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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is your home like a show home? If so, where is all your stuff?

137 replies

WorkerBee123 · 23/09/2025 18:55

So I would say I’m pretty tidy-I like it when there are no dishes on the side and the laundry is done, for example. But I live in a decent sized Victorian house with loads of books, plants and art etc (don’t mean to sound wanky). Recently went to someone’s house which was of the ‘executive home’ style-huge and virtually empty except for huge gorgeous sofas, massive island and a giant plant. I loved it! The bedroom was equipped with brand new empty drawers and bedside tables. My spare room is lovely, but there’s a full linen cupboard, drawers full of my stuff and camping gear under the bed. Even their garden was open and clear. Loved it-not my style but loved. Than I recently saw an ig post where the poster said she liked her house to look like no one lives there and that’s pretty much exactly the vibe this one had. Like I said, no judgement. I loved it. Could never achieve it in a million years. If you do, particularly if you live in an old house, how do you do it??

OP posts:
DaisyChain505 · 24/09/2025 16:39

I’ve been told I have a “show home”

I don’t keep crap that I don’t use.

I tidy as I go.

everything has a place and if it doesn’t have a place I get rid of it.

TattooStan · 24/09/2025 16:35

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 16:06

I always look at random Rightmove listings for things like bookcases, arts n crafts and music instruments.

We have a lot of books, all contained in the bookcase in my office. I've not read one of them, as I struggle through about 1 book a year.

DH on the other hand is a prolific reader and now exclusively reads on his Kindle.

So the presence of books doesn't mean what it used to.

AndrinaAdamosballetshoes · 24/09/2025 16:31

I think my house warm and inviting, it’s not minimalist at all but you won’t find piles of shoes and coats in the hallway, laundry on the radiators, post cluttering up surfaces etc. everything has a place in my house, it makes for a calm home environment.

MaturingCheeseball · 24/09/2025 16:30

I was running the school library and I was helping a class choose books. One girl said that No, she didn’t want a book because her mum said they were messy and not to take them out of her bag. !!

WaryHiker · 24/09/2025 16:25

LavenderBlue19 · 24/09/2025 12:13

What I find tricky about 'storage' is that I would never use anything if I put it away. If I put a new shampoo in the cupboard I will forget I own it. So I have maybe three shampoos and two conditioners, plus a hair mask, out in the bathroom, because if they're not visible I will forget I need them before I get in the shower, won't want to get out to get them, and will end up washing my hair in my kid's bubble bath.

The same applies to make up. And clothes in drawers. And shoes. I need things visible!

I'm exactly the same! The Clutterbug system saved my sanity. You and I are butterflies and need to store stuff accordingly. Definitely worth looking up that system and taking the free online test.

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 16:06

Advocodo · 24/09/2025 16:01

i adore books and love browsing other people’s bookshelves. A house without books isn’t a home!

I always look at random Rightmove listings for things like bookcases, arts n crafts and music instruments.

Advocodo · 24/09/2025 16:01

i adore books and love browsing other people’s bookshelves. A house without books isn’t a home!

TattooStan · 24/09/2025 15:46

To support other posters suggestions of how to reduce clutter, I was really brutal in thinking about how we ACTUALLY live, and getting rid of anything which doesn't reflect our reality.

I never bake, and will NEVER be having friends and family round for afternoon tea. So our tea pot, cake stands, cake tins etc could go.

I will NEVER be buying and poaching an entire salmon in a fish kettle! So that could go.

And so on and so on.

henlake7 · 24/09/2025 15:37

Mine is fairly neat and tidy as I prefer not to have tons of knick knacks everywhere.
It really helps that I have 2 bedrooms I dont use though!😁
One is a combination dressing room/gym/library, the other smallest room I would describe as a big cupboard really! Stores all my bulk buy household items/dry foods for the month on large shelves. Also has my cleaning paraphernalia plus a couple of big clothes airers and dehumidifer for laundry.
I do also go through cupboards/drawers fairly often though to chuck out any useless tat.

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 15:34

Due to my various medical conditions and on the books for various hospital appointments I have a folder for each dept.

scandinavianyellow · 24/09/2025 15:26

I would love a clear kitchen but I can’t be arsed

TinyTempest · 24/09/2025 14:21

Makingpeace · 24/09/2025 12:31

I have these but still there is tut everywhere.

Where do you put your bills and post, things to action? Charging cables? Etc etc.

Charging cables in the cupboards.

Hardly any bills/things to action involve paper anymore but if they do, they go in the drawer and then disposed of as soon as they’re sorted.

Ohthedaffodils · 24/09/2025 14:20

My house used to be minimalist and tidy all the time. Now look after 2.5 year old dgs 2 days and 1 night a week. House now looks like a bombs hit it! I know which I prefer!😀

Onceaweek09 · 24/09/2025 14:08

I live in a very minimalistic house, it’s a Victorian house and a fair size (but not huge…and doesn’t have loads of rooms, which I think helps when trying to keep clutter down!) When my FIL died, after clearing his house, I vowed never to keep stuff that didn’t need to be kept, he was a hoarder and most of what he kept was absolute rubbish! I regularly have cupboard clear outs and when guests come round it does look like a show home. In saying that I do have art on the walls and framed pictures, I couldn’t live in a house without nice family/friend pictures! Otherwise I love minimalism.

minipie · 24/09/2025 14:02

I was going to say lots of storage. My house is usually very tidy because we planned and built loads of storage spaces.

