"Clutter is not generally seen as a good thing. It’s the unnecessary junk that crowds up surfaces and makes your home feel cramped and messy. But there’s a recent trend going around that attempts to reframe that narrative. As it turns out, clutter doesn’t necessarily equal mess, and it might just be the secret to the thoughtfully styled home you’ve always dreamed of.
You know how Nancy Meyers’s movie interiors always look effortlessly cozy and lived-in? There are books stacked on the coffee table, bowls of fruit and crocks of utensils filling the kitchen counter, and lamps in every corner. These homes are not perfectly put together or even all that tidy, but that’s exactly what makes them so charming. This concept is now being dubbed “intentional clutter,” and it’s one of the best ways to make your home feel cozy, inviting, and personalized.
Read on to learn exactly what intentional clutter looks like and how to strike the right balance between curated and messy.
What is Intentional Clutter?
Los Angeles-based content creator Ethan Gaskill first introduced the concept in a video for home retailer Lulu and Georgia, and the clip immediately went viral. “I just really like that people are embracing and leaning into the idea that your home is meant to be lived in and clutter is just an organic part of that,” Gaskill said in the clip. It’s a sentiment that obviously resonated with a lot of people and pushes back against the idea that homes need to be perfectly polished and organized to be beautiful.
To be clear, intentional clutter isn’t an excuse to let random junk pile up. It’s not referring to the stack of mail on the counter that you still need to sort through or packaging from deliveries you have yet to throw away. Where the “intentional” part comes in is through curated displays of objects that have meaning to you or bring you joy. It’s an opportunity to show off souvenirs from your travels, thrifted pieces, trinkets that allude to your hobbies and interests, or items you’ve collected over the years. With these items on display, your home will reflect who you are and feel so much more relaxed and inviting than one where everything is perfectly tidy.
How to Embrace Intentional Clutter
Decorate in layers
Layers are key to pulling off this trend in a way that feels intentional and curated instead of like you forgot to put stuff away. Simply setting a vase or two on a shelf isn’t going to cut it. To create a well-styled vignette, bring in items of various sizes, shapes, and textures to create layers. For example, a decorative tray or stack of books works well as a base for layering candles, vases, picture frames, or other trinkets on top. To add more height, lean a mirror or piece of art behind the arrangement or set out a tall vase of flowers or greenery. The individual pieces shouldn’t feel like they’re floating out in space by themselves but rather like they’re part of a larger display.
Create collections
If you already have some sort of collection, the intentional clutter trend is your invitation to show it off. And if not, there’s no better time to start. Grab matchbooks from restaurants you visit to arrange in a dish on your coffee table. Collect vintage plates to mount on a wall or mugs to display on a hanging rack. Compile coffee table books to fill up shelves or stack on top of various surfaces. These items will be more impactful when displayed in multiples, and the actual collecting part can be incredibly fun and rewarding, too.
Make it personal
The whole point of the intentional clutter trend is that it should be highly personal to you. While styling is important, the items themselves will speak the loudest. Surround yourself with your favorite things and items that remind you of your travels, hobbies, loved ones, or other cherished memories. Not everything has to be sentimental, either. It could be something as simple as a tray that corrals your everyday jewelry and favorite perfume bottles on your bedroom dresser. All of these things are a reflection of you and how you live your life, and that’s exactly what a beautiful home should be.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers. Jessica also holds a certificate in interior design from the New York Institute of Art + Design.