Knocking down walls: living with one big space
I thought the extra light would make me feel like I was living in a treehouse, but mostly it’s made me hyper-aware of every stray sock and dog toy.
- Totally get this. When we opened up our 1920s bungalow, I was all about the “airy loft” vibe. Didn’t realize how much visual clutter would bug me until I could see every corner from the front door.
- Woven baskets? Tried ‘em. They look great for about a week, then suddenly it’s just... basket city. I started labeling them with little tags (chalkboard paint, if you’re into DIY) so at least I know what’s supposed to go where. Helps a bit, but yeah, sometimes it’s just a pile of baskets.
- Cleaning habits? Night and day. Used to be I could ignore a mess in the dining room for days. Now, if there’s a crumb on the floor, it’s like a beacon. I sweep way more than I ever did before. Also, dust seems to travel further when there aren’t walls to block it.
- One thing that helped: I put a vintage folding screen near the entryway. It breaks up the sightlines just enough that not everything is on display, but still lets the light through. Plus, it adds some character.
- Open shelving is tricky. I started rotating what’s out—only display stuff I actually like looking at, and stash the rest in closed cabinets or drawers. If you can’t add cabinets, even a skirted table or an old trunk can hide a lot of chaos.
- Honestly, sometimes I miss having separate rooms. But then the sun hits just right in the afternoon and I remember why I did it.
If you figure out how to keep the baskets from multiplying, let me know...
Baskets are a trap—been there. I switched to a couple of big bins made from recycled materials. Less stuff out in the open, fewer containers to manage. Also, I’m ruthless about what stays visible. If it doesn’t get used daily, it’s hidden. Keeps my sanity intact.
Bins over baskets—yeah, I get the appeal. I went through a phase where every shelf had a cute little basket, but it just turned into a game of “where did I hide that thing?” all the time. Once we knocked down the wall between our kitchen and living room, it was like putting everything on display, whether I wanted to or not. Ended up building a big storage bench under the windows with deep drawers. Out of sight, out of mind, but still easy to grab stuff when you need it.
Funny thing is, I thought open concept would feel airy and free, but clutter multiplies fast when there aren’t any doors to close. I’m still tweaking what stays out and what gets tucked away. I do keep one or two things visible—like a cool vintage breadbox or a stack of cookbooks—just for personality. The rest? Hidden as much as possible. Makes the space feel calmer, at least for me.
I get what you’re saying about hiding stuff away, but I actually found the opposite after we opened up our space.
—I thought that’d be true, but it made me more conscious of what I actually need. We ended up paring down a ton, and now I kind of like having a few things out, even if it’s not always picture-perfect. Plus, easy access means I use stuff more often instead of it getting forgotten in a drawer. Maybe it’s just my brain needing visual reminders...“clutter multiplies fast when there aren’t any doors to close”
Funny, I had the same worry about open shelving but ended up liking it too. I do think seeing everything out in the open keeps me honest about what I actually use. Plus, less hiding means less forgotten stuff piling up. That said, I still stash some mess behind a plant or two...