What do you think?
Rate this book
Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure
From not enough space and too many things to not knowing what color to paint the living room walls, many of us struggle with our homes. Now Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, frequent makeover expert on HGTV’s Organization and Small Spaces, Big Style, shares the do-it-yourself strategies that have enabled his clients and fans to transform their apartments into well-organized, beautiful places that suit their style and budget.
Week by week, Apartment Therapy will guide you to treat common problems, eliminate clutter, and revamp even the tiniest space. Here is an eight-step process that
• A therapeutic questionnaire to help you get in touch with your personal taste and diagnose your home’s physical, emotional, and energy flow issues
• A prescription with recommendations for each room based on your needs and lifestyle–including tips on how to use color, lighting, and accessories
• A treatment plan, including regular maintenance schedules to ensure the ongoing health of your space
• Illustrations of floor plans and decorative examples that allow you to visualize concepts before you begin
With surprising ease and without elaborate professional help, Apartment Therapy will help you clear a path through disorder and indecision–to reveal a home you’ll love.
Week by week, Apartment Therapy will guide you to treat common problems, eliminate clutter, and revamp even the tiniest space. Here is an eight-step process that
• A therapeutic questionnaire to help you get in touch with your personal taste and diagnose your home’s physical, emotional, and energy flow issues
• A prescription with recommendations for each room based on your needs and lifestyle–including tips on how to use color, lighting, and accessories
• A treatment plan, including regular maintenance schedules to ensure the ongoing health of your space
• Illustrations of floor plans and decorative examples that allow you to visualize concepts before you begin
With surprising ease and without elaborate professional help, Apartment Therapy will help you clear a path through disorder and indecision–to reveal a home you’ll love.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2006
178 people are currently reading
1927 people want to read
About the author
Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan
4 books10 followersMaxwell is the founder of Apartment Therapy, initially started as an interior design business. Ryan expanded the business to a website with the help of his brother in 2004 and has since added a home cooking website, The Kitchn, as well.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
June 3, 2009
It is not often that I read a book more than once - in fact, pretty much never. There are too many books in the world to do that! This book is an exception. It also catapulted me into action one Sunday. I rearranged our living room and reconfigured our guest room. Watch out, this book is dangerous!
The author is a consultant who calls himself an Apartment Therapist. He goes into peoples' homes and helps them create a home they are happy with. He has a very holistic way of looking at the home which appealed to me. The book is an eight week program in which each week you have Deep Treatment tasks and One Room Remedy tasks. In the Deep Treatment you work on the bones, breath, heart and head of your home. (Physical structure, arrangement, emotional life, and purpose of the home.) The One Room Remedy has you focus on a specific room.
Some of my favorite suggestions of his: buy fresh flowers for your home each week, have a media fast once a week at home, do all of the dishes before you go to bed, cook dinner 4 times a week, take a bath on Sunday night and go to bed early, leave your shoes at the door.
I am still working on the steps and even cleaned out the bathroom closet yesterday morning. He is all about simplicity, beauty and creating your home into a retreat from the world - can't go wrong with that!
The author is a consultant who calls himself an Apartment Therapist. He goes into peoples' homes and helps them create a home they are happy with. He has a very holistic way of looking at the home which appealed to me. The book is an eight week program in which each week you have Deep Treatment tasks and One Room Remedy tasks. In the Deep Treatment you work on the bones, breath, heart and head of your home. (Physical structure, arrangement, emotional life, and purpose of the home.) The One Room Remedy has you focus on a specific room.
Some of my favorite suggestions of his: buy fresh flowers for your home each week, have a media fast once a week at home, do all of the dishes before you go to bed, cook dinner 4 times a week, take a bath on Sunday night and go to bed early, leave your shoes at the door.
I am still working on the steps and even cleaned out the bathroom closet yesterday morning. He is all about simplicity, beauty and creating your home into a retreat from the world - can't go wrong with that!
August 25, 2020
Probably it's good that I took so long to read this. Usually I zip through something like this and get fired up with enthusiasm that fades away fast. Maybe I will implement a little more over time when I have the book to refer to.
