Can't stand seeing clutter . Is anyone like this?

[Lichensclerosus]

I hate seeing clutter on the sides. Whether its the front room kitchen or bedrooms im very much things should be hidden away .
This sounds horrible i know but Im really struggling with seeing my childrens toys ,pictures, lego, pens all sorts of stuff on their sides of their bedroom my eldest has just got a desk for her room the stuff that she wants to keep on top of it it is really bugging me.
I shouldn't feel like this as its there rooms. They keep there rooms tidy but its the stuff that bugs me help how do I deal with this

I’m the complete opposite. I like ‘things’ on show. I have my quirky ornaments and house plants everywhere. Since a little girl, I’ve always liked my toys set up on show, but everything in its own place.
I don’t like mess, however!

I hate clutter too and it really stresses me out, I think that might be the reason I hate Christmas so much because of all the mess. I also used to go in and tidy my teenagers' rooms which they obviously didn't like. I'd love to be more relaxed about it but anything out of place in my house is like an elephant in the room and I can't relax until everything looks perfect. I realise this isn't normal.

I hate clutter. The Christmas decorations may last until NYE if they are lucky. Everything else has a home. Children's stuff never bothered me though, except for those craft kits. Bits of pottery and glued/painted, half made things everywhere waiting to dry.

I HATE clutter. It stresses me out.
I hate 'stuff'
I hate piles of ornaments.
I think it's because I grew up in a house where nothing matched and it was a constant shit tip.

Yes, it's difficult. If it's a child's room I just shut the door now. One of my kids had ADHD so we just tidy together before bed whilst discussing strategies for managing belongings 🤣. She thinks she needs a bigger room but we know that will mean more mess.
This house is a home to many people and we all have a different perspective our own belongings. We just try to be mindful of each other, set things straight-ish before bed and be generous towards each other with our attitudes especially when we have squeezed in 2000 decorations to add to the issue. I am sure you doing all those things too.

I don’t even have the excuse of children at home, but I do have an untidy DH. He’ll get out the tape measure and leave it on the worktop, where it will join a screwdriver, various pens, water bottle, etc. I sweep everything away and it’s back again within minutes.

i can’t stand kitchen worktop ‘stuff’ .
My teens have started to accumulate big kitchen items for Christmas … coffee machines , waffle makers 😬, toastie makers, air fryers, blenders, spiralizers…all of which are plonked proudly on the work surfaces . Arrrrghhhhh

You are brilliant for recognising it and appreciating it's not normal nor your business what your DC do in their rooms especially as you said they are good.
It's important to their development to have a separate space from you and the world where they can collect their things and do what they like.

Keep reigning it in especially when they meet partners etc and have their own idea on house decor.

I feel like I have found my people! I am pulling my hair out at all of the stuff everywhere! I moved to a smaller house this year and I can really feel the lack of space, every room juts has extra things and it stresses me out.

DP has been tidying up this morning, but it's still quite messy.

I can’t stand the mess and clutter that comes with Christmas. Don’t even get me started on the fridge.

I can’t stand clutter on the sides, shoes thrown about the hallways etc. I am trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle but I’m not exactly succeeding currently as I’ve outgrown my small space.

I'm the sort of person who can’t leave the dishes until the morning. Ever.

I would love to be more tidy but some of you sound a bit extreme to be honest. I love my stuff that you would see as clutter

I’m with you OP I cannot stand mess and clutter, my home needs to be a calm oasis, I couldn’t cope with piles of magazines, post, shoes cluttering up the hallway and bits and bobs of ‘stuff’ just hanging around making the place look a mess, fortunately my husband is exactly the same, needing visual calm is a good way if explaining it.

I have spent a number of my counselling sessions discussing the same.
it all comes down to my deep seated issues with needing to control my environment in an art to manage general life anxieties and poor self esteem.
Ive had to do a lot of letting go work in terms of accepting clutter and mess in rooms that are not mine (for the benefit of relationships with my children) and acceptance that sometimes things will get messy and chaotic and that’s OK, and the world will not come to an end.
It’s a huge work in progress.
Extra storage is really not the solution to this issue OP.

In their bedrooms it's fair enough, close the door and you don't have to look at it! I feel the same but you can't control their rooms, it's unfair. That's their space!

My kids are still young and I just have to embrace it for the most part. And tidy it all up before their bedtime so I can relax in relative calm afterwards.

Me too.

I am now fortunate enough to live in a peaceful, tidy, clutter free home due to DH working away and DC having moved out.

it’s wonderful.

🙋🏼‍♀️ me too! Hate clutter and am just about ready to throw the whole house away 😆

One trick I have found is to use trays to limit visual clutter. A number of small items become one tray - like magic!

Otherwise, the only way is to massively reduce the amount of stuff. I watch The Minimal Mom on You Tube and she describes everything you own as inventory that needs to be managed and shared ways to reduce the inventory!! She has 4 kids too so makes it seem more attainable!

I totally hear you op, and my husband is the same.

Although feeling bad for tidying my dds' rooms now. My youngest is pretty good and will put stuff away when she's finished. My eldest is completely the opposite and would live in a tip. Stresses me out as she's always losing stuff in the piles (she's 10 for context).

Food for thought though - perhaps we should let go a bit

Tbf you have to view their space as a quarantine area, if it’s in their room it’s not cluttering up your common spaces. It’s hard to do in practice tho

I'm the opposite, I couldn't bear to live in a sterile, clutter-free environment, it would feel like being in a hotel not a home and not at all relaxing. I love having plants, photos, books etc out, want the things I use regularly out on the kitchen counters, love all the Christmas decorations and would really struggle to live with someone who is minimalist it would stress me out. Unless you live alone it has to be a compromise. As the DCs grow up they have to find their own way no matter how aggravating it is at the time.

I didn’t used to touch the DCs rooms, just close the door but the rest of the house needs to be tidy. Couldn’t care less about a bit of dust but hate clutter.

I hate mess and clutter, but I have plants, books and pictures. It's just tidy 🤷‍♀️ and intentional. I think you have to let it go in their rooms, and some children go through phases of untidiness - one of mine definitely did, and now, in his 20s, is tidy and interested in creating a pleasant home environment (he doesn't live with me).

I'm also 'creative' (art and music) but can't do it in a messy place!

Can I join in?

I grew up in an extremely cluttered house. There were no tidy work surfaces and piles of "stuff" everywhere. Clutter, low lighting and dark decor just make me feel very claustrophobic.

My house is homely in that we have bookshelves, plants, photos and pictures, but it is tidy with plenty of clutter free surfaces.

DH drives me round the bend sometimes because he never puts anything away, leaves drawers and cupboard doors open and leaves lights on. He did score highly on an online ADHD test, and I think he does have some from of ADHD. His office is cluttered with stuff all over the floor. Stuff that could easily be put back on the bookshelf and in drawers.

I disagree with most above, no reason why teen rooms shouldn't be tidy. I provide them with drawers, boxes, storage solutions. I expect their rooms to be relatively tidy and they always have been.

It helps to have an annual / bi-annual sort out. 1 hour, I go through ds2's clothes and we bag up anything too small etc. easy.

I wish I was like you guys...
Have u always been like that or created a consistent habit at some point? I don't seem to be able to.

I can happily live in clutter, dp hates it... it does cause tension at times 🤣