Is it possible for a house to be too tidy?

I have decided not to risk anyone thinking my house is too tidy.

I wish I knew how my mother made our house feel like a home, but at the same time kept it beautifully tidy. I can't seem to get it right. The man described in the OP obviously doesn't have that gene either
My mother could do that too JackyB and there were five of us in a very small house, always homely and comfortable but no clutter.

Her secret was that she was a great 'chucker outer'; although she had some things that were precious to her, they all had their place. Anything superfluous, including toys we had outgrown, were sent smartly off to the church jumble sales.

We just didn't have so much 'stuff'.
I remember some of the 'stuff' which would be vintage now and probably worth quite a bit!
I think that's probably why I am reluctant to throw things out.

I’d settle for too tidy at the moment!

Got heating engineers in and every room in the house is chaotic, I’m reduced to escaping to the conservatory with the heater on as it’s freezing - wet and windy.

Sounds like my mother-in-law's house; lovely to look at but uncomfortable to stay in, as she was always tidying -up after you, re-arranging the furniture, including the bedroom you were staying in and throwing things away, newspapers, library books, wellingtons (mine), work papers, ( belonging to her husband, daughter and son.); the Christmas decorations came down on Boxing Day, in front of the grandchildren.

It’s all down to personal taste, isn’t it? Your acquaintance seems happy with his home the way it is, so that is what matters. It wouldn’t suit me, and it sounds as if it wouldn’t suit you, but as we aren’t the ones living in that house, it doesn’t really matter. It would be of more concern if he was hoarding to the extent that it was a health and safety issue (such as we see on some of those tv programmes about hoarding), but as it is, a minimalist style apparently is what he likes, which is fine.

An old friend of mine lives just like that,nothing out of place,no pictures or anything.
It feels clinical and not welcoming at all.
But she is lovely and happy and thats all that matters.
I on the other hand have a pile of books and papers next to where i sit and a top thrown over the sofa.

I tried the 'tooth fairy won't be able to come to an untidy bedroom' years ago and my daughter's reply 'don't be silly mummy she can fly'.

I love shows like Through the Keyhole - not so keen on its present format. They once showed a house which looked as though the owner had just got everything from a shop and arranged it like a show home. Actually, it was worse than that - not a single picture on the wall or books on a shelf - practically bare with no personality whatsoever. Sterile.

Obviously too much stuff is bad but surely there's a middle ground?

I wish I knew how my mother made our house feel like a home, but at the same time kept it beautifully tidy. I can't seem to get it right. The man described in the OP obviously doesn't have that gene either. I don't like clutter, but it is still hard to keep tidy, even with the kids long flown the nest.

However, I do recommend "The minimalist Mom" on Youtube. She is a young American mother of 4 who has pared everything down to a minimum but her house still looks welcoming, light and cheerful. She is a joy to watch.I won't link to a specific video because she has so many on various aspects of time and space and clutter management. Some of it is OTT but I have taken some tips from it.

Somewhere between spartanic and fussy there is a happy medium for all of us.

If he was a cluttered person before his wife died, perhaps it's his way of coping with being on his own? Keeping things pristine and looking like a magazine and impersonal. A fresh start in a new house.

My DH likes antiques we have a few nice pieces of furniture. However he also has an attitude if it's not broke don't throw it out. If I had my way I would hire the biggest skip and fill it. I think minimalist is a good idea I cleared my mum in laws house. An aunties house and uncles house when they passed away. My son and daughter have very busy lives I would like to save them the hassle. But my husband does not agree he is sentimental about possessions the older I get the more I am not.

My home is very tidy but also homely - full of books, art, plants and interesting furniture. The house you describe OP sounds soulless and that’s a completely different thing. And yes, a home can definitely lack soul and feel empty.

If my DH dies there is so much stuff I will get rid of. I have to move so many of is “collectibles” to dust, so I rarely bother. If I were widowed and moved house, I would have a real clear out and take only things I really want with me. Then I might be able to keep the house tidy, just like in the OP. His choice.

It’s his house, so surely his choice, sounds very nice to me, nobody’s business but his own the way he lives, and obviously it’s homely to him

Sounds perfect to me to. I have intricate one or two house plants as DH loves them but absolutely no family photos around and books in the bookcase nothing on surfaces. Nice and organised, contentment. Sigh.

I used to be "school gates" friends with a woman whose home was so pristine, I absolutely hated it when she invited me round for coffee. I felt that I was making the house look messy and dirty just by being there.

I understood exactly how Hyacinth Bouquet's neighbour felt!

It was her house, and how she liked it. But I never felt comfortable there.

his house his choice

No problem. That's how he wants it. Sounds like my idea of hell but I don't have to live there.

Got ds1 and ds2 back to front. The perils of wine and dyslexia and I meant hoarder rather than boarder. Will put my phone down now

My home is untidy, every cupboard and drawer is chock full of junk and every surface is covered with photographs and ornaments. All the furniture is a bit sagging and worn, and covered in dog fur. No point replacing while we still have dogs. Each room has a different coloured walls with soft furnishings to match. DS2 is boarder/collector like me and has various collections of this and that and DS1 has been whipped into shape by DIL and lives in a very minimalistic house. It still looks cosy, the interiors are all white with some splashes of colour in rugs, artworks and plants, but there are no knickknacks or photographs to be seen. I sent some photos of myself and dh a while back and apparently they have gone into albums rather than frames. I was a little disappointed till ds2 said they haven’t even put up pictures even of themselves and the baby!

I enjoy living in a house that looks as if it’s lived in with things around “to hand” like books, pens, our specs cases.
A minimalist home would freak me out - but we are all different.
When your acquaintance has lived there a little longer he may acquire some “clutter”.

I don’t see the problem. Things/objects are just not important to some people so why would they bother?

Having said which, a friend’s in-laws sold their big old house, prior to migrating to Australia to be with their daughter. They wanted to buy a property in the UK in the interim and to use when they came back to visit other family.

They found the ideal abode. It was a show home and they bought it lock, stock and barrel as seen. My friend said it was so odd seeing them in a sitting room with the kind of ornaments they’d never have bought for themselves in a month of Sundays! ?

I wish mine was less cluttered. Books, sewing, knitting, toys, plants, paper cuttings, pictures and paintings, not to mention the "treasures" brought by GC. Ideally I'd like to clear the lot out and have none of it. Good for the chap in the OP having the self discipline not to give room to any of it.

The house sounds lovely to me. I dont like clutter or ornaments.