How to Organize Your Unusual Things so That There Is More Adult in the House
Some time ago I decided that my apartment looked like a teenager lives there: video games were in front and center, comics were scattered all over the place, and toys were scattered for no reason – so I made my place a little smoother organized and “grown-up “. This can be done without sacrificing what we love.
Get rid of it first if you can
Before we get to that, keep in mind that I’m not saying that you have to get rid of all your botanical stuff or hide it in order to be considered an adult. However, if you are interested in making your home look a little more “geek chic” and a little less “nerd dungeon”, the first thing you should do is get rid of some of the things that you really don’t. are needed.
I don’t want Marie Kondo to look at you too much, but if you have a bunch of toys, posters, figurines, and other things that really don’t make you happy, consider selling or giving away. All this takes up a lot of space and will complicate its organization in the future. Maybe you really need a couple of movie posters and the rest just piles up somehow; or maybe just leave your beloved character’s favorite toy in place of the entire collection. Let go of your reputation as a nerd and focus on what really makes you happy.
Place only a few exceptional items on a proper demo
Part of making a home look “grown-up” is keeping it tidy and easy to clean. So, when you are cut back and have fewer things to work with, be very careful with what you put on display. Show off the cool stuff and pack the rest. Remember, the less opportunity you have for people to see them, the more attention will be paid to these things. Too many things simply means that the items you truly love are lost in the crowd.
And if you’re going to show something, do it right. Buy a beautiful display case for these collectible figurines, frame movie posters, and display graphic novels on a beautiful bookshelf. Part of making a place more mature is showing that you can take good care of your things. So, if your funny things mean so much to you that you should definitely show them to everyone, you should do it right and show how much you care.
Digital technology with comics and manga
Comics and manga can take up a ton of space, and let’s face it, they just scream nerd vigilant. This is especially true when an entire wall is dedicated to them. Again, if this is the aesthetic you want, then nothing needs to be changed. Personally, though, I don’t like wearing my hobbies up my sleeve, and I didn’t want to be branded a “comic book guy” or “manga guy” by everyone who walked through my door. It might sound unsafe, but I wanted people to ask me what I was doing instead of being judged at first sight. So I went digital in everything.
I love the feel of the comics, but if I don’t feel like the issue is going to be some kind of special collectible, I just read it on my tablet. It’s the same in the manga. I don’t read that much, but I buy most of my manga for the Kindle Paperwhite (which is actually quite good for it). I still have a place where I keep all my collectible comics and the like, but they are safe and kept away. In any case, I’m not going to take them out of my sleeves and read again.
Ditch the original movie and video game boxes
This may sound blasphemy to some, but I rarely keep boxes of movies or games. They take up a lot of space and if you are not a collector there is no reason to keep them. In addition, they no longer make cool booklets with instructions. So why keep them?
Buy one of these huge CD folders and store all your games and movies there. They keep things in order, they look beautiful, and no one needs to know that you have hundreds of games if you don’t want to. Remember, the goal here is not to lie about your hobbies, but to have better control over the aesthetics of your home. I want my entertainment center to look sleek and clean, but I can’t get it if I have dozens of game cases.
Use your closet space
Did you know that wardrobes are a great place to store things? Use them. If you don’t have them, buy cheap ones from IKEA and use them. This is the easiest way to hold on to all your cool nerd gear and not show it all, acting like a fancy beacon that may or may not attract ships on the endless sea.
So let’s say, for example, you have a sizable collection of board games. So do I. They are wonderful. I keep them all in a beautiful closet dedicated to these types of games. They’re well organized, don’t get dusty, and again, nobody knows that I have all of the Arkham Horror expansions , unless I decide to show them off. Plus, nothing surprises other board game enthusiasts like throwing open your closet door, revealing a terrific choice for a nightly game. Come on people. There is a bit of theatricality.
Don’t give up what you don’t want
Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big nerd and I like boring things. But I felt that there was more to me than the funny things that I put on display, and I wanted to show it. Plus, dating can sometimes get a little more awkward when your place is drowning in the stuff you can find in the loot box. So I changed everything.
These tips worked for me and the look I wanted to achieve, but you can be different and that’s perfectly fine. Don’t change your preference or style just because someone tells you to. But if you feel the same way I do and think your home is starting to look a little less “mature” for your taste, these few steps may help you.
This story was originally published in September 2017 and was updated on March 15, 2021 in line with Lifehacker’s style guidelines.