It is true that the more stuff you hang on your walls, the less you notice what is there. We used to have what was referred to as “A Rogues’ Gallery” in our hall - Many, many framed photos of our family over the years. When guests would visit, it was a popular attraction, but those frames were always needing to be dusted and straightened. The ceiling light and the sunlight faded the photos over the years.

I took down all those frames and bought a couple of very large, high quality binders and non-glare vinyl protective sleeves for the photos. Now, that whole wall of photos is protected and easily accessible when I want to show off the family.

Another benefit is if you should ever need to quickly gather valuables in time of emergency, those binders are easily portable.

It is unbelievable how much better our hall walls look.

By the way, the same sort of solution exists for CD’s and DVD’s. I bought media binders and inserts, and I am able to store 120 discs in a single binder. I do not intend to get rid of my personal film collection, and I am working my way through converting VHS tapes to DVD. The DVD’s are much, much lighter than the tapes and so much more easily stored.

As for the wife, Tony…please understand that what she has is real, as surely as diabetes or depression. A therapist friend told me, “Getting rid of things is the single most difficult thing a person with anxiety can do, because each item requires a separate decision.”

Instead of becoming angry, try to interest her in a few organizational sites, such as this one, and some good books on the subject. If you have the space, maintain a room just for yourself, that she does not utilize.

I will say, though, that clearing the side tables was a huge success. Removing the cloth, lamp, and decor really helped me actually SEE these beautiful wood pieces that had been hidden before.

Happy mediums.

On an unrelated note, I just wanted to let you know that in this week’s issue of People magazine there is a story about Delta Burke’s problems with depression and hoarding. I thought this was quite brave of her. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Hollywood star admit in public that she or he has a house cluttered full of stuff and junk. Bravo to Ms Burke. I hope her coming out as a hoarder will shed some new light on this embarrassing problem.

I’m with PJK, above: once I get into the habit of keeping any table or flat surface cleared off, it feels weird and wrong for clutter to start accumulating there again.

But we still pile up on the couch to eat ..
do you have a post for that?

*sigh*

Anyway, it takes a couple extra seconds to move the table cloth before eating so we don’t have to wash it often, but having a pretty table makes it a clutter repeller. It just doesn’t look right to have clutter on it, so even my oblivious husband isn’t prone to put things on it. If a piece of clutter is placed on it, it doesn’t stay there for long at all, because it just looks so bothersome and out of place It really is a clutter repeller

That said, I love your space, as well. And I am also undone by the WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE DINING TABLE question. It is a complete magnet for whatever junk that floats by it. (I swear there is an as-yet-undiscovered law of magnetics to explain the “flat surface + junk = my head exploding” conundrum.) I clear off our dining table constantly. It is never-ending, and quite frustrating.

@Melissa, ditto here. Any flat surface is sure to have objects. The hardest part is keeping it clear after a cleaning. Usually last 2 days max.