Bless This Mess

by Anna Beth Adcock | Apr 25, 2023 | May 2023, Real Estate & Home

Tidiness is out—clutter and chaos are the new chic.

Minimalism movement, step aside. There’s a new trend in town touting the idea of booting the “less is more” mentality in lieu of stylishly arranging your stuff—lots and lots of your stuff—for a curated, creative, organized chaos vibe. …. And it’s giving the atmosphere you might expect from a scattered-but-lovable early 2000s rom-com. So if you’re an avid collector of sentimental knickknacks, travel souvenirs and other seemingly miniscule mementos you want to display—rest assured, chaos is officially cute. 

Before you write this off as an internet fad, even Japanese tidiness queen Marie Kondo—whose book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and Netflix series sparked a revolution in favor of minimalism circa 2010—recently created all kinds of waves when she reversed her stance on straightening up her space after becoming a mother of three.

“Up until now, I was a professional tidier, so I did my best to keep my home tidy at all times,” she said in a surprising recent interview with The Washington Post that had Twitter all atwitter. “I have kind of given up on that in a good way for me,” said the former declutter queen. “Now I realize what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.” We know—mothers everywhere must
feel so validated…

So, sparking true joy, “closet” clean freaks giving Monica in Friends no longer have to hide away all their junk in a designated closet. And for those who feel mildly attacked by shows villainizing messes (see: Hoarding: Buried Alive), don’t flip your lid on the cluttercore concept just yet. The idea doesn’t encourage thoughtless mayhem; instead, it communicates more of the “chaotic good” aspect of hanging onto those prized treasures and trinkets—not to be confused with a mess, as there is a method to the madness. … After all, one person’s mess is another’s person’s decor. 

Cluttercore is unique to each person who embraces the aesthetic. Essentially, each collection cannot be copied—it is distinct to the mind and interests of the curator. Either you have it or you don’t. You just vibe—maybe an extensive travel mug collection displayed in the kitchen, artfully placed travel postcards, favorite books stacked on the shelves, or even loads of Lego creations intentionally situated around the living room. Ergo, eclectic individualism meets the finesse of Bobby Berk’s interior design skills a la Queer Eye.

Offering a respite via the “lived-in lifestyle,” cluttercore offers a happy medium between complete disarray and tidiness to the extreme, with some referring to it as “maximalism’s aesthetic cousin,” secondhand vintage’s BFF or cottagecore’s baby. 

And with remote/hybrid work schedules on trend, feeling comfortable and satisfied in your own space is at its most timely. More than ever, people are trading in the old-fashioned idea that we have to occupy a tidy unlivable space instead of embracing home as a place to relax and let our personality shine—why must clutter be conquered?

“When your personal space is one in which you’re comfortable and you love, you can relax, concentrate, think and feel better in it,” says Tammi Keech, local professional organizer and Boss of Chaos. “A space that is uniquely yours and is organized in a manner that makes sense to you allows you to focus on tasks at hand rather than how you want to change the space.” 

So if you’re all about proudly displaying niche novelties and other items you love—wackiness and uniqueness especially encouraged—it’s time to lean into the curated anarchy. After all, isn’t beauty in the eye of the beholder?

Correctly Channeling Cluttercore

• CURATE YOUR COLLECTION. Consider your existing items or what you might want to start collecting.
• SHOWCASE SENTIMENTALITY. Which materials make you feel something? If it has sentimental value, nostalgia or just makes you happy,  flaunt those things (think art, tiny objects, postcards, records, pins, posters, stuffed animals, etc.).
• DON’T FORCE IT. The essence of the aesthetic is naturally accumulated items with emotional or nostalgic significance. Don’t clutter up your apartment with a slew of stuff that doesn’t have meaning. 

Quick Unpack of Other Aesthetics

• Cottagecore: Rural farm living without the hardship
• Maximalism: Bold move—er, bold patterns and colors in abundance
• Shabby Chic: Vintage, mix-and-matched flea-market flair
• Minimalism: Less is more. Don’t use it? Lose it.
• Midcentury Modern: Simple, urban, muted and solid (see p. 68)
• Grunge Glam: Polished but punk; sloppy but sexy
• Farmhouse Decor: Exposed wood, neutral tones and greenery are the name of the game.

