The upside of untidiness: why a little mess can be good for your home

Key points

• Research involving 22 New Zealand households suggests mess is not always a problem to be fixed. Some untidy spaces, such as dining tables used as drop zones or counters used for work and meals, support daily routines.
• Mess can also reflect family relationships, with some people choosing to leave a partner's or child's belongings alone. The study found households manage disorder by clearing it away, tolerating it or hiding it from view.
• The researchers say the better test of a well-organised home is how well it works for the people living in it.