Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home [A Home Organization Book]

by Shira Gill

Kickstart your organized life with this inspiring visual guide from the author of Minimalista .

“A fresh, global, and beautifully diverse perspective on calming the clutter.”—Kelli Lamb, author of Home with Rue and editorial director of Rue

People are naturally curious about the homes of professional organizers. Organized Living was inspired by Shira's desire to provide a glimpse into a rarely-seen The homes of people who organize others. Shira showcases the homes of twenty-five international home organizers, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into this meticulously kept world. Organized Living introduces you to the aspirational spaces of the most organized people in the world, the organizers themselves, and the passion that fuels their work. Through stunning images and absorbing interviews, you’ll gain expert tips and resources, loads of visual inspiration, and clever organizing hacks you can use in your own home, such

• Ditching the packaging
• Choosing stylish storage
• Elevating the most neglected spaces
• Putting things away, right away

Through books, TV shows, and social media platforms, home organizers have been elevated as top lifestyle influencers and have cemented their place in the cultural zeitgeist. And Shira Gill, the organizer of organizers, is the perfect tour guide to walk us through these professional organizers’ homes.

If you’re seeking less clutter, overwhelm, and stress in your life, and are looking to create more time and energy for the things that matter most, Organized Living is your chance to learn directly from the best in the business.

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Self Help, Interior Design, Reference, Coffee Table Books, Personal Development

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 3, 2023

About the author

Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert, bestselling author, and speaker. She has inspired thousands of people to clear clutter from their homes and lives, and developed a process and toolkit that applies to anyone, regardless of budget, space, or lifestyle.

Shira is the author of Minimalista and Organized Living, and has been featured in 100+ print and media outlets including Vogue, Dwell, Better Homes & Gardens, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Domino, Forbes, Goop, Harper's Bazaar, HGTV, Today, InStyle, Parents, Real Simple, and The New York Times.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

a bit of a letdown from Gill's first book, Minimalista, which I absolutely adored. i wish this book is written in a similar format where we get practical tips on home organization with cool examples from real people's homes

instead we get introduced to a bunch of home organizers and half of the time is spent delving into their life stories, which I am not interested in. i dont want to read about how someone's childhood affected their organizational philosophy, or how someone embraced the unconventional career choice of being a professional organizer and became successful. i just want to learn useful tips on organizing my own home backed with picture examples

i'm also disappointed at the photos included. they left me clueless about what these people's homes actually look like because everything's so sectioned off. there was way too much text explaining on how things are organized without the visual proof to back it up ("A painted an arch in her kitchen to create visual zoning", okay, but show me what the arch looks like?). I've read so many words that they all started to blend into one big blur by the end.

[David]

It would be easy to give this book five stars simply because Shira is married to my son, but that does nothing for you if you're deciding whether or not to purchase it (and her first book, too!). I've watched Shira grow her philosophy and business for years and, much to my surprise, have even taken her organizing ideas and made them work for me. So I can personally vouch for her as an excellent advisor/teacher, terrific writer, and ... wonderful daughter-in-law. You are invited and encouraged to benefit from the advisor/teacher and writer elements, but the treat of having her as my DIL is all mine!

[Leona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t expect that this book would feature bios about organizers and their tips - which became repetitive, and not always practical. I didn’t find anything helpful, no real solutions or inspiration.

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Minimalista, but this was disappointing and boring. It’s just house tours of professional organizers, and they all look the same and all have exactly the same advice. Nothing new gleaned.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another collection of white living spaces.

[k8 conroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

i wish there were more photos, but the stories were interesting and it was overall inspiring. i liked how there was a lot of diversity in home type and specifically a lot of small spaces with advice on how to downsize and also why downsizing and buying less are very positive things.

[Stephanie Coffin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoyed her other book Minimalista but this one is just stories about professional organizers and their color coded homes. Not helpful or inspiring for me.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book-like a breath of fresh air. Unlike other organizing books, Shira interviews the best in the field and shows off their personal spaces. Fascinating what lead each designer into this field and loved the Q&A at the end of each chapter like-what’s your favorite gift to give? What does your nighttime ritual look like, favorite organizing tool… read and be refreshed even if you don’t go crazy organizing your own home.

[Shannon Evanko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful. Great coffee table book (if you have those 😆). As a collection of info from lots of organizers, it was interesting, but not what I expected. I did take away some tips!

