Visual clutter vs visual pleasure
Some people are talented at creating a relaxing and inspiring atmosphere - surroundings that offer visual pleasure in whichever direction you look. I am not that person. But I am very sensitive to the aesthetics of my surroundings. Pretty things make me happy.
On the flip side, I am also very sensitive to mess in my surroundings. I am bothered if there’s a pile of laundry on a chair, a spot on the kitchen counter, or an empty plastic bag on the floor. I don’t necessarily clean the mess; instead, I use a bit of mental energy to deal with the discomfort it gives me. And if a place is very messy or just ugly, it adds up, and after a while I may feel quite drained and wonder why.
I am not always aware of how strongly my surroundings affect me. I may be a bit more sensitive than the average person, but I also think it's largely underrated in society, for example, in public design. For example, I feel that most of the new houses being built in my city nowadays are an insult to my sense of beauty.
Now, writing this, I have once again convinced myself that I should try to get my home better organized and work on bringing in more things that offer me visual pleasure.