The overall philosophy is sound: make your home do what you want and need it to do. If you have less stuff and room to move around things, it is much easier to keep everything clean. If everything belongs somewhere it's easier to put things away. If you can get to your windows it is easier to open them and clean them. And I do really like his insistence that your house feel good to you and to company: usually the emphasis is on how it looks rather than how it makes you feel. As an allergy sufferer, I like that focus. Plus his idea of capping off your accomplishments with a party provides the sort of specific reward that some of us need to trick our brains.
I don't read it as any kind of bible: no one who has children and a house is going to keep to his cleaning schedule, whereas perhaps childless people in tiny apartments maybe can. But even if I can't and wouldn't dream of attempting it, I can maybe increase the timelines while maintaining the relative frequency of tasks. I have never cleaned a window in my life, nor have I ever lived with anyone who did. There's no way I'm going to start doing it once a month. But I might manage it once. And then, having managed it once, I might be able to do it again.
Keeping to the schedules or timelines or details about cleaning products however is never the point for me. It's not even a goal. But if I manage to acquire a few more good habits AND give myself a concrete reward to work towards, that will be something.
Gillingham-Ryan says you should only read one book at a time, and not keep more than one on your bedside table, and get rid of them after you read them. Despite being so obviously wrong on that, otherwise he's quite good. And the group on the website working through the Home cure or a Spring clean or whatever are supportive and helping to reinforce the positive habits with positive reinforcement. And that's all to the good.
Personal copy
The overall philosophy is sound: make your home do what you want and need it to do. If you have less stuff and room to move around things, it is much easier to keep everything clean. If everything belongs somewhere it's easier to put things away. If you can get to your windows it is easier to open them and clean them. And I do really like his insistence that your house feel good to you and to company: usually the emphasis is on how it looks rather than how it makes you feel. As an allergy sufferer, I like that focus. Plus his idea of capping off your accomplishments with a party provides the sort of specific reward that some of us need to trick our brains.
I don't read it as any kind of bible: no one who has children and a house is going to keep to his cleaning schedule, whereas perhaps childless people in tiny apartments maybe can. But even if I can't and wouldn't dream of attempting it, I can maybe increase the timelines while maintaining the relative frequency of tasks. I have never cleaned a window in my life, nor have I ever lived with anyone who did. There's no way I'm going to start doing it once a month. But I might manage it once. And then, having managed it once, I might be able to do it again.
Keeping to the schedules or timelines or details about cleaning products however is never the point for me. It's not even a goal. But if I manage to acquire a few more good habits AND give myself a concrete reward to work towards, that will be something.
Gillingham-Ryan says you should only read one book at a time, and not keep more than one on your bedside table, and get rid of them after you read them. Despite being so obviously wrong on that, otherwise he's quite good. And the group on the website working through the Home cure or a Spring clean or whatever are supportive and helping to reinforce the positive habits with positive reinforcement. And that's all to the good.
Personal copy
October 15, 2020
This is the first "how to make your garbage pit house not a garbage pit" book I've read where I thought following the author's weird plan might be both possible and helpful. I haven't tried it yet, will update this review if I can get my partner on board to do it with me.
UPDATE: I am revising my rating upwards, this book is both fun and helpful. I got my partner to do most of the goofy exercises with me, they were fun. The 8-week whole house plan is A Lot to try to fit in around work and other commitments, especially if your partner is only 50% enthusiastic; I marked off 12 weeks on the calendar and we didn't finish. But we did attend to some neglected details (framing art, fixing things), figure out some basic color schemes, and we generally have a much better idea of what we are doing with the house than we did before we tried the weird plan. Someday I will get around to actually sewing those curtains.
I also went back and followed the one-room plan to redo my home office. The plan is not revolutionary but having it all laid out in an organized list kept me from getting lost in project planning analysis paralysis.
Overall an extremely solid guide for anyone ready to graduate from their collection of "curbside special" furniture. I expect to alternate between this book and Marie Kondo's a couple more times before finally getting things set up the way I want them.
