Tara Heibel: Meet The 'Perfect House Plant'
A 50's Home Gets A Modern Day New Look
Joseph Cote, flickr
Mess location: The entryway
Chances are you are: Extroverted
"A mess in an entryway that contains personalizing items [think knick-knacks, gallery, art, etc.] communicates a need to clearly and immediately establish information about themselves to their visitor," Augustin says. "People with this sort of mess are also apt to be extroverted and interested in establishing a bond with visitors. Personalizing items also establish territory."
What to do about it: Extroversion isn't a bad trait! But have you been welcoming so many people in your home that you don't have time to tend to your own needs? Then it's time to put "you" on your calendar. Make it a habit to clear up clothes, jackets, and other "drop off" items that you leave by the door when you get home and for when you are leaving. As much as you enjoy welcoming guests into your own home, your entryway should be equally welcoming upon visitor arrivals.
Mess location: The living room
Chances are you are: Tense
"Cluttered spaces...generate tension for humans because our eyes continually review our environment. With lots of stuff around, that process becomes more arduous. In addition, since our possessions are extensions of us, lack of care for them could also indicate, potentially, a lack of self respect-but it may also indicate a toddler is present, money is in short supply, or other similar things."
What to do about it: Since the living room area tends to be the cluster zone for your family, it's all a matter of finding space to hide the clutter. Utilize decorative storage bins and storage ottomans. Seeing a messy area will induce more stress and tension, so take that extra minute to keep things in allotted places. Then, recover from the visual tension by closing your eyes and listening to music.
Mess location: The dining room
Chances are you are: Avoidant/Shy
"A mess can indicate that the space-owner wants to avoid this area, which they might want to do for a number of reasons-from negative experiences in dining rooms at an earlier time in their life (like getting grilled at the table when young about their day in school), to a more current issue, such as being on a perennial diet."
What to do about it: It's time to bring in the storage benches...and work on reconnecting with friends. It doesn't have to be formal entertaining-a simple cup of coffee will do. Remember, avoiding the mess won't help your mind relax and overcoming shyness means sitting well in your own skin, so making sure that the dining table surface is cleared off and that non-dining related items--such as papers, magazines, mail, and the random pile of jackets--are not taking up space in the dining room will also help make tackling the mess, and life, easier.
Mess location: The kitchen
Chances are you are: Adventurous
"Messes in this space that are due to things like unusual items...think rarely-used spices...or a cookbook for varying cuisines indicates openness to new experiences."
What to do about it: Capitalizing on your interest in all things new and exciting is as simple as making sure spices and cookbooks are easily accessible. For the latter, use a step-style spice rack, which ensures that everything you need is in sight and in reach. And why not bring in a small bookshelf to store your culinary guides?
Mess location: The bedroom...or bathroom
Chances are you are: Feeling insecure
"Bedrooms and bathrooms are the inner sanctums of our lives, the spaces where, to the extent they are private, we are most free to express who we really are. Therefore, messes composed of personalizing items here indicate a need by the people who control the space to remind themselves of who they are as a person."
What to do about it: It's hard to feel secure when the last place you see before going to sleep (and the first thing you see in the morning) is a mess of magazines, books and clothes. Conversely, if grooming products and extra bathroom supplies are stumbling blocks in the morning, you won't leave the house feeling ready to tackle the world. For the bedroom, make use of under-bed storage with sliding storage containers or boxes. Limit books or magazines to one per person, then relocate the rest to a bookshelf in another area in your home. Or better yet, donate them. For the bathroom, throw out all the old cosmetics you never use and consider storing surplus supplies in a bathroom étagère that is sized to fit right where the toilet is.
Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)
Have you considered that....Maybe they are stolen items?
ReplyA friend of mine whose kids are just about grown recently passed down to me a memento of motherhood that she’d had for years. It’s a magnet that is now proudly attached to my own fingerprint-smeared fridge that reads, in black and neon pink: “Good mothers have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.” Here’s hoping.
ReplyReading Kristina Sauerwein’s post on dirty houses last week I was glad to learn that I’m not the only one with a home that doesn’t quite sparkle. Things here tend to be smudgy and cluttered and no matter how often I vacuum there are still clumps of dog hair that roll across the floor like tiny tumbleweed. A toy storage center in bright primary colors stretches across one wall of the living room. The liquor cabinet is now home (well, in part) to craft supplies, there’s a preschool-sized table and chair set next to the couch and the floor is usually strewn with dropped teether toys and an ambitious Thomas the Train track. Add the usual baby paraphernalia – swing, bouncy chair, Jumperoo – and there’s not much room to move around here.
