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Creatively Clustering Clutter

The arrival of the new year may have you thinking about reducing clutter in your home. But don't throw out the baby with the bath water. In fact, don't throw out the bath water. Before you trash and donate, rethink how clutter contributes to your home.

No, I'm not talking about those back copies of Bon Appetit that, let's face it: no matter how amazing their recipes, you'll never look through them as intended. No, I'm talking about the items that you love, that define you, that you just can't part with. And yet, as my own mother used to say, "It's the clutter, the clutter that will kill me."

Well. Here is some new year's inspiration for ways to reign in that clutter and create order in your home while keeping your passion and individuality. And the stuff you love.
Margaret Everton
Margaret Everton
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Low and long shelving like this work great in an open space--creating a border without obstructing the view, while also providing a place to keep beloved stuff.

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Full floor-to-ceiling shelving displays all kinds of things here within an organized structure. The white with splashes of color add a quiet balance.

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This open space offers interesting details throughout the room without feeling too crowded. The clusters of items such as those in the far bookshelf keep everything in working order.

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Too much in the kitchen proper? Consider carving out an open butler's pantry out of a nearby closet.

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A plethora of art and literature mix in this open shelving, creating a deliberate casual atmosphere rather than a haphazard one.

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Clustering beloved art such as this can create a gallery--and in this case offers a central background for this home office. Unofficial boundaries of the office are set.

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This kitchen pulls of all that's going on by keeping things in clusters, and keeping to a cottage white scheme.

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For children's things, stock toys in vertical shelving. Keep the toys to the shelving when playtime is over, and put the toys you need to monitor (games with little pieces, art supplies etc) higher up.

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Shelving like this can be so effective in a community space--especially with small children. Each section can be filled with a variety of objects and still look quirky and artistic, not crazy.

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In a less formal setting, the eye catches many details and objects--all which becomes art simply by how it's arranged.

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And yet another take. These rooms offer space for a lot of stuff while keeping the furniture placement and surrounding details formal and chic.

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A similar concept in a different room, the symmetry and clear perimeters allow for full shelves within this elegance.

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Official and elegant bookshelves can be crammed full and still look refined in a setting like this.

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