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More clutter

(88 Posts)
MissAdventure Tue 15-Jan-19 22:14:39

There are a lot of threads about the build up of clutter which needs to be sorted out and found a home, but what about the kind that you actively like?

Is your home full of candles, lamps, ornaments, and other things?

I've just been looking around, and mine is (too) full of bits and bobs.

GabriellaG54 Sat 26-Jan-19 15:27:48

JoyBloggs
I do hope that you haven't inadvertently put your DH's name on the list.

GabriellaG54 Sat 26-Jan-19 15:24:59

* under a Dome.

GabriellaG54 Sat 26-Jan-19 15:24:19

RosieLeah
I like that description...^doctor's waiting-room^
That's an old one which reminds me of our old family doctor who had a clock under a some and mahogany table strewn with well thumbed National Geographic mags and old velvet covered balloon back chairs against the walls.
I can picture it and hear the clock ticking...door creaks open and maid nods to mum and says, 'Doctor will see you now'. ?

JoyBloggs Sat 26-Jan-19 15:18:15

silver I could have written that myself... I too must try harder!

I have bought a cheap diary and have resolved to give away/get rid of one item a day and write it down. (Am only a few days behind at the moment... grin) By 31 December, 365 items should have 'disappeared', my only worry is how many new things will have 'appeared'. I do lots of arty crafty stuff and paper, pens, pencils, fabric, embroidery threads, knitting wool etc just keep mysteriously setting up home here.

GabriellaG54 Sat 26-Jan-19 15:13:40

I've never been a clutterer (new word ???)
My bugbear is cushions with horrible cheap inners which go flat.
I currently have several clean inners which I will take to the charity shop tomorrow shock if they have a use for them.
The covers I will sell on eBay as they're all good quality.
I have 2 Indian style tealight holders and two pillar candle structures which are not on display ATM. 3 lamps in my bedroom - one on chest of drawers and twin white ones on either side of window seat.
Two large glass lamp bases with sage green square pleated silk shades in sitting room and two candlestick ones with small shades in cream linen with exotic tropical parrots and greenery which I had made plus one of those tall stands which have an uplighter and lower light on a bendy stalk.
There are others in hallway and spare bedroom used as 'study'. Books-a-plenty in built in shelving. It's one of those old houses with a fancy fire surround and built in shelves and cupboards either side.
Sitting room has double shelved glass coffee table with a pale pink pot holding a succulent and small neat stack of Country Living, Country Life, Woman and Home and Red glossies which I got on subscription at Christmas.
Together with the new velvet sofa cushions I bought yesterday from Biggie Best in Godalming, it all looks rather like a magazine photo shoot when I think about it but, when the fire and lamps are lit it's really pretty and very relaxing. smile

silverlining48 Sat 26-Jan-19 14:28:17

I can spend all day de cluttering and end up with a carrier bag with only 3 items in it. Must try harder.

bluejay29 Sat 26-Jan-19 13:26:45

I am not buying any more knick-knacks or ornaments. I will not be leaving too much stuff for my children to sort when I'm gone so I am trying to declutter slowly but surely. It is hard because a lot of my stuff is sentimental. I will be keeping photos and maybe letters but not much else.

Jalima1108 Fri 18-Jan-19 17:52:02

I am sitting at the pc surrounded by proper, untidy clutter ……

The sitting room has 'tidy clutter'.

Mapleleaf Fri 18-Jan-19 17:47:43

Yes, I agree with you, janeainsworth.

janeainsworth Fri 18-Jan-19 14:03:28

I don’t think that books, pictures and ornaments count as clutter. I like being surrounded by things I think have beauty and/or have sentimental value.

Clutter is things that haven’t been put away, clothes hnewspapers strewn about or things left out because they haven’t got a place.

RosieLeah Fri 18-Jan-19 09:58:48

I don't feel comfortable in a house that is too neat and tidy. Some people like to live in a 'little palace', and proudly show off their show-home. I'm afraid to sit down in case I dent a cushion. I moved into a large flat and have expanded to fit the space, filling the place with books, furniture and ornaments. It looks like a home, not a doctors waiting-room!

