As someone who loves beauty, I love an organized room, with everything in its place and nothing extraneous, like the photo above. But my office does not reflect that love. My office is usually a big mess.
I know that there can be beauty in order and order in beauty. The classical idea of beauty encompasses things like order, proportion, symmetry, balance. But not chaos.
My messy office is not conducive to beauty: the wood grain of the vintage Queen Anne-style desk can’t be seen or appreciated when it is covered up with receipts, notes, and random slips of paper.
The lavender walls and the art hanging on them might as well not be there, because my eyes can't help but focus on the piles and bags of books and papers on the floor below.
My office is a pretty room, filled with objects that I love. But disorder distracts me and detracts from them.
I've been overwhelmed, stressed, and frustrated with myself because of the clutter. So my solution more often than not has been to quietly close the door and go work in the sunroom, one of our favorite rooms in the house.
Recently, however, the disorder has moved to the sunroom, too, where it annoys my husband. He hasn't actually said that out loud, but I know it does.
It's time to move back into the office.
Recently, I found a podcast and blog called Clutter-Free Academy. It has inspired and motivated me to get rid of the clutter in my office and to stay on top of it. Kathi Lipp, author and creator of Clutter-Free Academy, is funny and real. She talks about the emotional reasons behind clutter, which was like opening a window and letting fresh air into my mind. She also reminds listeners that getting rid of clutter is "not one and done"--meaning, it's an ongoing process and a struggle, too, sometimes. Kathi not only gives tips and tools for making decluttering easier but also hands out lots of grace and understanding for times when it's hard.
I'm happy to report that I have been decluttering my office these last few weeks. I still have more to do, but I already feel less scattered and more in control. Putting the room in order frees me to be more efficient and organized. It also allows the beauty that's already there—in the paintings, the pottery, and gifts from loved ones—to shine, enabling me to actually enjoy it.
Do you think that beauty and order go hand in hand? How have you seen that play out in your daily life? And if you have a messy space in your home, are you inspired by the thought that order can bring beauty to it? I'd love to hear your thoughts and any tips you have for keeping order in your home.
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