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The messiness of old age!

(47 Posts)
olderme Tue 23-Jun-26 13:08:21

Hello, as I get older I find I need more and more things close at hand. I feel that my sitting area is becoming more like an hospital ward than a sitting room.
I am really looking for any hints/tips to keep it reasonable looking as well as modern.
Many thanks.

Cossy Tue 23-Jun-26 13:10:35

Oh don’t ask me, I’m bordering on being a hoarder and I’m messy as hell!

Look forward to others more helpful responses.

Fallingstar Tue 23-Jun-26 13:13:53

Cossy

Oh don’t ask me, I’m bordering on being a hoarder and I’m messy as hell!

Look forward to others more helpful responses.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

aonk Tue 23-Jun-26 13:20:22

Why not get a box or basket which will look attractive in your sitting room and put all your essentials in it?

Jaxjacky Tue 23-Jun-26 13:36:08

A side table with drawers?

Aldom Tue 23-Jun-26 13:41:05

I have several spectacle cases, given each time I change my glasses.
I use one or two to keep small items tidy ie: pens, nail clippers etc.
Every other day I tidy away odds and ends and put away books if I have finished reading them.

henetha Tue 23-Jun-26 13:43:02

Instead of a little side table by my reclining chair where I mostly sit, I could do with a little cupboard instead, as I'm the same, - loads of little things I need near me. But I have never found a suitable one.

specki4eyes Tue 23-Jun-26 13:52:11

Oh my! How true. Currently I am looking at :
Two remotes
A landline
A mobile
A tablet
A diary
My knitting project including balls of wool
A notepadconfused
A pack of tissues
An emery board
My eye drops
A glass of water
A napkin
Two biros.
What madness IS this?!!

ROMILO Tue 23-Jun-26 14:14:40

I recently bought an ottoman/footstool with an opening lid. Inside there is plenty of space for lots of essentials. When lid is closed all looks tidy and it is very comfy for putting your feet up. 😄

shysal Tue 23-Jun-26 14:19:16

I started with one lidded basket and now also have another, open one. As well as those I have in/out trays, a letter rack and box of medication including pill box for the week, on my dining table. If anyone visits I hide it all in the cupboard under the stairs, which is already full to bursting.
I only have one reception room and a tiny kitchen in my 2 bed terraced house with no garage. The shed is stuffed full and the spare bedroom a dumping ground. Whenever a try to de-clutter I think I need all the 'stuff'.

Lona Tue 23-Jun-26 14:24:17

I have one of those big pocket things that hang over the arm of the sofa, really useful for all those items you need to hand.

Casdon Tue 23-Jun-26 14:29:56

We bought my mum a three tier metal trolley on wheels from Hobbycraft, and some wooden lids for each layer. She’s quite immobile, so it’s good because when she’s looking for something she can wheel the trolley round so it’s in front of her and she can see everything in it.

Nandalot Tue 23-Jun-26 14:31:22

I have a remote control holder which holds the remotes but is also useful for popping in emery boards, pens, pencils and my inhaler. Phone is too big unfortunately.

kittylester Tue 23-Jun-26 14:33:01

I have a basket on the table next my chair - in it are a pad, 2 pens, a square tissue box, hand cream, nail file, cough sweets and ¹glasses wipes.

The remotes are on the sofa between Dh's seat and mine.

MiniMoon Tue 23-Jun-26 14:38:16

I have one of those cushioned tablet stands. It's adjustable, so in the space made behind it I have a pen, three crochet hooks, a stylus, pair of scissors, emery board and a couple of doctor's letters which I really must dispose of since they are no longer needed. I also have beside me on the sofa a ball of wool, mobile phone and a microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses and screens.
I think I'm relatively tidy.

Doodledog Tue 23-Jun-26 14:39:51

I have the Laura Ashley Garrat coffee table, that has 12 drawers and a large storage space at the back. It's really useful, but I still end up with 'stuff' all over the top of it.

Jaxjacky Tue 23-Jun-26 15:15:31

I will confess to a large footstool with storage, you wouldn’t want to know!

Greyduster Tue 23-Jun-26 16:08:13

Every time the family co e round and we use the sitting room, I have to move off my reclining sofa: two pairs of spectacles; a box of tissues; the tv remote; my portable radio; sundry items of stationery including a staple, an eraser and four ball point pens; a crossword book and a book of poems by Brian Bilston. In front of the sofa is a knitting holder with a cardigan that I may or may not finish within my lifetime!

On the other side is a small table with a large coaster that GS brought me back from Canada, and a carved wooden box DD gave me at Christmas that contained all sorts of goodies. It now contains a calendar, a book on linocut printing and nine poetry books. The matter of all the other books I have piled up around the room is currently under discussion!

winterwhite Tue 23-Jun-26 16:08:55

I have a basket by my chair like Kitty but mine is far less pristine. In it I have my iPad, the book where I have my to-do lists, pens, the household diary, at least 2 books that I have on the go, and the Sunday Times culture supplement which passes for the radio times. On top are my reading glasses and my mobile. It overflows.

Bellanonna Tue 23-Jun-26 16:09:54

Thank you OP for starting this thread. I actually feel a bit better after reading all the comments. I use the middle of a nest of tables and it has diary and pen, remote, phone, currently an empty cup and lsome post that needs filing. Because it’s quite small it doesn’t take any more and things do often fall off.

Grammaretto Tue 23-Jun-26 16:14:56

I have a nest! My sofa has cushions and throws, the coffee table in front has all the remotes, phone bank charging, empty cup, diary, pens, books. It's normal. Don't worry.

DamaskRose Tue 23-Jun-26 16:22:37

You’ve just shamed me into having a tidy up - junk mail, iPad, sunglasses case (sunglasses are on a string thing round my neck), ear phones and a clothes peg (😳)! My current knitting project (cotton bed socks since you ask) is still here and my glass of water and lemon is on a table beside me.

Cossy Tue 23-Jun-26 16:38:23

shysal

I started with one lidded basket and now also have another, open one. As well as those I have in/out trays, a letter rack and box of medication including pill box for the week, on my dining table. If anyone visits I hide it all in the cupboard under the stairs, which is already full to bursting.
I only have one reception room and a tiny kitchen in my 2 bed terraced house with no garage. The shed is stuffed full and the spare bedroom a dumping ground. Whenever a try to de-clutter I think I need all the 'stuff'.

Sorry that really made me smile smile

olderme Tue 23-Jun-26 16:45:12

Thank you for all of your replies. Many good tips here. I already use a few of them.
I have things in baskets, boxes on my table etc. Things fall off and there is only room for me on the sofa.
I think I need to give myself a good shake and ask myself when did I last use this. It's good to know that I am not alone, so thank you again.

AmberGran Tue 23-Jun-26 17:14:53

ROMILO

I recently bought an ottoman/footstool with an opening lid. Inside there is plenty of space for lots of essentials. When lid is closed all looks tidy and it is very comfy for putting your feet up. 😄

We have one of those as well. It usually sits beside the sofa but useful for putting your feet up or for one of the GCs to sit on.