UPDATE: I am revising my rating upwards, this book is both fun and helpful. I got my partner to do most of the goofy exercises with me, they were fun. The 8-week whole house plan is A Lot to try to fit in around work and other commitments, especially if your partner is only 50% enthusiastic; I marked off 12 weeks on the calendar and we didn't finish. But we did attend to some neglected details (framing art, fixing things), figure out some basic color schemes, and we generally have a much better idea of what we are doing with the house than we did before we tried the weird plan. Someday I will get around to actually sewing those curtains.
I also went back and followed the one-room plan to redo my home office. The plan is not revolutionary but having it all laid out in an organized list kept me from getting lost in project planning analysis paralysis.
Overall an extremely solid guide for anyone ready to graduate from their collection of "curbside special" furniture. I expect to alternate between this book and Marie Kondo's a couple more times before finally getting things set up the way I want them.
September 23, 2009
I learned a lot of things from this book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. I never really think about how I'm affected by my living space. Small touches go a long way. More than anything else I learned that getting rid of stuff you don't need is essential. Although I doubt I'll place candles around the house or buy fresh flowers every week, the advice about color, artwork, and furniture placement will be useful once I settle down a bit.
Interesting tips:
Always leave the shower curtain pulled across, so it can dry and not mildew.
Always include a thank-you note with your rent.
Always go out of your way to say good morning to your neighbors.
Hang your coat up right away when you come home.
Sort your mail right away when you come home.
Keep all coats, bags, and shoes by the front door.
Return all your calls before dinner.
Always eat on a real plate with a real napkin.
Only have one book at your bedside at a time. (Ha. That'll never happen.)
Give four parties a year. (only?)
Interesting tips:
Always leave the shower curtain pulled across, so it can dry and not mildew.
Always include a thank-you note with your rent.
Always go out of your way to say good morning to your neighbors.
Hang your coat up right away when you come home.
Sort your mail right away when you come home.
Keep all coats, bags, and shoes by the front door.
Return all your calls before dinner.
Always eat on a real plate with a real napkin.
Only have one book at your bedside at a time. (Ha. That'll never happen.)
Give four parties a year. (only?)
August 18, 2014
some good, actionable advice marred by psychobabble that made me alternately giggle and roll my eyes a little bit.
*** The Quiz (you can substitute house for apartment, if need be) . . . ***
Favorites
List your favorite in each category:
actress
actor
artist
writer
music
restaurant
automobile
television show
clothing (designer or store)
How would you describe your style (3 words)?
Personal History
Where have you lived?
Where you were born:
Where you grew up:
As an adult:
Whom would you consider a role model?
What three adjectives describe the qualities that you admire in this person?
Apartment
What is the problem with your apartment (3 words)?
If your apartment could speak, what would it say is the problem?
What one thing would you like to do or do more of in your apartment?
Eight weeks from now, when this project is done, if friends came to visit, how would you like them to describe your home (3 words)?
Key: Answering quickly = quick decision maker (need directing)
Answering slowly = extremely careful decision maker (need pushing)
Leaving blanks = weak sense of personal style (need to imitate)
Too many answers = want to fit a lot in, may have trouble with clutter (need editing)
Answers are very eclectic = style may not be focused or you may be conflicted about how you want to be perceived (need to be clarified)
Difficulty naming an artist or clothing = more analytical and less visually oriented (need to look at a lot of pictures to improve visual knowledge)
Analyzing the Whole of Your Home (answer yes or no)
Head (the purpose of your home)
Does your home support everything you want to do?
Do you use your home often?
Is there a room for everything you want to do at home?
Is there a good space for what is most important to you?
Heart (the emotional life of your home -- the elements that give it passion)
Do you consider your home beautiful?
Do you feel you have a sense of style?
Does y our clothing express your sense of style?
Does your home express your style?
Breath (the arrangement of your home -- the flow through each room and how you make space for each of the activities that you want to take place within them)
Do you consider your home comfortable?
Do you sleep well at night?
