Mess of a house!

[Cellnet]

Hi all,

I need to vent really about my house! It's a right mess. I'm off today and thought I would try and get the house looking good, I've failed miserably.

It's not dirty, it's just mess! I hate clutter, but we still have it. I can't bin a lot of the shit I want to because it's needed.

Ok one room I want sorted is the living room, but it just looks a mess. I have hoovered, dusted, put things away. It's still a shit tip! Sofas look messy, pet cages, TV unit seen better days. Our rug is dead! The poor thing needs binning but I keep forgetting to replace it. I don't want to just roll it up else the carpet will get marks on and dog smell.

We also have a bubble lamp that I can't stand but DC love it.

Idk where I am going with this post.

WIBU to just bin the lot? Throw it all out an sit on boxes. I feel that's the only way out of this now.

We also have units with CDs, dvds on that just look messy but nowhere else for them. Gosh where have the days gone where the only thing that looked messy was if the dog chewed post up.

We used to have such a nice house.

Be honest - how often do the dvds get used. Keep the popular ones and put the rest in the garden shed.

If it’s in need of new furniture/decorating, no amount of cleaning will make it look how you want it to.

Sounds like it’s skip time

Go online now and get a new rug. Needn’t cost a lot!

I move the furniture round when I’m fed up with it. I’d put the dvds etc away in a cupboard and get rid if no one watches them.

Go and buy some flowers/plants. Clean the windows.

Doesn’t sound like mess, rather that stuff may be tired. If you need the things I don’t think they are clutter, rather things without storage.

Could the bubble lamp go in DC room?

Put the bubble lamp on the landing outside the DC's bedrooms so they can see it during bedtime routine but you don't need to put up with it during adult time.

Whilst you're ordering the rug online, could you also get a screen to hide the pet cage?

You are all right. I have just ordered the new rug, I'm going to clean the windows. I will get DP to box the dvds up an bin them.

No one watches them, you are right. Why have I got tat no one uses! I am now annoyed.

We do need new sofas but we can't really afford them tbh. We did have the bubble lamp in DC room but it was loud downstairs, think loud vibrating noise.

We also have these stupid speakers in living room. I don't want them but DP loves them. They are v big. Also do you think new throws would make a difference or would I just be wasting time/money?

I would move around but I can't do it in my own. Due to the heavy units. Also the TV has so many stupid wires, I just don't have a clue tbh.

I feel your pain OP. If I had my way I would sling about 80% of the stuff lying about the place.

Hate mess and clutter. I had to marry a magpie though

You can make money from selling the DVD'S and CD'S keep the special ones.
Keep on mind Rome was built in a day, start a room each time.

If you can't afford a new settee, what about some throws & a few new cushions?

Don’t chuck the DVD’s, get your DC’s to sell them through Music Magpie or similar.

I hate speakers too, finally got small wall mounted ones. Or get sound bar for Christmas?

Glad you’ve sorted the rug!

I cleared all the DVDs & CDs into neat zip up storage wallets. Just doing that made the room less cluttered.

Watch Marie Kondo Tidying up on Netflix or YT.

Clutter causes so much stress. You will feel so much better if you get rid of all the useless shit laying about your house. Be ruthless and purge. As for the bubble lamp, put it in the kid's bedroom.

Also, get a storage ottoman and some storage cubes. Like these...

www.amazon.co.uk/Bonlife-Ottoman-Storage-Footstool-32x32x32cm/dp/B07PJHMG4Z/ref=sr_1_6?s=gateway&crid=12R1BWSWVZ26W&keywords=storage+ottoman+cube&sprefix=Storage+ot%2Caps%2C248&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1570036406&sr=8-6

They are brilliant and remarkably sturdy.

I would also tell your partner to fuck off with those hideous speakers. They have amazing small ones now. Those huge ones are useless and totally unnecessary.

Another vote for Marie Kondo! My house is like yours OP but I have Marie Kondoed my bedroom and it’s lovely

www.amazon.co.uk/Sofa-Slipcovers/b?node=3028714031&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

Things like this can change the look of a room.

Go in the room and start to the left of the door, go round in a circle, either chucking stuff out or putting it in its right place. I find it helps to have a system instead of standing in the middle of the room thinking what should I do?!

Charity shops are a great home for DVDs.

Ooh can you post a photo? I'm sure we'd all like to make suggestions!

Are the cd's and dvd's in their original cases on those shelves? If so, you can get storage folders and bin the useless cases.

www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasics-Wallet-Capacity-Nylon-Black/dp/B00DIHVM36/ref=sxin_2_pb?s=gateway&crid=VEQQZRX1T8H1&keywords=dvd+storage&pf_rd_p=e34063c7-c3cb-4368-8c04-3ced508fb1c2&sprefix=Dvd%2Caps%2C267&pd_rd_wg=I2hwO&pf_rd_r=09XDFZXQ1WG9691K28XG&pd_rd_i=B00DIHVM36&pd_rd_w=Ju3jl&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1570037307&pd_rd_r=36bcbd61-9596-433c-9a10-67d13fe52c5e

Following with interest as I feel exactly the same as you OP

What @froufroufoxes said! Photos!

Yes you can make a difference with some throws and cushions- you can get lovely ones on ASOS that are thin and decorative (rather than warm and thick) so they are cheap. Rugs you can get cheap in the section of IKEA where they put ex-display items on sale.

I would try and give away the DVDs rather than sending them to landfill though. A new storage unit with drawers / doors would mean you could keep CDs etc but away from view which makes the room feel more peaceful.

I’ve resolved the DVD / CD piles by buying storage cases for them. They fit about 100 in each one and the joy of filling numerous dustbin bags with the cases should not be underestimated.