First of all, I think my camera really is dying. But even out of focus, you get the picture. I’m really starting to resent this surface.
This is the surface right inside the door we come in all the time. I’ve found pretty good solutions for the shoes and coats everywhere, but this dresser just attracts clutter. Things get dumped here on the way in and on the way out of the house.
My mom told me once of a woman she knew who had a counter in her house that was “clutter central.” SHe couldn’t keep it cleared of junk, so she actually had it removed. As in, called in a remodeler and TOOK IT OUT.
Thankfully, this is just a dresser that I’ve used as a storage piece in my office/gameroom, and since it isn’t attached, I could get rid of it without calling in a contractor. It’s a nice thought that it might be a display area for some pictures or decorative items, but you can see that that isn’t happening.
I’m not committing at this point, but I am seriously considering getting rid of it. I do have another piece of a different shape and height, hopefully not such an easy depository, that could take over its storage job.
So my goal for tomorrow is to declutter this surface, and see, realistically, how much of the junk on it actually needs to be there.
As for today, an out-of-the-routine holiday, I cleaned up the kitchen, emptied the dishwasher, and have run it again. That’s about it. Off now to do the nightly tasks and start the “real week” off on the right foot.
What I wonder is… wouldn't the clutter just find somewhere else to go? We just moved and our furniture is arranged differently, so the paper clutter has found a new home. But it still comes in the house, yk? I put a "mudroom" in our garage and it has significantly improved the visual appearance of the house. The kids hang their coats, put away their mittens/hats, and boots and only then come in the house. Before, it was a messy pile right inside the front door. But even still, we are still fighting the paper clutter issue 🙁
I have gotten rid of things before because they were flat surfaces that collected clutter, so I understand where you are coming from. Right now, I have a sofa table that has that problem occassionally, but I find that I do much better if the goal is to have it completely clean. I know some people would put lots of pictures on it, etc… but I am not normal, so I have 3 very widely spaced figures on it (that I love and look good from both sides) and then nothing else….lots of blank space. I find that all of that blank space helps me remember not to put anything there, but if I had a bunch of pictures, or knick-knacks, it's "just one more thing" so it gets cluttered really quickly.
I just noticed that this post was from a while ago, so I hope you were able to find a solution that worked for you 🙂
I know this is an old post but I am reading through your archives! I love your writing it is so real. I’m looking forward to find out what you did with that dresser. I’m wondering if that dresser is filled with clutter.