I totally relate to the “organized” piles—mine are usually half-sorted magazines and fabric swatches. I always think baskets will solve it, but then they just become new homes for the chaos. Open spaces seem to magnify it, too. I’ve started framing some of my kids’ art just to make the clutter look intentional... not sure if it’s working, but at least it feels less random than the cords and menus. Sometimes I wonder if embracing a bit of creative mess is just part of living in a big open room.
Funny thing—when we bought our old place, it had all these little rooms and nooks. I thought knocking down a couple walls would make everything feel bigger and tidier. Turns out, the mess just spreads out more visibly. I actually miss having doors to close on the clutter sometimes. Baskets never worked for me either; they just hid the problem. I’ve started using old trunks and cabinets—at least they have lids. Maybe the trick isn’t embracing the mess, but finding ways to hide it when you need to.