Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying

by Melissa Michaels

Your home is where life happens--the joyful moments and the messes! Melissa Michaels, New York Times bestselling author of Love the Home You Have and the popular blog The Inspired Room, knows how it feels to become overwhelmed by stuff and tasks. With humor, empathy, and a year's worth of simple solutions, Melissa will show you how to forget rigid rules andidentify personal and home goals each monthclear out clutter to welcome in what best serves your familyorganize everything from your dishes to your kids with easepersonalize routines and new habits to simplify your lifeboost motivation with a "clean enough" plan

Along the way, you'll make room for more contentment and laughter as you stop striving for a perfect home and start shaping a home that is perfect for you.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Productivity

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Melissa Michaels is the author of The Inspired Room (theinspiredroom.net), one of the top decorating blogs on the web for the past eight years. The Inspired Room reaches over 600,000 readers each month and was voted Better Homes and Gardens Readers' Favorite Decorating blog in 2014.

Melissa (along with her home and The Inspired Room) has been featured in top publications and magazines online and in print. Through The Inspired Room blog and her upcoming books (Love the Home You Have, March 2015, The Inspired Room, October 2015), Melissa offers a refreshing perspective on finding contentment in creating an authentically beautiful home, right where you are.

She lives with her husband and family near Seattle, Washington.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alas, no genie or elf popped from this book to simplify and organize my home.

Hasn't everything about home organization already been said? Melissa Michaels puts her own spin on the basic concepts with her humor. She admits that she's not perfect and that organizing is an endless process.

I felt a kinship with Michaels when she poked fun of Marie Kondo's philosophy: "... [Y]ou can't help but feel puzzled about how organized people have the time ... to carefully fold their socks to honor them for their service....

"I don't think you have to feel that you've somehow failed as a homemaker if you have ever secretly picked up a pair of your kids' socks (or your own, let's be honest) off the floor and given them a sniff to see if they could possibly be worn one more time. ... I think many of us feel pretty great about ourselves when we make time to care about people's feelings every day and let the socks fend for themselves. "

[LM Huffman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much new or revelatory here; the author assumes all readers are female with spouses (on numerous occasions I felt like this book was caught in a time warp from the 1950s, when she all but suggested our homes be sanctuaries for our hard working husbands to return to after a long day at work), and everything needs to be 'pretty.' Get a pretty pen! Write in a pretty journal! For someone who throws some major shade at Marie Kondo (which was pretty funny), she also blatantly swipes some of her ideas, such as putting all things of a kind together (e.g. clothes) and holding each thing in one's hands before making a decision. A disappointment.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michaels writes like a friend walking you through the basic steps of decluttering. Clutter is not a huge issue for me, but I appreciate any book that helps me to take an honest look at why I accumulate certain things and how to curb time-wasting and space-filling acquisitions.

In a nutshell: A cluttered home is no longer a sanctuary. It's a storage room where we have become caretakers of stuff. But when we have less and use it more deliberately, we have more joy. WE own our belongings rather than the other way around.

[Kerry Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful, insightful and encouraging. As I am entering the empty nest phase of life, it’s sometimes overwhelming to deal with the clutter life has left behind. In “Make Room For What You Love”, Melissa Michaels has gently nudged and provided a multitude of ways to deal with this clutter and encourage us to take the time to do what we love and let that be reflected in our homes. She recognizes that the process will be different for everyone and has succeeded in providing an approach that will help everyone tackle their clutter in their own fashion. I am looking forward to putting her suggestions to work on the clutter in my life – both in my home and my schedule.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy and didn’t stress me out. I like the lists at the end to go through and declutter. I just enjoyed her take on not being a minimalist but not owning a ton of crap. It was a good book for me to read. I may randomly check it out to go through the cleaning lists in the back.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've gotten to a little kick of decluttering and home organization and came across this book at my library. Good advice for taking the place you live now and making it the best home you can have today, to quit dreaming about how you can make a home in the future.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Isn’t that what we really want? A life surrounded by what we love and what inspires us?"

Perhaps it's that I'm naturally an organized person who already conducts an annual purge of unnecessary items, but this book wasn't revolutionary for me. I was really hoping for a bit more ideas for changing mindset toward simplicity.