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

feels like a brag book

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a few weeks to get through this one. Wish I had a physical copy as the photos aren’t as clear on my Kindle. You can tell a lot of work went into this book. It’d be a better one to own and page through little at a time. Reading it as I did the stories started to blend together. Got a little dull and repetitive but I can appreciate the effort. I haven’t organised in a while so it did get me off my bum to clear out a few spaces. Can’t say I applied any new tips though.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not as much of a how-to book as I expected, focusing instead on interviews with professional organizers. It's lovely and full of inspiring pictures, and there are some tips and takeaways that be useful to folks, but I think the title is a bit misleading.

[Patricia Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many biographies of organizers and their homes. It seemed many of the most interesting items or solutions were only described leaving me wishing there had been photo. Kudos for the number of people and places contained in the book, but it seemed quite redundant. More of a coffee table book than instruction manual. Seeing so many rooms painted white with white or neutral furnishings quickly became monotonous.

[Marianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything is too perfect.

[Kathryn Diak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t waste your time or money

[Deb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Been there done that.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the author's first book, but this is just a collection of professional organizers' life stories, interviews with them, and photographs of narrow, highly focused bits and pieces of their houses. The organizing information conveyed here is all pretty basic, and you have to make it through tons of strangers' introspection to get there. Also, the interview questions are the same all the way through, so a lot of the answers get really repetitive.

I skimmed this from the library, and can't imagine paying the purchase price of around $30 for this kind of content. Some people may enjoy the look into diverse professional organizers' work and thoughts about the organization process, especially if they want to get a sense of how different philosophies and approaches work, but people who are looking for straightforward, in-depth advice about organizing their homes will be much better off reading the author's previous book, Minimalista: Your Step-by-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life, or something else entirely.

[Kat Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a book that takes you all over the world and gives you an intimate peek into the homes of super organized and design savvy people.

And not only are you welcomed into each home but you also learn concrete tips and tricks that you can implement in your own home!

Whether you rent or own, are settled or on the move, have kids or live alone, this book is for you.

Gorgeous enough to be a coffee table book but packed with information and actionable ideas that make it a tremendous resource and inspiration.

Best-selling author Shira Gill and talented lifestyle photographer Vivian Johnson traveled the globe to interview home organizers and capture their personal lives and authentic stories.

The result? A book that is visually compelling and also useful and practical for real people in real homes.

[Anna Fiddler · Rating 5 out of 5]

So yeah. I think this book just changed my life. Shira Gill, like no other author I've ever encountered, shows us how organizing and setting strong and achievable habits can truly transform your life. It's not just about getting the Tupperware sorted! It's about how it makes you feel and how it creates space for other more important things in your life — talking to your kids over a family meal or catching up with your partner or friend after a long day. In this new book, Gill takes us through the homes of other folks who share this philosophy. And wow, is it inspiring! I finished this book and felt like I had a whole team of friends rallying behind me — telling me that no matter what, I have the power to change and create systems that work. Go, Shira Gill! And thank you for continuing to impart all of your wonderful wisdom.

[Genevieve Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Organized Living' is an excellent read cover-to-cover, but is also great as a "choose your own adventure" playbook. The twenty-five organizers featured in the book are wonderfully diverse, so most anyone interested in improving their home life through thoughtful editing and implementation of better systems will surely find their "kindred home organization spirits" among the bright bunch Shira featured. Even more helpful than the practical tips packed on every page is the idea that none of the work the organizers engage in is simply for show. Rather, making changes to our consumption habits and household organization translates to better family relationships and more time and resources for enjoying what we truly value. I treasure my copy of 'Organized Living' which will also be my go-to gift for the foreseeable future!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up Organised Living at just the right time, and found it such a practical and interesting read.

I really enjoyed the case stories and tips from such a wide variety of people with different values and living situations. It made it easy to pick out the tips that really resonated personally. I particularly enjoyed the cheat sheets, which brought together Lot of the advice into neat little summaries, making things seem a lot more manageable. The photographs are beautiful, offering plenty of inspiration.

The book focuses on organisation for efficiency, stress management, aesthetics, sustainability and many other important areas - I liked that it had a less consumerist feel. I’d highly recommend for anyone looking to reduce chaos in their space in the new year!

