The Upside of Clutter...is Culture?

I've always loved photos of rooftops. The more colourful and haphazard, the more beautiful. There is something bohemian and beautiful about these scenes. There is life and history here...and a million stories.

Homes aren't meant to be simple and clutter free...except when guests come over. The homes we feel most comfortable in have family photos, bookshelves, knick-knacks from travels, artwork and other personal touches. They are utterly personal and each one is different.

Our favourite restaurant is often the furthest thing from pretension. The chairs are mismatched or the menus have been updated crudely with bic pens and stickers. The food is consistent and familiar.

When we want to travel somewhere, many of us pick new, uncertain experiences. We enter potentially messy situations with learning new languages, figuring out how to get around and encountering cultural differences. We return feeling slightly less provincial. We display our new photos and souvenirs with pride and attach our stories for visitors.

There is a place for clutter. It is in the personal. We all know that life and people and feelings aren't simple. Nor can they be. Individuality is extremely messy.

I wonder if we crave simplicity in our machines, services, programs and services so that we can free up some more room in our personal lives to allow for culture to happen?