The Illusion of Clutter: Simple Products That Tell a Different Story

Perhaps we've passed a mark in society where our over indulgences and pack-rat tendencies can now be explored and satisfied through mere illusions — whether it's multi-colored wallpaper, a printed rug or convincing trompe l'oeil, some products have all it takes to visually convince us of the presence of clutter while remaining completely clutter free!

1 This Soma Wallpaper by Basso & Brooke for Graham & Brown toes the line between extravagantly exciting and headache inducing - $60 a roll (11 yards x 20.5 inches)
2 & 3 British designer Deborah Bowness specializes in handpainted wallpapers of trompe l'oeil domestic scenes — clothes, books, plates, clocks, and chairs give her gorgeous papers the appearance of "stuff".
4 & 5 & 6 The Puzzle Pattern Rug by Barber Osgerby for The Rug Company features colorful silhouettes of everyday objects in the pattern - $87.50 per square foot.
7 Trompe L'oeil Bookshelf Storage from Front design collective.
8 The legendary Chest of Drawers by Tejo Remy gives the appearance of randomness and clutter but also keeps it all in one spot! Limited edition of 500 for Droog - price upon request.
9 & 10 Pharmacy Wallpaper by Damien Hirst available with silver or gold background - £1,000 (10000mm x 538mm) from Other Criteria.

Can you think of additional products and furnishings that give the illusion of clutter?

MORE FAUX CLUTTER
• Print Isn't Dead — It's Been Reborn As Wallpaper
• Pharmacy and Butterfly Wallpapers by Damien Hirst
• The Wallpaper Collection from Deborah Bowness
• New British Wallpaper at ICFF
• The Rug Company: Designs from Barber Osgerby

Originally published 8.3.2009 - AA