I did enjoy, mostly, Michaels's conversational writing style, but I felt like the book started off really strong, only to wane in both engagement and practicality in the middle section. However, I did pick up a couple of small gems that I hope to keep in mind when it comes to day-to-day clutter including a quick reminder: “Will putting this item here add to the order or disorder of this space?” Over time, I may glance back through this for lists of questions to ponder when approaching a certain space or goal, but most of it was information I was familiar with already.

I also appreciated that Michaels acknowledged some helpful aspects of Kondo's decluttering methods while reaffirming that you do not have to cull through everything: "If you find beauty in what you see, you have enough space to keep things so they are easy to organize and use, and you don’t feel you have become a slave to caring for your accessories, just enjoy them!"

I always struggled with culling through one of the Kondo categories--books--and found solace that Michaels unashamedly embraces maintaining a book collection. "We happen to be book lovers, so we have stacks of books everywhere and wouldn’t have it any other way. Perhaps my house would feel too cluttered for some, but books are meaningful to us, so they enhance our rooms. I’m not sure one can have too many books in a house, but, of course, how many of anything you have is always a matter of personal taste and honoring the space you have."

This idea of decluttering by "honoring the space we have first" instead of "evaluating the worthiness of each object to determine what we can keep" is perhaps the best line that hints at a new and different mind-set and is one I hope to repeat as I continue to manage possessions and create a home that reflects our interests and lives.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not really needing to declutter, I have been intrigued by the decluttering gurus of recent years and have read several articles and books on the subject. Melissa' MIchaels' book MAKE ROOM FOR WHAT YOU LOVE has been the latest. While much of the book's ideas are not new, I did like her overall take that organizing and simplifying allows you to live a fuller, richer life for yourself and others. One k. ey thought that I think everyone can benefit from is her call to be a finisher. Don't leave projects undone or almost finished and then start other projects. A project finished is functional or brings beauty. One left undone is useless or a constant annoyance. A bigger idea is to carefully look at your spaces as they were designed; what is unique about them, what makes them "work well," what makes them attractive? Has clutter or too much stuff make those spaces function less? Can you no longer move about with grace? Is the space no longer welcoming to others? I like those are great questions to ask often about our homes. Perhaps we will begin to refuse to buy unneeded stuff with those thoughts present. I also liked her idea to keep a list of everything/all occurrences that caused frustration within the home for a week or so. Are there patterns that repeat and show disorganization --- lost socks, misplaced permission slips or bills, lost keys, trouble finding items in the pantry? You get the drift. At the end of the book are some easy to follow room by room guides to cleaning and organizing. While we really should be able to figure out how to clean and declutter a bathroom, maybe her list will prompt you to give it a try, and to finally get rid of those almost empty lotion bottles and outdated vitamins!!

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book with the best of intentions, watching everyone in the launch-team Facebook group posting pictures, and sort of getting inspired. But then the pictures took over my newsfeed, and, well, I let life distract me accordingly. So here we are.

Be ready, if you pick up Make Room for What You Love, to go on an organizing binge! In the best way! The book has so many easy action items, anyone can do it -- and I loved the summaries at the end of each chapter to help implement concepts right away. The book also features a 30-day organizing challenge at the end, which will be very worthwhile, I'm sure.

I rate Make Room for What You Love as 4 stars out of 5 as it applies to me directly. As an organization book, I rate it a full 5 stars. But I struggled throughout because I'm a renter. I don't own my home, and 9 days out of 10, I'm very glad about that fact. (Especially when repairs and repair bills come in.) But that 1 day out of 10, I really wish I owned my home. And I felt that wish rear its head more often while I read this book.

Make Room for What You Love is chock full of fabulous ideas. Truly. I would recommend it for anyone. But I struggle to translate the recommended changes to the renter's lifestyle/mindset/limitations. We renters don't always have the luxury to throw on a new coat of paint or swap out the cabinet knobs. I try to freshen things up by rotating furniture or artfully tossing a blanket over the chair back (Pinterest makes it look easy), but when we can't change the skeleton ... the costume on top of it doesn't excite as much.

I received a free copy of the book as part of the launch team. All opinions are my own.

[Erin Hsu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Round up to 3.5 stars

When we moved to our new home in 2020, I was very intentional about what we kept and purchased for our home. Clutter isn't an issue for me so much. However, I did learn a few things about myself through reading this book. First, I am a habitual "unfinisher" and second, I don't have time for DIY.