Is your apartment organized?
Is it easy to clean and declutter?
Bones (the physical structure of your home)
Do you consider your home to be in good shape?
Is everything in good working order?
Do you take care of repairs quickly?
Do you clean your home often?
FINAL SCORE (Number of yeses):
Key (number of times you answered yes):
12–14: Excellent health. Invigorating. Occasional updating and ongoing maintenance are all that is needed.
9–11: Health. Comfortable. Could use improvement in at least one area and toning all around.
4–8: Weak. Energy drain. Visible problems in need of work have probably been put off for a long time.
0–3: Very ill. Depressing. Serious problems that are harmful to your health.
from Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure (New York: Bantam, 2006).
*** The Quiz (you can substitute house for apartment, if need be) . . . ***
Favorites
List your favorite in each category:
actress
actor
artist
writer
music
restaurant
automobile
television show
clothing (designer or store)
How would you describe your style (3 words)?
Personal History
Where have you lived?
Where you were born:
Where you grew up:
As an adult:
Whom would you consider a role model?
What three adjectives describe the qualities that you admire in this person?
Apartment
What is the problem with your apartment (3 words)?
If your apartment could speak, what would it say is the problem?
What one thing would you like to do or do more of in your apartment?
Eight weeks from now, when this project is done, if friends came to visit, how would you like them to describe your home (3 words)?
Key: Answering quickly = quick decision maker (need directing)
Answering slowly = extremely careful decision maker (need pushing)
Leaving blanks = weak sense of personal style (need to imitate)
Too many answers = want to fit a lot in, may have trouble with clutter (need editing)
Answers are very eclectic = style may not be focused or you may be conflicted about how you want to be perceived (need to be clarified)
Difficulty naming an artist or clothing = more analytical and less visually oriented (need to look at a lot of pictures to improve visual knowledge)
Analyzing the Whole of Your Home (answer yes or no)
Head (the purpose of your home)
Does your home support everything you want to do?
Do you use your home often?
Is there a room for everything you want to do at home?
Is there a good space for what is most important to you?
Heart (the emotional life of your home -- the elements that give it passion)
Do you consider your home beautiful?
Do you feel you have a sense of style?
Does y our clothing express your sense of style?
Does your home express your style?
Breath (the arrangement of your home -- the flow through each room and how you make space for each of the activities that you want to take place within them)
Do you consider your home comfortable?
Do you sleep well at night?
Is your apartment organized?
Is it easy to clean and declutter?
Bones (the physical structure of your home)
Do you consider your home to be in good shape?
Is everything in good working order?
Do you take care of repairs quickly?
Do you clean your home often?
FINAL SCORE (Number of yeses):
Key (number of times you answered yes):
12–14: Excellent health. Invigorating. Occasional updating and ongoing maintenance are all that is needed.
9–11: Health. Comfortable. Could use improvement in at least one area and toning all around.
4–8: Weak. Energy drain. Visible problems in need of work have probably been put off for a long time.
0–3: Very ill. Depressing. Serious problems that are harmful to your health.
from Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure (New York: Bantam, 2006).
September 21, 2020
Get ready for a weird spate of interior design books..... I'm a homeowner now.
never-finished
April 21, 2008I'm not going to rate this book with stars because I feel it would be unfair. I've been a big fan of apartmenttherapy.com, and purchased this book as soon as it was released, which also happened to be right around the time that I purchased the townhouse we'd been living in for years, so I was really excited about bringing it to its full potential. Well, I forget about the book for a couple (few?) years, and just recently remembered it when it came up in discussion again. Since that time, I've put a lot of work decorating, simplifying and making my home the way I like it.
I got about halfway through the book last night, and realized that I'd already done some approximation of all the things it suggests- and that I'm really happy with my space, so what's the point?
But the thing I got out of it was this: Even if I were just beginning the process, I personally, wouldn't have needed this book. It's probably a huge boon to anyone who isn't secure about their decorating choices, or who is generally unhappy with their space and doesn't know why. But if you're already a visually-oriented person who knows what you like, it's a little useless.