QUIZ: What’s Your Clutter Category?

1. It’s spring cleaning season! What are you tossing out?
   A. Nothing. All my items are indispensable. 
   B. I’m struggling to decide. Think those ’80s parachute pants are coming back? 
   C. Anything I’m not using—you won’t find any junk in my trunk!  
2. Your next interior design purchase?
   A. Shelves to display all my stuff, of course!
   B. Stylish storage containers—my things need to be put away in their proper places.
   C. Filing cabinet—I need categorization!
3. How would you describe your home?
   A. I don’t even know what my floor looks like!
   B. Lots of stuff—a little messy but nothing crazy
   C. Neat and organized. Everything has its proper place.
4. What’s your biggest organization obstacle? 
   A. It’s hard to get rid of anything! 
   B. I need to be in the cleaning #mood. 
   C. What’s an obstacle?
5. You’ve got company coming soon! Time to clean up, stat. What are you doing?
   A. Getting excited to see my friend!
   B. Haphazardly throwing your mess in a closet and shutting the door
   C. Wiping, scrubbing and cleaning everything in sight

Mostly A’s: Hey, clutterbug! Your space is a bit sloppy—but that’s just the way you roll.

Mostly B’s: You’re a noncommittal clutterer. Mid-messy, if you will.

Mostly C’s: Jedi-level tidy. Gold cleanliness star for you! 

Tammi’s 8 Tips for Creating a Cool Space

While it may seem ironic to tap a professional organization expert on this trend, the self-dubbed Boss of Chaos herself Tammi Keech weighs in on how to construct a cool space that’s organized—whether you define yourself as a cluster buster or you slant toward a more sloppy style. 

1. Choose your style. The best place to start when decorating any room is deciding what you want your style to be. Remember each space can have different themes and styles. Do you like cool or warm colors? Do you prefer a traditional style or a contemporary one? Are you leaning toward cluttercore, minimalism or—my favorite—somewhere in the middle?
2. Add pops of color—especially if the overall palette of the room is more neutral. Throw pillows, blankets and accent pieces like mirrors or bold art are all great choices. 
3. Add textures with sculptures and vases. Plants are a great way to bring an interesting vibe and texture to any space—live or the realistic-looking faux greenery.
4. Add functional storage. Mastering the art of living with what’s displayed and what’s hidden in our homes can be a big challenge. Utilizing a bookshelf or floating shelves for storage, as well as a display area, is a good place to start. 
5. Add area rugs! Even if you have wall-to-wall carpet, adding an area rug brings color and style.
6. Mix old with new. Mixing an antique thrift store piece of furniture with modern objects of art is a very pleasing aesthetic. 
7. Make it personal. Display those group photos from great times. Don’t hide the fun piece of treasure you brought back from vacation. 
8. And, most importantly, HAVE FUN with creating your space.

Tidiness Timeline

While every decade had its fair share of myriad trends, here, a few interior style standouts over the years

• 1970s: Self-expression enters the chat. Dubbed the “Me Decade” by writer Tom Wolfe, this era was filled with boho and earth-colored decor (think avocado green hues), shag carpets and plants.
• 1980s: To the max! Luxe colors, excess and bold statements were the name of the game in a diverse time with an array of microtrends such as Memphis design, country/prep and English cottage style. 
• 1990s: Keep it minimal. Switching it up from the bold days of the decade prior, find industrial vibes (exposed brick, metal finishes), grunge glam (see: Monica’s apartment in Friends) and shabby-chic making appearances. 
• 2000s: Midcentury modern/the stainless steel takeover began the jaunt back into minimalism decor.
• 2010: Marie Kondo launches The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Minimalism is officially back in! 
• 2013: All about the Gaines. With HGTV’s Fixer Upper feat. Chip and Joanna Gaines gaining traction, the farmhouse style becomes fashionable. 
• 2020: Cottagecore begins to root itself on the scene. 
• 2021: Hello, cute clutter! On TikTok, user @4walls’ video explaining the concept of cluttercore goes viral. 
• 2023: Microluxe—lush, plush and posh—now on the rise