Thank you Octopus Publishing for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Susan Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Organized Living, just like Shira Gill's last book, the best seller, Minimalista, it is practical, personal, easy to read, and useful. Shira's desire to organize reflects her thoughtfulness as concerned citizen who rightfully relates minimalism to ecology. I liked that Shira seems to be a strong woman respecting the many roles of women and their creativity in creating beautiful and ordered homes. Her prose style is breezy, funny, authentic, and a pleasure to read. The book is an aesthetic gem, with gorgeous photography and an appealing layout. I found it so easy to use as I could read the section on one organizer and browse through as I chose, and the lists and hints that Shira provides are clear, short, and very easy to apply. This is a must read.

[Jen Marples · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book jacket says: "If you’re seeking less clutter, overwhelm, and stress in your life, and are looking to create more time and energy for the things that matter most, Organized Living is your chance to learn directly from the best in the business." I couldn't say it better myself! I love this gorgeous and inspirational coffee table book - it's filled with so many great tips, ideas, solutions (to never-ending problems!) that we can implement right away. Most of us are so busy that we don't think having an organized home can actually help SAVE time, help us be more productive, and enjoy life more! I'm obsessed with doing any and all that make my life better - so kudos, Shira, for bringing this very needed and important book to life!

[Ainee Beland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each page of Organized Living offers a fresh perspective on calming the clutter that is around you in your home. There are inspirations to be found on each page, providing clear and concise tips on how to improve the space that you surround yourself in.

This book offers glimpses into the homes of organizers from around the globe; Organized Living should be a source guide with real ways to have an exceptionally well-organized home.

What I took away from perusing Organized Living are the tips offered; such examples are 5 Reasons to Get Organized.
I particularly enjoyed viewing the homes of some of the professionals and coaching organizers; seeing how they live makes it more real and good. Thank you.

[Megan Healy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVED Gill’s book “Minimalista”, so I was surprised when I didn’t respond the same way to this one. She basically introduces you to 25 professional organizers, and gives you a bio and home tour of their places. It just wasn’t actually that inspiring, and they all kind of repeated each other, and while I cared about the advice they might share, I didn’t so much care about their individual life stories. Am I alone - does anyone want to hear 25 mini life stories? It seemed here-nor-there. And maybe I’m spoiled by the visual pizazz of “The Home Edit”, but these inspiration photos were a snore. 2 of the 25 offered some kind of point-of-view, so I followed them on Instagram, and I was motivated to clean my desk drawer, and that is about the extent of my takeaway.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be your new favorite book you never knew you needed! First of all, it's gorgeous. But it's a coffee table book you'll actually want to read and flip through repeatedly. I loved taking a peek inside so many different styles of homes and closets. And I loved seeing that you can be organized without being a minimalist. This book is full of amazing inspiration for design, organizing, small space living, WALLPAPER, sustainability and also being a kickass entrepreneur. Loved the "Cheat Sheet" tips and the Q&As. So much to love. This is going to be one of those books I pick up again and again.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Shira, I knew this book would be excellent and I was not disappointed. She goes on a journey across the globe to bring readers inside the homes and minds of organizers and breaks down how to achieve similar results in your own home. I tore through this book in one week and often found myself stopping mid-read to implement something I’d read in my own home. Shira shows that there are many different styles of organization - not just the beige minimalism that deters so many would be organized people! I highly recommend - would also make a great gift for the upcoming holidays.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 I really enjoyed this. It’s a very calming, relaxing read that’s merely meant to serve as inspiration with little nuggets of helpful tips and actionable items. Meeting the diverse group of organizers was interesting- I liked seeing all their different styles. I thought it was a good combination of photos, interview Q&A, personal and professional… the only thing I wasn’t all that interested in was a lot of the bios. I skimmed the vast majority of those to see their pictures and interviews, and if something stood out, I’d go back and check out more about that individual organizer. I liked the reading experience as a whole.

[Bethany Patchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a different kind of organizing book

I’ve read a lot of these books, and I really enjoyed how this one actually shows you photos of so many organizers’ homes around the world. I also enjoyed the common pattern of them being largely minimalist in most areas so that there is room for their particular treasures, whether that’s handbags or snack variety or jewelry. Not everybody values the same kind of collection and that was interesting and fun to note. (Not every woman is a shoe lover, turns out - but if you are, that’s cool too!) I also thought it was interesting that so many organizers like to wear tattered jeans with silver flats! They are a beautiful tribe.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so inspiring and insightful! It was really helpful to see the commonalities and differences in organizers all over the world. The book contains insights from small, apartment dwelling minimalists to home living maximalists. I found ideas to implement in each chapter and find myself rereading sections already. The photos really augment the book so I could see exactly how certain techniques were accomplished. I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for organizing ideas!