But you know what? I’ve stopped worrying about it. I’m not saying we live in filth – I wipe away, sop up and tidy as best I can. But after too much time and frustration spent trying to keep on top of it all I had an epiphany of sorts. There will be plenty of time down the road for spotless floors and a gleaming bath tub. Hell, it’ll be something to keep me busy as I wait for my teenage daughters to come home from their first dates. But right now is the time for toys, for clutter, for watercolor paint splattered on the side table and greasy little fingerprints on the faucets.
My house may not make the pages of any magazine, but I’m okay with that. It’s lived in. More specifically, it’s lived in by kids.
Just watching 5 minutes of Hoarders makes me want to clean up every bit of clutter in my house.
ReplyI have always had a problem with too much paper! Junk mail, magazines, bills, advertisements, etc. I now have a wicker basket next to my tv watching chair and while watching, I sort through and dump it in there and then get rid of it. At least it's in one place. You'd be surprised how much is accumulated each day.
ReplyAllow one book per person? I would feel terribly insecure if I did not have books piled in my bedroom and all my clothes were put away. Who is stupid enough to analyze someone based on whether they are a neat freak or comfortable with a certain amount of clutter. I see clutter as a sign of life and creativity. Of course, I'm pretty stupid for wasting time reading this stuff and responding. This is mental clutter!!
ReplyIf any part of your house or you is a mess--- who benefits----the psychologist shrink and their endless fees, the Republican Party and paranoid Richard Nixon and all his trolls-since their stock market rip-off is a ponzi scheme, the Communist Chinese and Russians certainly benefit, the Catholic Church and their endless anti-Christ of Roman not bad, etc.
ReplyGrow up, accept the fact that in an economy that is aimed to provide everything but what you need, that if you are organized and on task, there are at least four or five buzzer, snappy, taser satellites that know everything about your privacy and how to disorganize your life and go against your better judgment!!!!! Same story since junior high, just a new version of their criminal against your goodness. Get over it. Evil rules basically.
I bought something at an action once. I never do it again.How much do you make interrupting other people with you stupid ad?
ReplySo I bouth something at your auction place. Surprise it was junk. Would you pleasse place you ads where they are suppost to be.
ReplyThank my lucky stars there are informative articles like this one. Now I have another tool to help me understand the people around me. I am more able to intercourse with them now that I know what their state of cleanness means. We are so lucky to live in live in this land where we have such important information to ponder. This is Nobel material.
ReplyI was just wondering if anyone knows where you can donate magazines to???? I could get rid of a lot of clutter if I could give them away!!
ReplyThis is my first visit to this site and i have to say, you sure have some snarky, rude commenters! Folks, you're the one who clicked the link...If you think the topic is frivolous, why did you take the time to read/comment on it??? Silly.
In my area, many of the Senior Citizen Centers like magazines. Seniors generally can't afford subscriptions and enjoy reading magazines even though they are a few months old. Senior living centers often welcome magazines and books, too. Two libraries I know have a place in their vestible that people can bring magazines and books so that others can take them. It's a good place for mothers of small children, art teachers, girl scout leaders, day care providers, etc. to get ahold of magazines for projects. Some apartment buildings allow residents to put out items to give away. In the building where I live, sometimes people move and don't want to move all their canned goods. They put it out for others to use rather than throw it in the garbage. I've put out my magazines and they are gone in a flash!
ReplyKatie...a bunch of great ideas about the mags. I always feel guily throwing them out, feeling that there is more use to come out of them. Now I know exactly what to do...give them to my mother to take to work because she's the director of one of the local Senior Centers. Thanks For the great idea.
ReplyI am disabled but attempt to do all the household chores to the best of my ability. Sometimes it becomes almost too painful or exhausting to complete all that I wish to do......but.....you must try! I tend to keep my bedroom door closed as this is my personal retreat and things do not always get picked up as they should. Many of my clothes are folded on the floor since I am in a wheelchair and cannot reach the high closet height for the hangers. My mess is an organized mess! And best of all, it's my mess!!!
ReplyThe article left out the one room in our house that always looks like it belongs on Hoarders, even though the rest of the place is fine - the home office!!! For some reason althought I am ruthless about purging/organizing the rest of the house, I cannot get a grip on this room!
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