Organization and the Maximalist

If you are truly a minimalist, this message is not for you.  

In today’s world minimalism has dominated the design and organizational landscape.  Not everyone wants to be a minimalist, nor do they even like the minimalist style.  More people are maximalists, and they should be able to embrace that part of themself.  I definitely work with more clients who are naturally more maximalist.  However, without a clear organizational plan, maximalism can quickly turn into deep clutter and dysfunction.  This is where we discovered Cluttercore and Recluttering.  Maximalists need organization too.

These two concepts embrace the idea that our homes should reflect our personalities, and showcase our memories, and passions, even if it means a little bit of disorder.  And a little disorder never hurts anyone IF it allows the space to still function as you need it to.  When the disorder crosses that line to dysfunction, that’s when you have issues, and need to start treading lightly.  

Recluttering is about bringing back beloved items that were previously stored away. It's about surrounding ourselves with objects that bring joy and evoke emotions.  Recluttering creates spaces that tell a story, making your home feel authentically you.

collection of toy cars

Cluttercore is about fully embracing maximalism. It’s about creating a lively space filled with your knick-knacks, art, books, and textiles. This style encourages showcasing your collections proudly, layering items with different colors and textures. Cluttercore is NOT about chaos for chaos's sake but about crafting a home that feels cozy, happy, and unique to you.

Both recluttering and cluttercore challenge the idea of perfection, and instead, celebrate imperfections and emotional connections we have to our belongings. These approaches can transform your home into a a vivid reflection of your individual experiences, filled with warmth, character, and charm. 

However, I also believe that there needs to be a deliberate choice in which items are displayed and how.  There are also some rules to follow for maximalism to keep organized also. 

First, displaying does not mean piling stuff on top of stuff.  Be deliberate in placement.  I am also NOT telling you to never declutter anything ever again because you definitely will need to.  With this design style, it is still possible to have too much stuff.  If you have more than fits on the shelves, or in the cabinets, then you have crossed the line to clutter, and need to get rid of some stuff and reconsider your goals for the space.  Don’t pack stuff up because you might use it again because the truth is you most likely will never use it again.  When things are packed up in bins, you tend to forget about them.  How can you reuse something you don’t remember you have?  This is how the clutter builds back up.  See the blog article “What is Cutter”.  

Poster collection

Always think twice or three times before you buy new stuff.  Think about where it will live and be displayed.  Is it really going to provide you with any joy and make you happy to look at?  So often when I work with clients, they keep all their sentimental, and special items packed up in bins that are stored in their basement, attic or garage.  All the while they have tons of decor items on display in the home that they don’t love.  When I suggest displaying the special stuff the most common reply is that they don’t have room, while they often refer to the currently displayed stuff as clutter.  So you need to declutter the stuff you don’t love, and that is not providing you any joy.  You have the stuff you love hidden away.  So bring it out and let it shine! How are you doing these items any justice packed up in bins?  How are you enjoying these items when you can’t see them?  If they are special enough to keep, they are special enough to display.  Why display the stuff you don’t like and hide the stuff you do?  There is no such thing as “too special to display”

This design idea may not be for everyone, but it definitely is something that a lot of people could consider embracing as long as it’s done correctly.