I got about halfway through the book last night, and realized that I'd already done some approximation of all the things it suggests- and that I'm really happy with my space, so what's the point?
But the thing I got out of it was this: Even if I were just beginning the process, I personally, wouldn't have needed this book. It's probably a huge boon to anyone who isn't secure about their decorating choices, or who is generally unhappy with their space and doesn't know why. But if you're already a visually-oriented person who knows what you like, it's a little useless.
March 3, 2018
I really enjoyed the first part of this book, and I quite like the overall approach it presents -- the detail of the eight week program was a little too shopping and list-making focused for me.
It remotivated me to start my spring cleaning ritual early, though. :)
And I did appreciate that this was a book about designing / organizing / living in small spaces. First time I read a book about organizing/designing that was written by someone who lived in a smaller space than I do!
It remotivated me to start my spring cleaning ritual early, though. :)
And I did appreciate that this was a book about designing / organizing / living in small spaces. First time I read a book about organizing/designing that was written by someone who lived in a smaller space than I do!
February 9, 2009
An interesting take on home design and organization. I enjoy the apartmenttherapy website, and so had to take a look at this book. Gillingham-Ryan definitely wants you pare back what you have, and to plunk down quite a bit of cash on what you choose have. While I like the idea of choosing once and choosing good quality when it comes to larger items, his cost suggestions (for sofas, lamps, etc) seem high to me. But then, I'm really not in the position to buy or renovate.
On the other hand, my favorite part of this book is that there are no photographs, just a few room layout diagrams to explain a principle or two. I find that this allows me to work with what I already own without getting caught up in wanting another person's room or house, and to decide what to change based on what works for me.
On the other hand, my favorite part of this book is that there are no photographs, just a few room layout diagrams to explain a principle or two. I find that this allows me to work with what I already own without getting caught up in wanting another person's room or house, and to decide what to change based on what works for me.
November 2, 2018
This is a good manual for people who don't feel confident in their ability to decorate. A lot of it is common sense, but not the kind of common sense a person often thinks about (if you're not an artist or a designer), so it feels like new information. The biggest takeaway for me was the discussion of flow in a room and how it affects our perception/enjoyment of the space. Another nice thing about this book is that the lessons can apply to most any type of space, from tiny NY apartments to suburban McMansions.
May 21, 2008
I found this book really useful, and will definitely be using it again when I move to a larger apartment. It made me think a lot about living spaces, and the creation of home. It has also inspired me to pay more attention to cleaning my kitchen!!
May 28, 2008
common sense in print for the people that don't have it
November 21, 2008
if you are twenty-something and interested in "nesting" in your apartment, this book is the guide. a great read and a great reference.
December 31, 2014
Some good tips, but whoa, the unintentional classism and the overwhelming scent of woo.
October 6, 2024
The title is so misleading. I thought it was for apartment dwellers and those who rent, not people who own houses.
This was published in 2006, so it was before the crash of the economy in 2008.
At the end of chapter five, on "Tips for setting your budget," the author states, "Make a large investment every seven years (the amount you'd spend on a car." SERIOUSLY? WTF? If I had that kind of money, I would not be living in an apartment, nor would I need a book this silly.
This book reads like a primer for a recent college graduate on decorating an apartment - if you have money. Then again, have you seen today's college students with their Pinterest-looking dorms and apartments?
By the way, don't make your bed as soon as you get out of it as the author states. That doesn't allow for your bedding to breath. Ick. Ick. Ick.
While there's some good information in here if you've never had your own home or apartment, there's a lot of fluff. A lot.
And why is there a roast chicken recipe in the book?
I wanted to like this book, but it's silly. Maybe it was groundbreaking in 2006. That was before social media exploded.
This was published in 2006, so it was before the crash of the economy in 2008.
At the end of chapter five, on "Tips for setting your budget," the author states, "Make a large investment every seven years (the amount you'd spend on a car." SERIOUSLY? WTF? If I had that kind of money, I would not be living in an apartment, nor would I need a book this silly.
