Watched my friend clear off her kitchen counter last week. She tossed all the junk mail and small appliances she never used. Suddenly, the whole room looked twice as big and way less stressful. She said it felt like she could actually breathe in there. Same thing happened with her dining table after she stopped using it as a drop zone. That clean space just made everything feel calmer.
Okay, but what if all that empty space just makes a room feel cold and lonely? I get that cleaning helps some people, but a bit of clutter can make a place feel lived in and cozy. Like, my counter has my favorite mug and some mail, and it reminds me of my daily life. When everything is perfectly clear, it sort of loses personality, you know? It might look nice in pictures, but actually living there feels less homey. I guess for me, a totally clean table feels weird, like I'm not allowed to use it.