Removing Things That Piss You Off (RTTPYO): A Smarter Approach to Interior Design
- nvilu7
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
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Everyone Has That One Thing…
Everyone has at least one thing in their home that quietly drives them insane.
A door that doesn’t open all the way
A chair you keep bumping into
A rug that technically works—but not really
You tolerate it. You work around it.
Until one day…you don’t.
👉 That’s where RTTPYO comes in.
What Is RTTPYO? (And Why It Works)
RTTPYO = Removing Things That Piss You Off
It’s a simple but powerful interior design approach:
Identify the small, daily irritations in your home—and eliminate them.
These aren’t major renovation issues.
They’re the low-grade annoyances that slowly drain your patience.
Why it works:
Small annoyances compound over time
Your home should support your life—not fight it
Fixing friction = immediate quality-of-life upgrade
Why Small Irritations Matter More Than You Think
RTTPYOs aren’t dramatic failures.
They’re worse.
They:
Don’t break
Don’t demand attention
Don’t feel urgent
But they show up every single day.
👉 One annoyance = manageable
👉 Ten annoyances = cumulative stress
Your home isn’t stressful because of one big issue—it’s death by a thousand tiny annoyances. |
What Counts as an RTTPYO? (Real Examples)
1. Function That Doesn’t Quite Work
Furniture layouts you “made work”…years ago.
Example:
Closet door blocked by furniture
Awkward traffic flow
Too much furniture
2. Something That Used to Work—But Doesn’t Anymore
You change one thing…now everything else is off.
New sofa → wrong table height
New layout → storage no longer works
3. The Rug That Finally Breaks You
A perfect example of form vs. function.
If it:
Blocks doors
Trips you
Requires daily adjustments
…it’s not working.
4. Things You Didn’t Choose
Hand-me-downs. “Free” furniture. Gifts.
They’re fine.
But they’re not you...and that matters more than people admit.
5. Things You Once Loved
Sometimes the problem isn’t the item—it’s the context.
A piece that worked for 10+ years can become wrong overnight.
6. Architectural Irritations
Doors that collide
Bad lighting
Awkward built-ins
⚠️ These often require more planning—and sometimes professional help.
How to Fix an RTTPYO (3 Options)
1. Move It
Start simple:
Rearrange furniture
Change placement
Rethink function
2. Modify It
If it’s almost right:
Paint
Reupholster
Add a slipcover
👉 Paint is the highest ROI upgrade.
3. Replace It
If it truly doesn’t work—let it go.
But replace it intentionally.
Don’t remove something essential (like your only sofa) without a replacement plan. |
RTTPYO Transformation Example
An underused pantry that constantly annoyed its owner became:
✔️ A functional home office
✔️ Clean storage system
✔️ Zero daily friction
Key takeaway:
Sometimes the best fix isn’t improving the item—it’s rethinking the space entirely.
The RTTPYO Checklist (Save This)
Before you start tossing things, ask:
Origin
Did I choose this?
Timeline
When did this start bothering me?
Cause
Function? Aesthetic? Placement?
Barriers
Why haven’t I fixed it?
Options
Move it? Modify it?
Removal
Sell, donate, trash?
Replacement
Do I actually need it?
Final Thought: You Already Know Your First RTTPYO
It’s the thing that popped into your head while reading this.
The one you deal with every day.
👉 Fix that one first.
More RTTPYOs Coming
This approach works in:
Kitchens
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Outdoor spaces
And once you start…
…it’s very hard to stop.
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