Knick-knacks, trinkets, baubles, figurines, tchotchkes, whatever you call them; they are no longer welcome in my house. I have enacted a strict “No Knick-Knacks Allowed Policy”. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If a knick-knack dares to trespass on my property, it will be donated, sold, or shot on sight! (I’ve given my husband permission to use knick knacks for target practice).
Why have I gone to such extreme measures to keep knick-knacks out of my home? I’ll give you six good reasons why…
No Knick Knacks Allowed
The main reason I have outlawed knick-knacks from my home is that I hate cleaning them. My house seems to attract dust like a fly to poop. (Pardon the expression). If I had decorative items on shelves or tables, I would literally be dusting every day. (Instead of my usual once per month year.) I have no desire whatsoever to spend more than 30 minutes per day cleaning my house. Therefore, my quick and easy solution to keeping a (fairly) clean abode, is to keep it free of knick-knacks.
Another reason I do not allow knick-knacks in my home is that they are easy to break. I have three active boys (who frequently have friends over), as well as a boisterous husband. Plus, I am a very clumsy person. Things get broken in my house all of the time. I simply do not like to stress over keeping my stuff “safe”. As such, I choose not to own any tchotchkes or decorative trinkets.
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”-William Morris
Figurines are creepy. At least I think so. When I would visit my grandmother as a child, I was always creeped out by her knick-knacks. They had eyes that would follow my every move. Whenever I had to sleep in the same room as them, I would turn them around or cover them up so they couldn’t “see” me. Despite the fact that I am now an adult, and the figurines are long gone, the mere thought of those creepy miniature statues sends shivers up my spine.
Knick-knacks take up valuable space which my small house simply doesn’t have. Our family of 5 lives in a 1,100 square foot home. There just isn’t a lot of room for excess stuff. Decorative items take up valuable real estate. In order to display art, you need wall space. If you want to showcase a figurine collection, you need a curio cabinet or shelf. In order to fit a china cabinet in my dining room, I would have to get rid of our only space for eating meals together. Which is not a trade-off I am willing to make.
Dear Knick-Knacks: It’s not you, it’s me
Furthermore, I do not own tchotchkes because they add to visual clutter. I get overwhelmed quite easily. If something is competing for my attention everywhere I look, my mind is unable to “rest”. I prefer to have empty spaces in my home where my eyes can go when they need a break. In my living room, for example, I have one wall of artwork created by my family. The rest of the walls are blank. In my dining room, an original (1904) picture window is the focal point. Limiting the amount of visual clutter helps me have a more peaceful home.
The final reason I have banned knick-knacks from my home is that, frankly, I do not love them. I am a firm believer in keeping items you truly love so you can enjoy them. Therefore, If you adore knick knacks, feel free to display them proudly! Personally speaking, my love affair with figurines, baubles, and decorative trinkets has come to an end.
“If you cannot learn to love real art, at least learn to hate sham art and reject it.”-William Morris
Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate (what I consider to be) exceptional works of art. When they are hanging on the walls of an art gallery or a friend’s home. I also delight in discovering unique sculptures and colorful ceramics. Again, when they are displayed at a gallery, craft exhibit, or someone else’s home. This way, I can admire interesting knick-knacks without having to create space in my own home for them. More importantly, I don’t have the responsibility of keeping them clean!
READ MORE:
- Letting Go Of Other People’s Stuff: How To Declutter Family Heirlooms
- How To Tell Your Parent’s You Don’t Want Their Stuff
- What Is Death Cleaning? And When Should You Start?
« 40 Things I've Quit Buying To Simplify Life
» Letting Go of Other People's Stuff: How to Declutter Family Heirlooms
I totally dare to disagree. I love to go to people’s homes who decoration tell a interesting story of who they are what they like, where they have been. Color and texture. I I truly find it boring to go to cookie cutter homes. With glass wine cellars. Glass offices. No imagination.. the same boring furniture and pictures.
Old post but had to throw in my agreement. Another reason? Environmental waste. Like… a LOT. Millions of tons a lot. Live Laugh Love is bad for the planet. 😉
I disagree. I love my trinkets. They were all given to me with love from my parents or friends or from memorable trips taken throughout my life. they mean a great deal to me.
I couldn’t live in a minimalistic home.
Great article. My mother was an obsessive hoarder. I just moved across the country to help her deal with a serious health crisis, and am staying at my sisters house. She literally has all of my moms old clutter. It’s like walking back into a time machine to our old house 20 years ago. The worst part is that it is all crammed into a tiny one bedroom apartment where she, her boyfriend, their newborn baby, are staying. Her son just moved back in too. She has my moms old VHS collection taking up two bookcases but no VHS player, a huge desk with a computer which is never used, and then several tables and other bookcases cluttered with knick knacks. It gives me such a sense of claustrophobia and helplessness… But what can I say? It would take me thirty minutes to double the space in their living room. For now I’ll just be bumping into and knocking over stuff every time I try to navigate through or just open a door. I am grateful for the place to stay while getting situated and helping my mom. I will be even happier once my income starts flowing in from the job I got today.
Have you had to clean out your parent’s house yet? Both of mine passed within 5mos one day to each other. What to do with the tchokches my mother loved and always heard the stories of my dad bringing this home and of the “umum cabinet” I couldn’t just sell them to some unsuspecting person…. so I made garden art with the neighbor kids. I got to tell the stories once more…. and then sent them home with a beautiful succulent garden…. with Gramma’s tchotkes…..#whattodowiththosetchotkes
Thank you, Chanele. Thrift stores can be a blessing and a curse 🙂
Great article! I love your stance on the clutter! I try to remind myself how I like a clear space for the eye. I do love the thrift store to much. 🙁 I love your quotes to!!