Actually some years ago Bill and I sort of split the responsibilities: Downstairs is Bill's "territory" and the upstairs (living room, kitchen, bedrooms) is "mine." The downstairs looks great most of the time. That's where we host open sings and house concerts. Indeed it usually looks as if someone has been paying attention to it.

Whereas all flat surfaces in spaces where I spend a lot of time look as if there's been a paper-pileup contest held there recently.