This book reads like a primer for a recent college graduate on decorating an apartment - if you have money. Then again, have you seen today's college students with their Pinterest-looking dorms and apartments?
By the way, don't make your bed as soon as you get out of it as the author states. That doesn't allow for your bedding to breath. Ick. Ick. Ick.
While there's some good information in here if you've never had your own home or apartment, there's a lot of fluff. A lot.
And why is there a roast chicken recipe in the book?
I wanted to like this book, but it's silly. Maybe it was groundbreaking in 2006. That was before social media exploded.
May 8, 2024
This is a fun book that will drive you bonkers if you let it! lol. Seriously though, it's a challenge to not provide spoilers because I have a LOT of thoughts about the possibilities of feng-shuing my entire space following the instructions. I have done a lot of shifting, not least of all in my mindset about interior design. The flow in my space has vastly improved, and I know that I will be re-reading this instructive volume repeatedly!
If you're new to the concept of feng shui, this is a PERFECT place to start. And even if you're no novice, this book offers many solutions that help improve everyone's dwelling.
If you're new to the concept of feng shui, this is a PERFECT place to start. And even if you're no novice, this book offers many solutions that help improve everyone's dwelling.
October 9, 2018
This book was short and an easy read but not what I was personally looking for to help with my apartment. This felt designed for people who live in NYC and are prepared to spend a decent amount of money renovating their apartments that they either own or plan to rent and stay in for years to come. It did lead me to the apartment therapy blog which I think may be more useful to me.
February 8, 2018
A super helpful guide to auditing your living space through close examination/cleaning over a number of weeks. I made a number of changes based on it, and can definitely see going through it again and focusing on a different room/issue. Recommended!
August 23, 2018
Quick easy read. Some good advise but mostly you can skim and it’s all common sense...I would hope! Possibly not, or there wouldn’t be a book on the subject. I actually read every word until about 1/2 way through.
April 18, 2019
The only reason I wouldn't give this 5 stars is that it assumes you have quite a large budget and/or can afford to do this all within an 8 week period. The tips in general are fantastic though! It has me thinking about my living space in a completely different way.
January 3, 2020
8 weeks to loving your home
Great advice and cures over an 8 week time period to love your home. Also maintenance charts, planning charts and action lists. Since it’s January I’m doing this 8 week challenge to improve the flow and energy of my condo and to also de clutter.
Great advice and cures over an 8 week time period to love your home. Also maintenance charts, planning charts and action lists. Since it’s January I’m doing this 8 week challenge to improve the flow and energy of my condo and to also de clutter.
January 28, 2021
I reference and reread this book often. Helps you deal with flow in your entire house, but isn’t prescriptive as far as a style. I like the activities you can do in the book and open-ended questions.
September 7, 2021
This seems like a really nice 8-step program, but I'm already doing The Artist's Way and The Curated Closet is on deck. Also I'm scared of change, and the author keeps referring to answering machine tapes.
July 29, 2018
Therapy is what I need
To declutter my small home and bring purpose and function to a guest bedroom, office and living room. Cannot wait to get started.
To declutter my small home and bring purpose and function to a guest bedroom, office and living room. Cannot wait to get started.
December 29, 2019
Taking charge of your living space and the energy that flows within. A fun way to become aware and proactively manage your home and making a healthy LIVING space that flows.
March 31, 2020
Not worth the buy
Started off with some decent tips but then there was just so much filler and repetition. Would’ve been better off reading a few articles online
Started off with some decent tips but then there was just so much filler and repetition. Would’ve been better off reading a few articles online
December 8, 2020
Great, informative and helpful for someone whom seems to be a warm person with many things and collections. May the purging and 8 step process begin. (Sans housewarming because COVID)
February 6, 2021
I have read this about seven times—I think about the concepts often. Lovely ideas for how to really live in any home (apartment or house).
October 3, 2021
Maybe a little out of date but still very useful.
January 7, 2022
Loved all of the tips and worksheets. Very thoughtful and throughout ,all tips were applicable and easy to accomplish.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews