DON’T BUY THESE HOME ITEMS IF YOU’RE NOT TYPE A

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m super Type A. I keep my house very clean, I organize often, and I don’t like clutter. It stresses me out. Aka I’m a total Monica, and my home reflects that. A lot of my furniture and decor pieces in my home are suitable for fellow type A clean freaks, but my design choices certainly won’t suit everyone. I want to share my candid feedback on what home items I think you should steer clear of if you’re more type B and prefer less cleaning and upkeep. After all, your home should be a reflection of your personality and lifestyle needs.

What’s the number one furniture item you shouldn’t buy if you’re Type B? A glass coffee table. Or any glass furniture for that matter. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my coffee table. It’s one of my favorite pieces of furniture in my home. It looks sleek, beautifully reflects natural light to make the space feel brighter, and it’s simple. It doesn’t distract from other pieces in my space and lends well to being heavily decorated with layers of my favorite coffee table books and decor knickknacks. It’s a blank canvas, and I love that.

However, it smudges so easily. Therefore, if you have kids, DO NOT buy a glass table. I can’t imagine how cloudy the glass would look after just one day of their sticky fingers and slobbery kisses.

It’s not forgiving when it comes to dust either. I have to dust and Windex her every week as well as make sure my cleaning supplies aren’t leaving streaks. I’ll think it’s perfectly clean, but then the sun will hit it just right and I’ll see a massive smudge. I’m probably overthinking it though and pulling a total Monica. Most people can’t tell. In fact, a puppy we dog sit has run into the glass more times than I can count so that must mean it’s spotless lol.

I will share one more positive though! It easily wipes clean and there’s no chance it will stain like marble or wood. You don’t have to worry about guests not using a coaster or accidentally spilling red wine on it and discoloring it.

Another piece of furniture only for Type As? Desks or side tables without drawer space. Sure, this desk is pretty, but it’s not particularly functional. It acts as a work surface and that’s about it. I can’t store any documents, tuck my laptop away, or hide crap I have no place for. I shared a similar complaint in my blog post about styling bedroom side tables. I bought these black metal end tables from Ikea for less than $20, and while they get the job done, they aren’t practical for storage purposes. Point being, if you struggle with disorganization, drawers are a convenient catchall if you want to shove stuff in a drawer away from the naked eye. Even us Type As need the ease of a junk drawer occasionally (if you’re Monica then apparently some need an entire hidden closet), so easy concealment is a must if you’re on the messier side.

White rugs are my next item deemed impractical for those who don’t identify as clean freaks. I touched on this in my bathroom styling blog post because I have a crisp white bath mat that has to be washed constantly. It stays clean for approximately .2 seconds despite us taking our shoes off in the house. Obviously .2 seconds is hyperbolic, but I’d estimate the rug stays clean for five days max then needs to be bleached and washed again. I know a lot of people don’t want the commitment of that incessant upkeep, especially if you hate cleaning. So, do yourself a favor and don’t buy that terrible cream shag rug with the black diamond crisscross pattern. Number one, it’s basic and will shed everywhere. Number two, it will stain quickly and be difficult to wash. Buy something a little bit darker that’s more forgiving if you happen to spill. You won’t have to clean it as much, and it will look newer for longer. I have a gray area rug in my living room and love it. My boyfriend spilt espresso on it a few weeks ago and you couldn’t even tell! Sadly, it’s old from Ikea so I can’t link it (it’s the rug pictured in the first couple photos).

Acrylic tables is coming in at number four. I am head over heels for the acrylic coffee table and acrylic console table aesthetic, but it may not be practical if you’re not anal about protecting and restoring it. It tends to scratch easily and can be difficult to buff out. That may cause your furniture to look worn and cheap over time. I’d suggest only buying acrylic furniture that you plan to use in a low traffic area of your home.

Clear plastic storage bins is my fifth and final pick. I know it’s a huge trend at the moment to use acrylic storage bins in your pantry or craft closet, but I don’t think they suit everyone’s needs. Yes, they look fantastic in every project The Home Edit has ever done, but they are professional organizers. It’s literally their job to make things look clean and put together. Who knows how those pantries look after weeks of the families rummaging through their food and living their daily lives? Clear plastic is not practical if you don’t plan on maintaining your organized bins because you can see all their contents. You can’t conceal anything, so things can start to look messy quick. Try using woven baskets or regular plastic storage bins. The Container Store and Target have a ton of good options. Check out your local Homegoods or Marshall’s for some more affordable options.

There ya have it! My top five items only Type A clean freaks should buy. Let me know if you have any other furniture or home items to add to the list! I’m super interested to hear what you think in the comments below.