Oh I am so happy to read this article, thank you!! My home is just what you describe, a patchwork junkyard, filled with things that might be useful again. To me or to somebody else - because it's in part a 'free room' too (now I know that name I have a way to reference what I have), where people bring things they no longer want - like clothing, bedding, toys etc. - and if I know someone is in need of something I have sitting around, I just pass it along. It's not really something I've consciously built up, for a while a few years back I even felt rather embarrassed to be constantly brought other people's 'junk', but in the last few years I've really embraced it despite being seen as a bit of a hoarder and enduring constant comments about needing a 'clear out' from my partner's family!