{"id":1606,"date":"2026-07-20T09:15:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T09:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/?p=1606"},"modified":"2026-07-20T09:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T09:15:25","slug":"its-time-to-clutter-with-intention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/20\/its-time-to-clutter-with-intention\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s time to clutter with intention!"},"content":{"rendered":"
Charis Torrance<\/div>\n\n\n

Meet intentional clutter: a warm, playful trend that\u2019s giving minimalism a break. \u201cIntentional clutter is the art of deliberately filling and layering your space with objects and pieces that matter,\u201d says Maretha Geyser, Head of Interior Design at IIE Vega<\/em>. \u201cThose that bring you joy, spark conversations or tell a personal story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So no, it\u2019s not the same as chaos. And it\u2019s certainly not about being messy just for the sake of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, intentional clutter features curated items with significance \u2013 consider carefully selected keepsakes, cheerful trinkets, and soulful design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The softer side of maximalism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike traditional clutter (the kind you really should Marie Kondo your way through), or even the loudness of maximalism, intentional clutter feels softer and more personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is the gentle rebellion against the minimalist grey, black and white sterile interiors we have seen over the years,\u201d says Maretha. \u201cInstead, intentional clutter reintroduces warmth, colour, joy and playfulness back into the spaces where we live, work and connect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the interior version of a happy sigh \u2013 where books are stacked with love, family heirlooms share shelves with thrift shop treasures, and every item has a story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople are hungry for rooms that lift their spirits, radiate happiness and surround them with objects that remind them of joyful times and cherished memories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing curated and chaotic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the million-dollar question: how do you keep your joyful jumble from spiralling into chaos? The answer? Be intentional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery item should carry meaning, whether sentimental or functional,\u201d Maretha explains. Her advice? Start with one statement piece that sets the tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis could be an artwork, a statement vase, a sculpture or your favourite piece of furniture, see it as the joyful hero of the space.\u201d  Then, build around it with smaller pieces that complement it \u2013 in terms of colour, texture, or theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let your own happiness be your guiding star. \u201cChoose pieces that bring a smile, spark curiosity or evoke a memory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here\u2019s a tip: remember to give your space room to breathe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAllow for negative space\u2026 give the eye a chance to rest. When you strike the right balance between lively clusters of objects and calm breathing spaces, it ensures the room feels vibrant without becoming chaotic, messy or unplanned,\u201d Maretha says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all been there: one moment you\u2019re crafting a lovely vignette, and the next, it appears as if a flea market has gone off. According to Maretha, one of the biggest mistakes is believing that having more possessions means having more style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntentional clutter is putting thought into where objects are placed in a space to create a unified story that feels balanced and personal,\u201d she says. It\u2019s not merely about shoving everything you own onto a shelf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another common trap? Monotony<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fix is simple but often overlooked: \u201cAvoid overloading the space with only one kind of object, for example, filling it only with books, as this can often feel flat. Mix up the objects and ensure various heights and shapes to create depth and interest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sourcing the good stuff<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intentional clutter doesn\u2019t originate from a chain store. It comes from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIntentional clutter celebrates an individual\u2019s personality, and therefore personal items should be central to it,\u201d Maretha says. \u201cItems that bring you joy, souvenirs, quirky objects, family heirlooms, things you\u2019ve buried away in your cupboards for years.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That means it\u2019s time to explore your memory box, revisit the charity shop, or even take a walk in nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVintage and thrifted items add character to the space, which new store-bought items might lack. Nature can also be a source of inspiration \u2013 stones, plants, shells can all bring texture and warmth to a space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embrace the clutter (yes, really!)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At its core, intentional clutter isn\u2019t merely a trend; it\u2019s a heartfelt homage to stories, nostalgia, happiness, and the charming randomness of life \u2013 a curated chaos that celebrates personality over perfection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s about surrounding yourself with items that spark joy, not just fill space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So go ahead, stack those art books, display that quirky ceramic chicken, and finally give your living room the bold personality it has been craving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just remember: clutter with intention, not confusion. Or, as Maretha puts it, \u201cSee each object as a piece of the joyful artwork you are producing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meet intentional clutter: a warm, playful trend that\u2019s giving minimalism a break. \u201cIntentional clutter is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-architecture-and-decor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1606"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1608,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1606\/revisions\/1608"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/evah-online.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}