Before you continue reading this post, you may want to check out the first two parts to this series. Click the following highlighted links to see the corresponding posts: Part 1 – Clothes Part 2 – Purses …..then come back to check my new rant….
Knick-Knacks
I am not sure if it is nature or nurture for women. If they naturally develop the idea that knick-knacks are needed or if their mothers nurtured them to follow such habit. Either way, knick-knacks are the demise of the American home. Let me explain why…
Men are simple beings. We love lists. Go through the list and we are done. Women tend to create lists then wander from the straightforward nature of it. It isn’t that difficult to furnish a room in a man’s eye. A bed, a desk, a light and that’s pretty much it. However, women see furnishing a room as an opportunity. An opportunity to over due it in the counterpart’s eyes.
I think the realization of women’s craziness for knick-knacks came from my mother and aunt. They could be considered professionals in the knick-knack world. My mother tends to buy the ‘accenting’ items while my aunt buys the knick-knack gifts (To my mother and aunt if you were to read this: I apologize and still love you). And I know they could be far worse then they are. But, just because you could be worse, doesn’t mean you don’t try and improve.
The problem I have with knick-knacks isn that they are primarily useless. Yes, they have little if any purpose then to decorate. I hate decorations unless you are decorating the exterior for Halloween or X-mas. Knick-knacks are costly, fake, and wasteful.
Our lives are so full of clutter and confusion already that we do not need to do more damage to our situation. I try and accomplish many things in the day and the knick-knacks, unless they are robots, are not helping me accomplishing anything. If we can eliminate many of the non-essentials in life, we will save money, time, and stress.
And I do not want to hear that a house is not a home without knick-knacks. All that is saying is that you do not know how to create a welcome and homely feeling without throwing crap around your furniture. It can be done and done with taste. Start searching simplistic or minimalist room ideas on google and you can create a great comfortable home without cluttering the place up.
Well, that is it for the GLAM series. Hope you enjoyed. If you care to ‘let me hear it’ ladies, feel free to click here to comment. Don’t forget, you can check out the other two parts of this series by checking the Minimalism tab at the top or the links provided at the top off this post.
Well wishes to all…
Dave
LifeExcursion
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I am a female who is completely against these material possession we’re brainwashed into believing we need. I also don’t get spending huge amounts of money on designer purses, clothes and shoes or owning tons of it. And I cannot stand knick knacks. I love looking nice and owning some quality things, but have no need to spend huge amounts of money on them regardless of how much money I have. Seriously, I’ll have millions of dollars and still spend small amounts of money. I’d rather give it to people that need it, than waste it for no reason. People seem impressed with the small purse I have. Some even laugh (it’s not even that small). Because apparently all women need a huge purse containing a bunch of useless stuff. I have a very small wallet too. Both items I’ve had for years and don’t own any others. I have a couple of bigger tote-type bags for when I need it, but not other purses. If I had my choice, I wouldn’t even have one altogether. Maybe someday. You can make a home beautiful with minimal items. I own 5 shoes total and that’s actually too much (I only use 2). All are nothing that women typically wear, but real shoes that one can walk and do all kinds of activities in. I have a decent size wardrobe, but realized it’s too much (though less than most women). I don’t need to own a lot of clothes. I enjoy them, but it’s just another unnecessary thing. I’ve become creative with mixing and matching to create new looks. I could care less what people think. I like looking good for me, but I positively don’t need tons of clothes and fancy shoes to do it. Women own tons of beauty products. Even the ones that hardly ever wear makeup, own a huge amount of it, even though it goes bad within a few months. Not to mention the tons of hair products, skin care products, etc. etc. I do believe in spending more on certain items that are good quality so they last longer But more is still not expensive compared to what many spend. I’ve managed to narrow down all material possessions and will continue to.
Awesome comment LD….I am glad to hear these words from a woman. I know guys have their own flaws too, but these presented in this series have been the biggest one I have seen in society.
Thanks for commenting!!!
Dave
LifeExcursion
Totally agree that knick-knacks are unnecessary. However, some people can’t let go. And to them I say good luck, as they have to clean them regularly.
I wouldn’t call knick-knacks fake but I will say that they take a lot of time and upkeep. I am a residential certified green cleaning contractor and I find that it takes so much longer to clean a client’s home when they have knick-knacks. They sure are a lot of work to move and clean around! I have one client who is very artistic and she has a ton of them. Her house is fun to be in and look at, but it sure is lots of work to clean.
I used to have a good number of the k-k’s and when I decluttered and got rid of the excess “junk” the house actually became more open and spacious and I found that I could think better. Now my knick-knacks (if you want to call them such) consist of useful and purposeful items such as plants. (I know Dave, you will probably say that plants are minimalist items – but at least they are serving the purpose of cleaning the air and beautifying the place.
Hi Dave, I’m a woman somewhat past middle age and I am damn tired of stuff! I’ve bought it, cleaned it, thought it was impressive and now I hate it. I finally realized we are brainwashed into believing we are “less than” if we don’t have all the crap advertised on tv and in magazines.
So I am on a mission to free my life from the unnecessary and get down to the minimal.
My problem, the more I get rid of the more I seem to have. Why is that?
Sky