But then you lost me at empty drawers! All our storage is needed for stuff … otherwise I wouldn’t have it, would rather have the space!

TragicMuse · 24/09/2025 13:46

No and everywhere.

Books, CDs, DVDs, craft materials, hobby stuff. Pictures, objects and ornaments. Cooking equipment, clothes…

I own stuff. It lives around me, not in a box.

I concede that I swap my wardrobe over for spring/summer and autumn/winter. But that’s a space matter rather than not wanting to have it available or visible.

Iris2020 · 24/09/2025 13:44

I know our house is too cluttered but minimalist homes really stress me out. No physical books in particular, no art... it just feels like the soul is missing amd you're in a crime show tv set or something.

childofthe607080s · 24/09/2025 13:41

Chargers and cables go in a drawer

….says she eying the trailing laptop cable

NiceBooks · 24/09/2025 13:30

Nestingbirds · 23/09/2025 19:48

I have always been comfortable with the Scandinavian style and simplicity. I use and buy only natural products, and whilst the walls are covered in art and gentle lighting warms the room, candles and an open fire, there is very little on the surfaces. Apart from candles, plants and the odd well chosen statue or sculpture.

Anything that requires storing - or ski wear and sports equipment have their own cupboards, and are organised. I find it deeply relaxing. That’s why I spend my time ensuring it stays that way. It’s very easy once organised to stay on top of it. Seasonal spring cleans.

Edited

Love to know where you got your natural phone/laptop 😂😸

Makingpeace · 24/09/2025 13:14

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 12:40

I was about to write about chargers and cables. As you have phones, smart watches, wireless headphones/earbuds, eReaders. Plus more things are wireless - fans, desk lamps, scales (bathroom, kitchen).

Wouldn't it be great if everything used the same charger!

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 12:40

Makingpeace · 24/09/2025 12:31

I have these but still there is tut everywhere.

Where do you put your bills and post, things to action? Charging cables? Etc etc.

I was about to write about chargers and cables. As you have phones, smart watches, wireless headphones/earbuds, eReaders. Plus more things are wireless - fans, desk lamps, scales (bathroom, kitchen).

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 12:35

I refuse to get rid of my DVDs as most of the contents are not on any streaming service or one of the tv series, its on a platform which I don't subscribe to. Streaming services do and can drop content without warning. Plus edited. Now with some streaming services, to drop the adverts, you pay more.

Last year, I had two days with no internet, along with half the town and DVDs came out.

Makingpeace · 24/09/2025 12:31

TinyTempest · 23/09/2025 18:58

Lots of cupboards, a large shed and a boarded loft.

I have these but still there is tut everywhere.

Where do you put your bills and post, things to action? Charging cables? Etc etc.

notedbiscuits · 24/09/2025 12:30

LavenderBlue19 · 24/09/2025 12:09

My mum was a librarian and I concur 😂They have so many bookshelves filled with books, I dread having to deal with them when the inevitable happens (they're late 70s). My uncle was also a librarian and is single and a bit of a hoarder, and his house is literally filled with books. The stacks of books act as tables.

I have one very large set of bookshelves and can't currently cram anything else in - I really need a clear out so I can access the books.

My parents are slightly younger than yours. They did have a massive clear out of the books earlier of this year. Most of the recipe books, DM hasn't used in years, bar 1-2 recipes. She scanned those recipes, printed and placed in a folder. Then recipe books went to the charity shops.

It's the local history books of where we live and where she used to live. Seeing a Kellys Directory from the 1920s where she lived, for a few quid - she was in her element.

Ladybugheart · 24/09/2025 12:25

BrieAndChilli · 24/09/2025 10:18

what about when the house has a sickness bug? I can remember when we had my sister and nephew to stay one christmas and she brought a sickness bug I was the only one who didnt catch it - DH, Sis and 4 young children being sick over everything (1 year olds don't always get to the bowls!) meant I was very grateful for multiple changes of bed cloths and plenty of towels and blankets to cover everything!!

It is hard to be minimalistic when you have kids - we have 3 so there are 5 of us in our house. Just things like walking boots - everyone has a pair (DH has several for different seasons/terrain etc) plus then there are always a couple of pairs knocking about that are too small for one but too big for the next.
Doesnt help that we are scout leaders so always stuff hanging around that we have picked up for that or activities we are preparing or stuff people have given us for the second hand cupboard or stock of food for camp etc etc.

Good storage is key but unfortunately that is expensive and not all houses have spare rooms/basements/giant closets to put everything out of sight. I also think wealth comes into it - if you can afford to buy whatever you want when you need it you will find it easier to let go of stuff - if you do not have a lot of spare cash then you will feel like you need to hang on to stuff in case you need it as you wont be able to go out and buy a new one.

To answer your specific question around bugs, we just put towels down and keep on top of washing. Our child is not that sicky tbh so not an issue personally.