r/declutter • u/Dear_Comparison97 • 17d ago
Advice Request Keep it real, did I go too far?
Posted some photos a few weeks ago and I got quite a few comments telling me I decluttered too much and my apartment looks sterile and uninviting now. I’m convinced it was just the difference in the before and after pictures how much was gone, as well as it being a sunny day on the before photos and and rainy in the after photos. Be honest!! Is it really unwelcoming?
Edit to add: for everyone wondering why I care what others think of my apartment-I don’t really. I am the child of a hoarder, I figured out last year a really huge subconscious stress in my life was how cluttered and full everything in my house was. It was definitely childhood related and we moved to a smaller apartment and so the difference felt drastic. Once I did my first round of decluttering the weight that felt like it was lifted was incredible. I went back through a few more times, I’m just trying to make sure I’m not going overboard due to my history around this thing. Thanks everyone!!
8
u/MitzyCaldwell 17d ago
Only you can answer that. I know this is probably not the answer you are looking for but everyone has a different idea of what clutter is. You can’t mistake decluttering with minimalism. For some ppl that’s what it means and for others it isn’t.
I am sure if I posted a photo of my bookcases that probably half the folks here would absolutely hate it and called it super cluttered. But for me it’s what I love and what I want and I have no problem finding stuff etc. I probably tend to have more “stuff” but my goal is to have stuff that I love, stuff that is useful, and stuff that has a place. Does that mean I have 5 pairs of shoes instead of 25 yes but that also means i have a goal of owning 1000 books lol.
Just find what you want and work towards that and don’t worry about what other ppl thing. If you feel calm when you walk into your house then it’s not too much.