Lyndiloo Fri 18-Jan-19 02:39:28

I heard a story once:- a woman was told that she could buy anything she wanted in London's Bond Street, provided that she would keep it forever. She walked up and down for ages, looking in shop windows at the magnificent jewellery, the wonderful designer clothes, the handbags, the shoes, the expensive pictures and ornaments ... The day wore on, and she couldn't decide what one thing to buy. As it began to get dark, and the shops started to close, she bought an apple from a street trader and ate it.
I've tried this test when tempted to buy yet another candle holder/pretty, old-fashioned salad bowl or somesuch from the charity shop/the latest kitchen gadget, etc.
It works probably ... um ... 50% of the time ...?
'Do I like this so much that I will want to keep it forever?'
(Also, a useful mantra when clearing out wardrobes!)

MissAdventure Fri 18-Jan-19 01:37:50

Very blurry, but who can live without a plant, 3 Chinese children holding a pumpkin, and a wooden cat, complete with another dangler hanging off the wotnot. blush

MissAdventure Fri 18-Jan-19 01:34:32

One of the danglers

MissAdventure Fri 18-Jan-19 01:33:31

One bit of my clutter

BradfordLass72 Fri 18-Jan-19 01:13:17

Oh no, I wouldn't tell you off and I'd love to see a photo.

Actually, I have heaps of things I could put our but don't. They're all packed away carefully. A de-cluttered house works for me because my eyesight is so poor.
I'm afraid I've dropped, knocked and smashed too many things to dare have stuff on display now.

Jalima1108 Fri 18-Jan-19 00:18:03

Having looked at some online now I'm not even sure it's a celery jar - MIL, who passed it on to me, said it was.
We used to put celery in it anyway

Juggernaut Thu 17-Jan-19 16:26:07

Jalima
Beauty is in the eye etc!
I'm betting it's lovely, and will look glorious with tiny lights twinkling away, brightening up a corner!
MissA I'm not recommending you bring more 'stuff' into your home, but if you see a lovely one, why not!

Willow500 Thu 17-Jan-19 15:59:27

Unfortunately I'm well aware of my clutter as the attached shows. All of this and more not on the picture has come out of the wall unit I'm currently renovating. I do try to keep the house tidy but love lights, candles and flowers so there are quite a few scattered about the rooms and kitchen. I can't wait to get this lot put away again - my mothers dinner service especially - the cats are banned from the conservatory at the moment in case they knock something over!

My bookcase has been whittled down to those collections I won't part with - we took 5 boxes of books to the local supermarket last year for their swap table. Needless to say I've not brought any home again!

Anniebach Thu 17-Jan-19 15:43:35

And wind chimes and butterflies hanging from ceiling.

Anniebach Thu 17-Jan-19 15:42:26

I love my clutter, my elder daughter could never resist buying me plant pots , angels and owls. And my grandchildren have given me quite a collection of Willow angels. And I have photographs of my daughters and grandchildren.

Jalima1108 Thu 17-Jan-19 15:31:45

Having checked some out online, I'm not sure that my celery jar is beautiful - it's very plain.
But it does look very old.

rather like me in fact

GrannyBeek Thu 17-Jan-19 13:19:08

My children are dreading having to clear our house. To be fair, a lot of the clutter belongs to DD, who still lives with us.

I have tried 'bring one thing into the house and throw one thing out'. I have tried 'throw out 10 things per day' (which turned out to be the empty dog food can and 9 paperclips). Tried 5 things - same result.

Like a lot of people, I went the opposite way to my mother. She got rid of a lot of my childhood things without telling me, and they had such happy memories. I have replaced some of them from charity shops/eBay! There's no hope for me.

MissAdventure Thu 17-Jan-19 11:03:56

I don't have a celery jar.
Should I get one?smile

Juggernaut Thu 17-Jan-19 10:57:05

Jalima
There's always space for a beautiful, illuminated celery jarwink