I think it's a nice thing to shoot for, really.....But in today's real world, it's highly unlikely that any of us can say that we live that saying. Most everything in my home is useful. Most of the things that are not useful in themselves, (the rustic iron bowl on the coffee table, the Ray Waites plate on the bedroom wall, the little dachshund figurine that my late Brother in laws' mother gave me) are attractive or pretty, or make me happy to see them. But they are not 'Beautiful'. 'Beautiful' takes some real doing. Beautiful is an entrancing painting or a piece of amazing fabric. Beautiful is the prettiest rose bush in your garden or the way your dog looks when he's curled into a tight ball, sleeping at your feet. Most of us have some Beautiful in our homes, but I think most of us have more "That's Nice!" or "I like it until something better comes my way."

Red

Most of us have some Beautiful in our homes, but I think most of us have more "That's Nice!" or "I like it until something better comes my way."

That's certainly the case for me.

My things are beautiful to *me*, and that's what really matters. A couple of other quotes that might be more in line with most of us are, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder', or 'a thing of beauty is a joy to behold, or 'a thing of beauty is a joy forever'.

The most beautiful 'things' I have are my 5 children and 6 grandchildren. In the house, it's all replaceable.

I totally believe in, and buy into, the Morris quote.

Because, really... if it is not useful, or if it is not beautiful, why have it clutter up your home?

I tend to have just useful things and very rarely buy tchotchkes just for decoration. OTOH, I freely admit that I'm horrible with decorating, my mom thinks my LR looks half empty, and I think I'm on this forum under false pretenses....

I keep some things that are deeply sentimental to me and give me joy just to look at. But they are neither beautiful or useful.

My husband currently has 4 broken vacuum cleaners in the garage he will not part with. Maybe I should stencil the saying on the walls out there!

I have useful things but mostly good looking things. At least to me, that is.

Do I use the antique transferware dishes that are displayed? No, they are just to sit in my cabinets and look purdy. But this is only stuff, not people. Stuff can be replaced very easily, not people.

I hate clutter too gillianma.

I'm trying desperately to pare down and have been fairly successful. The best thing about this is how much easier it is to keep clean (dusting is a breeze post-tchotchkes).

I'm trying to apply it to the rest of my life as well. I have a friend who travels here from the UK every summer for 2 months. She comes with 2 young kids and all their stuff fits into one average sized suitcase. They always look very well dressed. That is my goal, to just keep it to the beautiful essentials. Not yet successful, but getting closer.

"A couple of other quotes that might be more in line with most of us are, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder', or 'a thing of beauty is a joy to behold, or 'a thing of beauty is a joy forever'. "

Yes! A thousand times yes! That is very much in the tradition of William Morris. It is what YOU find beautiful.

I have many items that *I* find beautiful, but others might not. Who cares? It is in the eye of the beholder.

My issue with the William Morris quote (that I'd love to live by) is that he does not leave room for the non-beautiful, non-useful, but purely sentimental, reminiscent, and the "I keep it because I loved my (family member of choice) even if it is chipped, useless and pretty darn ugly."

I'm having to deal with some chipped and ugly and downright non-functional artifacts right now. I'd love to keep some of them but . . . LOL, I still hate clutter!

Bear in mind that I have minimal storage space, but please continue with the discussion . . .

I'm hoping the discussion goes beyond my petty dilemma!

110% Absolutely. Our house is only 5 years old and I am still struggling to find more storage space. Having "stuff" around only means there is more for me to dust or clean around. Our coffee table has 4 tiny little glass goldfish; our dining table usually has nothing on it unless it's being used. I don't even keep paper towel on the c-top in the kitchen unless I'm cooking.

Having said all that, I am afraid to admit that I am a dish whore. And by that I mean that I have lots and lots and LOTS of dishes and service ware. I just bought two more service pieces from Pier 1 because they were on clearance. I will use them at least 3 times in a year so I can loosely rationalize the purchase.

And plants. I like lots of house plants. But does that qualify as clutter?

