From Clutter to Curated – Simple Steps to a Beautiful and Functional Home 

The world of interior design has had some interesting trends of late from #cluttercore to “briobracomania”. The latest idea however is “curated clutter,” – clutter that is intentional, and this movement is gaining traction. It is a little more nuanced and sophisticated than the movements it has followed but is very much about a celebration of stuff. 

Let’s take a look at how you can get behind this movement without making your house looking like it belongs on an episode of the American TV show “Hoarders”

What defines curated clutter?

Essentially, curated clutter refers to the art of arranging a selection of mismatched pieces around your home to create what might be considered a look as opposed to a pile of mess. This is certainly something that is easier said than done. It requires you to see your home as a series of intentional scenes, each of which tells its own story. 

It is in effect a way of expressing yourself, without randomly cluittering up your home, and it can also mean not getting rid of everything. Homes are after all, or at least they should be, about he place and the people that live in it. When you arrange “stuff” as if it is important it can become beautiful. 

Why is clutter suddenly cool?

During the pandemic, those with lots of time on their hands had the perfect opportunity to reassess their belongings. This was a huge departure from the previous Marie Kondo decluttering that people had been embracing. 

Keeping your stuff, and finding better ways of displaying it became a thing. The movement has grown ever since. 

How do you nail this trend? 

The good news is that you don’t need to go out and buy anything. You should already have everything you need right there in your home. This look is all about you and more importantly about putting those things you love on show. This includes the things that you bought but could never really work out what to do with. Whether it’s a quirky souvenir from holiday or an item passed down from a loved one there is a space for it. You just have to find it. 

Each item should be considered for its own merits, after all there is a reason that you own it. 

How can you make it work? 

The concept is in fact very simple. As long as the items that you choose are ones that you love then it isn’t actually that difficult to get it right. However, there are a few “rules” to keep in mind. You should try and limit any curated scenes you create to specific areas rather than covering every surface with stuff. 

This might be a window ledge, the mantel piece in your living room or even a complete shelf on a bookcase. These all make fantastic show spaces. Use the space wisely and don’t over clutter it. A good, curated collection will mix old and new and also a mixture of different textures.