agonizing over it for 15 minutes, finally deciding, and then ending up decluttering an entire other closet when I have no time or patience for it , or feeling like I've "failed" at decluttering Space A because I don't know what to do with Objects X and Y, I just toss it in the clutter bin. I have a drawer in the kitchen for little stuff, and a bin in my daughter's playroom for bigger stuff. I go through it periodically, and usually find the right space (often because I've since decluttered the area it would belong), or, when I'm decluttering some other area, I'll remember, "Aha! That would belong here", and I can just grab it and put it where it belongs then. Much less stress for me that way.
This is such a great idea! It's really helpful to me, thanks for sharing.
post #37 of 88
12/31/08 at 7:47pm
Thread Starter 
The Pez!
post #38 of 88
12/31/08 at 9:58pm
I just HAD to comment, Rere I LOVE your pez collection!! And it's displayed so terrific! :
post #39 of 88
12/31/08 at 11:03pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkylarJulesmom View Post
I just HAD to comment, Rere I LOVE your pez collection!! And it's displayed so terrific! :
Thank you!It makes me smile on a regular basis.
post #40 of 88
12/31/08 at 11:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rere View Post
That is AWESOME! What a nice puinch of color it adds.

To be fair, our bobbleheads match (they're blue/navy) our family room (actually, they match our whole house). It's decorated for our favorite football team, the Colts, so the bobbleheads are accent pieces!
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Decluttering, Organizing, & Simplifying › What does de-cluttered look like to you?