I'm at an inpass...

As much as I love nic-nacs, we seem to have acquired an overabundance of them throughout the years.

I'm at a point that we have more nic nacs than shelves. Right now they're all in my room on the floor and I keep getting told I need to clean my room (yes, mom).

We also want to make my office area a guest bedroom too. I'm curious as to how we're going to do it since I have a desk, a loveseat, an ottoman, a cat tree and my cello in a room probably 9x10 feet.

If I add a bookshelf, I really don't know what I'm going to do with a bed in here. As of right now there's very limited space.

I'm thinking shelves...but it may wind up looking tacky. I need one of those home designers from TV here...

How about having a garage sale or selling them on e-bay? Give yourself a set number to sell and make sure you do it.

I suggest packing all but a few up and then rotate the ones on display from time to time. Lots of knick knacks often don't look like a "display" but rather like "clutter." You'll appreciate and enjoy them more by embracing the "less is more" principle.

Originally Posted by pee-cleaner

I suggest packing all but a few up and then rotate the ones on display from time to time. Lots of knick knacks often don't look like a "display" but rather like "clutter." You'll appreciate and enjoy them more by embracing the "less is more" principle.

Click to expand...

This is something I've read recently in a 'controlling the clutter' design/help book. I know it's terribly hard to part with them... my friend just dropping off more boxes from my parent's house (he was in the area and had space in the back of his truck), and I went through the boxes... I found more 'stuff' not the stuff i was really hoping for (college papers that may hold a couple of scripts I wrote), but some of my knick-knacks. INcluding a sizable wolf resin statue given to me by an ex boyfriend... at least it wasn't from the psychotic one... I'd have smashed it to bits... where am I gonna put that thing? So I'll probably weed my collection and only display some things on occasion... at least until I get the new shelves from IKEA that'll go over the TV. Then I may have room... I'm a 'collector' of sorts... and I'm not TOO picky... I've gotten better at some collections, but others are still a major weakness.

Another thing to consider, if you have the cash, is replacing the loveseat in there with one of a similar size that folds out to a bed (IKEA has one, and I'm going to get it once i have the cash saved up).

I have a t-shirt in my Cafe Press storefront: An arrow pointing up with the phrase 'Neat Freak Trapped Inside a Pack Rat's Body.'

Good luck on whatever you choose to do.
Amanda

I feel your pain. I live in a fairly large house, and still don't have room for all my stuff I have collected over the years. Many of the things were given to me be people I care about, and could not consider parting with. I have 2 of those tall bookcases in my LR and am about to get another because my stuff is has filled the ones I have. I love my collections, and cannot bear to part with most of it, even though I know it is just stuff. I had to sell off most of my Lava Lamp collection, and I hated it. Most of my walls are covered with framed posters of concerts and one Grateful Dead poster from the year I graduated high school. Michael's has started carrying frames that fit old album covers, and since some cover art is so cool, and some very sentimental. I have started on those, too. I think we should start a TCS packrat support group. Maybe it will at least get us some ideas on what to do with out stuff we just can't bear to part with. There has already been some good advice.

We have a second-hand store here run by ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation, started by Tony LaRussa) where the profits are given to the local animal shelters. Is there something similar in your community where you can part with some of your clutter?

Originally Posted by pee-cleaner

I suggest packing all but a few up and then rotate the ones on display from time to time. Lots of knick knacks often don't look like a "display" but rather like "clutter." You'll appreciate and enjoy them more by embracing the "less is more" principle.

Click to expand...

See...this is somethng that I keep having to explain to DH. When we moved in together I threw out a TON of stuff. He did as well. When we got the last house, we threw out more.

I think he grew up in a house that had a lot of nic nacs (not sure though). I grew up opposite.

It's just that for our birthdays and christmas our families keep giving us candles...I finally had to put on my list: no more candles We simply do not burn them as much.

I'm definitely looking at selling some of it on eBay. The rest I may as well trash.

You could try selling on Craigslist too.
I try to rotate my stuff. Thankfully I have lots of seasonal stuff so its pretty easy to do.
I really try to limit what I buy nowdays.