Ever tried sitting down to work at a desk drowning in papers or in a room with clothes strewn all over the floor? If you have, then you probably know this – cluttered spaces hardly allow you to focus. No, it’s not just you and it’s not just a feeling. It’s a fact and here’s the ‘why’. 

The reason is simple – clutter fights for our attention. Our brain naturally favors order over chaos. When surrounded by clutter, the visual cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for processing visual information, becomes overwhelmed. Clutter forces the brain to process several visual inputs at once, tiring it out and making it harder for it to focus. An awful toll on our tiny command center, don’t you think? But things don’t stop with that either. Clutter also triggers emotional responses. The laundry piling up on the chair or the documents heaping up on your desk act as constant reminders of unfinished tasks. This can trigger the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, and boom, you’re bowled over by feelings of anxiety, shame, and guilt. So, it’s not just about mess – it’s about how your space makes you feel.  

And that feeling matters.  

Now imagine a space that supports you – what would or wouldn’t it have? It might have a too many folders for all your documents and papers. It might skip the posters on the wall because your mind wanders easily. It might even have a labelled drawer for all your knick-knacks. Tidiness is personal and clutter is experienced differently by everyone. What might appear cluttered to someone else might be the very system that you need to thrive. Be it your small home office or just a desk where you sit down to do your taxes, all your spaces must be designed to drive a sense of calm and clarity. You don’t need a full makeover to feel the difference. Small intuitive shifts can go a long way. Here are a few things you could do: 

• Ask yourself – “What must this space do for me?” Then, gently remove anything that does not belong. Items that distract or rarely get used there – these are your clues. 

• Keep the surfaces clean and free of clutter. Remember, visual clutter stresses the brain. Designate a place for everything that lands on your table – a pen holder for all your pens (and while you are at it, get rid of the ones that don’t work anymore), a small container for your paper clips, space in the drawer for your cords and cables. And once everything is put away, your brain is calm and ready to focus.  

• Let your habits guide your design. If your table always collects clutter, add a tray or a basket where you can toss things into and set up a time every day to go through and deal with the stuff.  

• Have a reset routine at the end of each day to restore order and make the space feel welcoming to you when you return to it.  

Designing a peaceful space is not about simply clearing things out. It is about building an environment that works with you and not against you. And if a bit of organized chaos is what makes you feel in control of things, go for it.  

Own your space!