Clutter Free Zone

“Designate your nightstand as a clutter-free zone that’s a pleasure to wake up to.” Oh, I love this one from Better Homes and Gardens. Probably because I’m looking around my house right now looking for a clutter-free zone to take a photo of … Ah just thought of one.

I’ve been working on the shelves in my bathroom. I love the way they look, but any clean surface is a magnet for junk. So in order to keep it clear I HAVE to be vigilant. And this is very hard for the “do it if I feel like it” types such as moi, Organic Freedom, and also Smart Freedom. Funs are like that, but when it comes to clutter they’re usually more practical and keep things tidier because it’s more efficient to take care of clutter as it occurs.

This is also hard even for the list making big picture, dreamer types like the Organic Structure and Smart Structure. Why? Because they are so good at seeing what could be, and not what is. And what is, is often a cluttered mess. But I know this can be done because my mom, an Organic Structure, has always been a stickler about the dining room table. She has stretched her preference and made sure her dreams match the reality. And so far, I have been able to do this for the last WEEK, for my bathroom shelves.

In general, we recommend that all the dreamy types, Organics and Smarts forego putting “stuff” on horizontal surfaces whenever possible. I actually have a radiator cover in my kitchen that always seems to collect magazine and catalog stacks. So I installed a cool little object d’art that says “Coffee Shop.” I attached it to the surface with some velcro and it has made it more difficult to stack things there. Not saying that it doesn’t happen, but I will take those stacks and immediately move them to the countertop to the left because it’s so awkward to pile things there.

Our eyes tend to be drawn to the right when we enter rooms — and shops, the good ones at least, are organized that way if they can — and both the radiator and my shelves are the first things you see on the right when you enter those rooms. Hmm. So for all you Organics and Smarts, start on the right and work your way, slowly through the rest of the room and get rid of those piles on horizontal surfaces!

Originally published on January 14, 2010.