I once read a piece about the author Ray Bradbury who talked about how his workspace was filled with objects of all sorts and shapes and sizes. There were knick knacks and paintings and statues and taxidermy beasties and books galore. Books on shelves, open on tables, stacked against chairs. In fact, you can see what it looks like in the opening credits of the TV series The Ray Bradbury Theater that aired in from 1985 to 1992.
Our entire house is sorta like this. I can walk around and see a story in so many of the things there. I go into other people's homes, and they look sterile, like a hotel room that the maid's just cleaned of any remnants or merest whiff of the former occupant. We have knickknacks, books, DVDs (I avoid YouTube like the plague), CDs, writing supplies, hand-knotted rugs in various patterns on the wood floors, stuffed animals, and of course our own artworks (graphite, watercolor, oil) on the walls (both hubby and I had a period in our lives when such things were a focus -- now he composes music and I write fiction mostly). I can't imagine living any other way. And thanks for sharing.
I live amongst more clutter than I'd like thanks to a hoarding partner, but I'm no minimalist. Peace of mind means heaps of books, a sofa and a dog, with maybe the odd musical instrument to change the pace, but I know I'm far too busy in mind and body to sit still for long, so this is just an ideal. In reality, I'm forever painting, scraping, rebuilding and adjusting my home. It's my dilemma. I love writing but am too restless to sit still for long.
A lovely post, Jo. I can relate to what you say, but see below for my own perspective. Yours is a different environment because your creative space is much more diverse.
My brain is a Hummingbird too but not a constructive one. I never manage to come back to things. I will be distracted by anything even in a completely minimalist space, I’ll be distracted by the light or my clothes or my own head.
I need things where I can see them or I forget they exist. I need notes everywhere or I don’t think I’d survive well.
Sometimes I’ll try to keep things on theme. Like if I’m listening to music it’ll be about the subject or vibe. Helps keep me tethered, sometimes.
I guess I’m somewhat in the middle? Constructive clutter?
I certainly like a more cluttered space. Ive lived in to many rentals. Bare white walls and the like feels too institutional for my liking. I like things having a space, random piles of things is what I end up with and that really doesn’t help me.
These comments have inspired me to think that I like seeing personality in things. I want to recognise who lives in home or learn about them. The same with dressing or styling or even art making. I like to know ‘this person loves this’ or feels it’s representing them rather than what’s popular, valuable or has the widest audience.
This is exactly how I feel! It's about personality! I don't want too much clutter, but the desks of minimalists just seem lonely to me. I don't need a lot, but I want a few things lying around that tell visitors who I am.
Growing up, I was shamed any time I tried to decorate my room. I was always told to clean it up. I have never had too much clutter (at least, not compared to the family my mom came from—she became a minimalist in response to an unhealthy extreme) but I've always been made to feel bad for having anything lying around. But a bare desk just feels lonely to me. I don't want my space to be pristine, I want it to be alive.
What a special space it will be.
Our entire house is sorta like this. I can walk around and see a story in so many of the things there. I go into other people's homes, and they look sterile, like a hotel room that the maid's just cleaned of any remnants or merest whiff of the former occupant. We have knickknacks, books, DVDs (I avoid YouTube like the plague), CDs, writing supplies, hand-knotted rugs in various patterns on the wood floors, stuffed animals, and of course our own artworks (graphite, watercolor, oil) on the walls (both hubby and I had a period in our lives when such things were a focus -- now he composes music and I write fiction mostly). I can't imagine living any other way. And thanks for sharing.
Your house sounds wonderful!
Thank you. We like cozy but also inspirational!
I live amongst more clutter than I'd like thanks to a hoarding partner, but I'm no minimalist. Peace of mind means heaps of books, a sofa and a dog, with maybe the odd musical instrument to change the pace, but I know I'm far too busy in mind and body to sit still for long, so this is just an ideal. In reality, I'm forever painting, scraping, rebuilding and adjusting my home. It's my dilemma. I love writing but am too restless to sit still for long.
A lovely post, Jo. I can relate to what you say, but see below for my own perspective. Yours is a different environment because your creative space is much more diverse.
My brain is a Hummingbird too but not a constructive one. I never manage to come back to things. I will be distracted by anything even in a completely minimalist space, I’ll be distracted by the light or my clothes or my own head.
I need things where I can see them or I forget they exist. I need notes everywhere or I don’t think I’d survive well.
Sometimes I’ll try to keep things on theme. Like if I’m listening to music it’ll be about the subject or vibe. Helps keep me tethered, sometimes.
I guess I’m somewhat in the middle? Constructive clutter?
I certainly like a more cluttered space. Ive lived in to many rentals. Bare white walls and the like feels too institutional for my liking. I like things having a space, random piles of things is what I end up with and that really doesn’t help me.
These comments have inspired me to think that I like seeing personality in things. I want to recognise who lives in home or learn about them. The same with dressing or styling or even art making. I like to know ‘this person loves this’ or feels it’s representing them rather than what’s popular, valuable or has the widest audience.
This is exactly how I feel! It's about personality! I don't want too much clutter, but the desks of minimalists just seem lonely to me. I don't need a lot, but I want a few things lying around that tell visitors who I am.
Growing up, I was shamed any time I tried to decorate my room. I was always told to clean it up. I have never had too much clutter (at least, not compared to the family my mom came from—she became a minimalist in response to an unhealthy extreme) but I've always been made to feel bad for having anything lying around. But a bare desk just feels lonely to me. I don't want my space to be pristine, I want it to be alive.
I adore that last sentence