I mostly apply that aphorism to things I think I want to buy.

I am stuck with the wacky old onion jar that my grandmother kept on her kitchen shelf. And the battered dollhouse I have dragged around for too many years. And the trunk in the basement that is full of things I only look at every so often.

But, at least Mr. Morris keeps me from bringing new things I'd otherwise regret into the house...for the most part.

I'm with Budge...because of allergies, etc. we've gotten rid of many things and guess what? I don't even miss them! Much easier to clean, and I feel so encouraged when I walk in the door or open a closet and see things cleared away. Makes living so much easier and less stressful. :)

Susan

Yes, house plants can classify as clutter. I went to a house in Orlando, (oh my). The lady was an African violet collector and (lived in an anterior jungle) and new the names of every tropical plant since Moses parted the water and housed at least 5 of each. :)

I think everyone has his/her own definition of "beautiful"-- if you find joy in any object regardless of its exterior, if that joy comes from a really good memory, then that item fits your definition of beautiful, no? It's just like a piece of art--yes, the "masters'" works fit the conventional description of beautiful (maybe with a FEW exceptions!), but think about abstract works: Some people think the "Color Field" works (bold, sometimes geometric stretches of color) or the "splatter" kind of paintings hardly fit the description of "beautiful"--but why are many of these works prized by so many people? (and don't say because they have no taste! LOL!)

A different view: I think that for most people, if we were able to have in our homes only things that we have chosen, objects invariably must be useful or beautiful, and if we are lucky and have a good eye, some objects can be both. (And here, again, "beautiful" is a flexible term--would you necessarily buy an ugly lamp? Or would you buy one that has really nice lines? Is that not beauty to you? Now, if you bought one at a tag sale because it worked and you needed more light in a corner of your bedroom, it becomes "useful." Ex: I have a brushed steel torchiere lamp in my LR that I got from BB&B--not expensive, but really sleek lines. I think it IS a beautiful piece. Would everyone who comes into my home think the same? Probably not, but as a previous poster reminded us, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.)

But it seems that the hand-me-downs from passed-on family members frequently can land in the "just there" pile. I think that's where these de-cluttering TV shows come in with the answer: That you are not obligated to keep these things in your life. The guilt factor is high, I concede that. But when we describe these things as items we are "stuck" with, then you have to take a stand: If the "stuck with" item has a really nice memory attached to that, then, yes, it IS beautiful (although you could take a picture of it to remind you of the memories and then offload the item to eBay or Goodwill) , but if you have it because no other sibling wanted it, why are you weighing your life down with it?

After 2 remodels in 3 years, I live by my own quote with regards to decorating:

"Finished is better than perfect."

Of course, I reserve to right to tweak or change. Honestly though, a few years back I got so caught up in making the house "beautiful", and ONLY having meaningful items that for a time I failed to make my house my home.

When we moved to this house I vowed that I would live in the moment, learn to relax, and learn to stop the neverending process of trying to make everything around me be perfect.

I have a healthy combination of beautiful, works for now, and can't stand it.

Unfortunately I have too many things that I think are beautiful :^)
If it came to me through the family, it is beautiful.
If it came to me as a well thought out gift, it is beautiful.
If a kidlet made it for me, it is beautiful.
If it is a pitcher, it is beautiful...or a plate, or a bowl or any other piece of china or glass....yep, it's beautiful too!
If someone built it for me, it is beautiful.
And believe it or not...most of those things are useful as well!
hmmmmmmmmmm maybe that is why my house is full :^)
I do manage to get rid of a few things now and then, and we are not living in squalor, but I do like stuph!

You know, an amazing artist friend of mine likes to say, "Life is too short for art you don't love." And in a way I agree, but in another way, life is also to short to spend every day scouring stores for that *love it* piece of art, so normally I'm surrounded by "it will work until..." So maybe we live in a state of perpetual compromise. :)

I'm seriously trying to declutter now. If I don't have some use for it now, or haven't used it in 6 months, it goes out. Of course, "looks nice" counts as a use in my house...