The research that I was doing on clutter culture has helped me delve into the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi

This cultural adherence sings to the tune of simplicity, which is reflected in the structure of their tea houses.  The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is more than just drinking tea; it is a spiritual experience that embodies harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. These are all things that many people strive to achieve in their own homes.

“A typical teahouse in Japan, although built with great care and often at great expense, looks like a ramshackle, rustic hut. It emphasizes simplicity and austerity. The door through which the guests enter is very small, so that they must almost crawl through. The idea here is that they are leaving all worldly things behind—even in the days of samurai, then men were forced to remove their swords and hang them on a hook, otherwise they would not fit through the door.”( http://uwf.edu/japanhouse/chado.cfm )

This shows that peace and happiness in other cultures are traditionally found not through commercial goods but through the silencing of your mind and the concentration on stillness. This shows a large juxtaposition with American fast paced culture and our emphasis on constant stimulation.