Knocking down walls: living with one big space

I will say, having to address clutter right away is both a blessing and a curse. It keeps me honest about what we actually use versus what just accumulates because we have space to hide it... but sometimes I do wish for just one small spot to toss things when someone shows up unexpectedly.

This hits home. The open layout really does force you to deal with stuff as it comes in, but there are definitely days I miss having that “junk drawer” equivalent for the whole room. I’ve tried those baskets too, and they help, but then I find myself just moving the mess from one spot to another.

One thing I’ve done that doesn’t involve buying more furniture is using wall-mounted shelves with little bins or boxes. It’s not as hidden as a closet, but if you keep it neat-ish, it kind of blends in - plus it frees up floor space. Also, command hooks behind doors or cabinets for bags, keys, even headphones... sounds basic, but it’s saved my counters from becoming a dumping ground.

Do you ever feel like the open space makes you more aware of how much stuff you actually have? Sometimes I think I was happier not knowing just how many random things we accumulate.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’d actually argue that the open layout doesn’t have to mean you’re constantly battling clutter. It’s really about how you design the storage from the start. I’ve worked on a few projects where we built in shallow cabinets or even recessed niches between studs - those can be disguised with panel doors or even artwork, so you get that “junk drawer” effect without sacrificing the open feel.

Baskets and wall shelves are fine, but they do tend to become catch-alls if there’s no system. I’ve seen people use custom millwork to create hidden compartments under benches or inside kitchen islands. It’s a bit more involved than sticking up some hooks, but it keeps things out of sight and doesn’t interrupt the flow of the space.

Honestly, I think open layouts just highlight what was always there. The stuff didn’t multiply - it just lost its hiding spots. If anything, it forces better habits in the long run... though yeah, sometimes I miss being able to just shove everything in a closet before company arrives.

Totally agree that open layouts just make you face your mess head-on. When we knocked out the wall between our kitchen and living room, I thought I’d be more organized by default... but nope, I just had to get creative. We did a DIY bench with storage bins underneath - nothing fancy, but it keeps shoes and random stuff out of sight. I do miss the “shove it in the hall closet” trick, though. Sometimes I just want to hide the chaos, not deal with it.

I get the urge to just stash stuff out of sight, but does hiding clutter really solve anything long-term? I mean, open layouts force you to rethink what you actually need to keep around. Instead of more bins or closets, have you thought about just having less stuff? We downsized a ton when we opened up our space, and honestly, it made cleaning way less of a headache. Not saying it’s for everyone, but sometimes the “out of sight, out of mind” thing just delays the mess.

- Hiding clutter is just a temporary fix, I agree there.
- Open layouts really do highlight what you actually use vs. what just takes up space.
- One thing that helped me: I measured how much storage I actually had after knocking down walls, then forced myself to only keep what fit neatly.
- Less stuff = less cleaning, but I still keep a few hidden bins for seasonal stuff. Not everything can be out in the open, right?
- The trick is balancing minimalism with real life... sometimes you just need a place to stash the board games or holiday lights.