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The messiness of old age!

(65 Posts)
olderme Tue 23-Jun-26 13:08:21

Hello, as I get older I find I need more and more things close at hand. I feel that my sitting area is becoming more like an hospital ward than a sitting room.
I am really looking for any hints/tips to keep it reasonable looking as well as modern.
Many thanks.

LadyGaGa Tue 30-Jun-26 16:47:07

For some reason I find all my ‘stuff’ really comforting. I like the description of a ‘nest’. I have a small narrow coffee table from Ikea at right angles to the sofa. The bottom shelf is like an uncovered drawer and houses all my bits. The very bitty things like nail file, lip balm etc I’ve put into a nice cosmetics bag. I tidied it recently and it was grim - unexplained sticky stuff, dirty tissues to name but a few 🤣 My trouble is that when I go in holiday I want to take it all with me!

Moonwatcher1904 Tue 30-Jun-26 16:31:12

We're not quite at the hospital ward stage yet but it's getting there. We have a large plastic tub in the kitchen cupboard with all our daily medications in. More in another kitchen cupboard which we have to order every month or the pharmacist at our gp will discontinue them.
Our lounge has a big oxygen cylinder (for my DH) in case of a power cut, two smaller ones for him to use if we go out and an oxygen concentrator sat by the tv which he has to use 15 hours a day. Also a CPAP machine which he has to attach to the concentrator when we go to bed.

olderme Tue 30-Jun-26 16:13:55

Apologies to the ladies who do have real equipment to deal with. You reminded me that I should count my blessings. Thank you x

Marbelous Fri 26-Jun-26 11:20:42

Casdon

We bought my mum a three tier metal trolley on wheels from Hobbycraft, and some wooden lids for each layer. She’s quite immobile, so it’s good because when she’s looking for something she can wheel the trolley round so it’s in front of her and she can see everything in it.

Thanks for the tip! I’ve just ordered one.

Kartush Fri 26-Jun-26 00:22:47

All i need is my kindle and my ipad and they sit on the arm of the couch

Juicylucy Thu 25-Jun-26 22:36:46

I’ve got a lovely wicker basket with a lid next to where I sit with all my bits and pieces in it.
Nail files, hand cream, supplements, medication, Diary, charges, tape measure, pens. And it’s all tucked away neat and tidy and I’m only one that goes in it.

MOPS2 Thu 25-Jun-26 16:50:39

I use a small 3 tier trolley from IKEA.

MOPS2 Thu 25-Jun-26 16:48:14

I use a small 3 tier trolley from IKEA about £15.

WithNobsOnIt Thu 25-Jun-26 16:40:46

Your living room looks quite organised compared to mine specky eyes.

It would take me ages to make a list of all.if items
It looks as though it has been ransacked by burglars. And l love it

Babamaman Thu 25-Jun-26 15:24:34

Have you got a magazine rack for papers?
A coffee of gold up table
Pencil case
Note pad

Jess20 Thu 25-Jun-26 14:49:09

I've got a small 2 drawer filing cabinet next to my bed. Everything can quickly be swept into it out of the way, put of sight. Room for a book, kindle, tablet, phone chargers, bottle of gaviscon to stand upright, my blood pressure machine, water bottle etc in the top drawer and a load of assorted medicines and medical stuff in the bottom drawer. Not elegant but at least out of site and in one place .

Camry1952 Thu 25-Jun-26 14:08:25

that was supposed to be comforting

Camry1952 Thu 25-Jun-26 14:06:52

I have a pretty box with a lid that fits under the coffee table. There are books and other things inside but sometimes I just put things on top of the box.Yes, I'm defeating the purpose. I still have puzzle books, remotes, tissues and kindle on the sofa. When I'm having visitors at least I can put things away in the box.It's comforting to know others have similar habits.

harrysgran Wed 24-Jun-26 16:11:57

My problem is my bedside table it isn't small it's a large ikea coffee table I have everything I need to hand on it it is crammed and looks chaotic but I love it 😂

AskAlice Wed 24-Jun-26 14:46:08

I bought an over-the-arm thingy for my DH which has a little removable tray on top for drinks and pockets for the 3 remote controls we have. He said it's the most useful thing I've every bought him! The remote control pockets could also take all sorts of bits and pieces. It's a bit like this one, only in soft leather-look fabric rather than bamboo.

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GGQXJC83/?smid=AWICYPTQ65BI5&linkCode=asn&ascsubtag=2026-06-24_bc63126305e88a6eb1dd00b31e4200b5f61b6d10e0010bc59dce0f16a8196cd0&psc=1&creativeASIN=B0GGQXJC83&th=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&creative=6742&camp=1638

Doodledog Wed 24-Jun-26 14:35:02

MT62

Doodledog

I have the Laura Ashley Garrat coffee table, that has 12 drawers and a large storage space at the back. It's really useful, but I still end up with 'stuff' all over the top of it.

That’s a lovely coffee table! Handy having all those drawers.

Thank you. It is very handy, and still available in John Lewis (I've had mine for ten years or so).

henetha Wed 24-Jun-26 14:26:13

Thank you Oreo... when my energy returns I will definitely look into that.

Bellanonna Wed 24-Jun-26 12:43:52

Just the one loved!

Bellanonna Wed 24-Jun-26 12:43:34

I love loved your post shysal. 😀

fancyflowers Wed 24-Jun-26 12:34:38

Well. I'm currently looking at:
A detangling hairbrush
Two handbags
Packets of tissues
My password book
Two battery chargers
Pills that I recently collected from the chemist
My glasses case
A Stanley knife
A pack of bin bags
A pair of scissors
A tube of sealing cement that I ordered from Amazon and haven't used yet.

These are either on a side table next to me, or on the sofa next to me.

Do I qualify as the messiest Gran on Gransnet?

Primrose53 Wed 24-Jun-26 11:10:01

Madmeg

Our lounge now also has a hospital bed, plus commode, rollator and Rotunda thing that turns my DH from bed to wheelchair. I hope it isn't permanent cos the room is virtually unusable for its original purpose.

The rest of the house is getting more and more untidy cos I have no time to bother about it.

Madmeg I only have time to do the basics now. I make sure the toilets are clean and the beds get changed regularly and I keep on top of laundry and shopping. Other than that, not much gets done! Oh, I also try and keep on top of lawn mowing and weeding.

We used to have a Sara Steady which was a big piece of equipment but that went back when he no longer needed it.

It’s hard work isn’t it?

Nell82 Wed 24-Jun-26 11:03:13

I've been trying to make do with a small coffee table between my chair and the wall. I'm now planning to order a small chest of drawers from Hill and Hunter (British made painted furniture). They have a nice range of colours and I understand they will make to measure for a slight increase in cost.

petra Wed 24-Jun-26 10:29:51

Numerous remote controls.
If you buy a universal remote ( cheaper than chips) it can be programmed for you terrestrial tv/ streaming/ sound bar.

Nannee49 Wed 24-Jun-26 10:07:52

Like grammaretto I have a nest but when I get really bad with having everything to hand all around me, I up it to a rat's nest in the hope of shaming myself into sorting it.

Sometimes works blush! I bought a two cube ikea storage unit with slide in boxes which I use as a coffee table - hides a multiple of sins.

BlueBelle Wed 24-Jun-26 07:03:52

I have a plastic tub which is quite hidden by my chair but it’s got all my chargers, pens, books, diaries and a hundred other things I don’t really need, (but would if they weren’t there) but no where else to put them.