The information was repetitive at times, but I took away some good nuggets. I love the "20 little attitudes of gratitude" which include reminders like "Pick up after yourself"; "Give hugs daily"; "Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you"; and "Encourage someone with a compliment".

Also, defining spaces in your home that are less open to interpretation. I'm a firm believer in having a "home" for every item in your space, but this takes it to the next level. Be specific on the definition AND give yourself space restriction. The example provided that prevents overstuffing your closets and hoarding is "I can stack four rows of sweaters, three high." that becomes your defined space on the shelf with a restriction.

Worth the read.

[sammi_reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely written for the stay at home mom. Book didn't get to any tips until 36% through and was very generic and repetitive. Fluffed to hide lack of substance.

While not a new concept I was grateful for the reminder of SMART goals. I also liked her list of things she liked to use, tall baskets, back of the door sorters etc. Nothing revolutionary but a great reminder and good list to reference if wanting an easy spruce.

The grace chapter was a repetitive chapter of things stated earlier in a much more annoying way that kinda makes you want to roll your eyes when the way it was said the first time wasn't as irritatingly perfection-striving and more realist.

Some of the room spruces were great though, I enjoyed those bits-these were lists for the bedroom and little touches around the house. The power cleaning lists were also useful but it felt like it was rushed in towards the end after all the waffle at the start of the book.

[Elisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell asleep a few times in the middle. The beginning is strong, the end is really strong (the green pages section are great). Honestly, she writes with way too many questions. Like every chapter has 2 or 3 back-to-back paragraphs filled entirely with rhetorical questions. Side note: She uses strong "Christianese" language. *I would like to call out how she blatantly (without mentioning the name) makes fun of Marie Kondo in the beginning of one of the chapters; that is not very nice or Christian of her.

[Toby Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and practical suggestions for decluttering. This was incredibly accessible, but also makes the reader think about what's really important in one's home, regardless of size. At times I wanted to rush out and get everything done, but I also want to savor the process. It's more than just DIY and neat labels. It moves beyond a Pinterest board and focuses on cultivating and savoring what's important. At times she skews towards a female audience, but I still found many practical suggestions. Bonus, it's a quick read.

[Sharla Fritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because I love getting organized. This book didn't have much new to offer me in terms of new ways to organize. But my big takeaway was that I need to think things through before I buy a new item or even want to try a new idea in my home or work. Too often I get excited about the new thing and try to add it to my life without thinking if it will actually fit in my life. From now on, I will make an effort to think about new things and assess if they will help my life or simply make it more complicated.

[Asta S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

More a lengthy magazine article than a book. The title says it all and then there are lots of checklists. I think more suited for people with large houses. (It was the reference to master bedroom/bathroom that made me think this book didn't quite apply to me.) I did like the chapter on "Unpacking Your Story" which I think is the strongest in the book, and her points about making room for possibilities and fearing the result of keeping clutter.

[T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book got me thinking about how a lot of clutter is just deferred or delayed decisions. The chatty tone makes this an easy read. The only uncomfortable part for me was about bringing grace to your home and this included a Christian view. While published with a Christian publisher, it is not overtly religious and an easy read.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and easy read.

From the chapter ‘Be Focused’:

If you are searching for balance, it really isn’t just about running faster or working harder to keep up with all the pieces before they crash to the ground. That is a recipe for chaos. It’s about simply learning to focus your available energy every day in the most productive way.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Keep in mind that I'm not a non-fiction reader. There were several useful ideas, but there were parts that dragged along. If you are struggling with containing clutter this is an approach and worth reading.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good tips

I enjoyed the book just well enough but I’m not the target market as I’ve written an organising blog for 12 years.

I took some action by using all my cute bowls inside my drawers so they can make me happy daily instead of just once a month.

[Laura McAninch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice read to pick up and review now and then. It'll stay on our bookshelf next to Tsh Oxenreider's 'Organized Simplicity'. Both are great reminders to not let clutter blur your values and ultimately your family's heart/core.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really prefer the method of Marie Kondo’s decluttering book. This is a bit of a dig on that method but with far less clarity. There’s some good take aways still if you need lists for why you should want to declutter. Most people reading this probably already want to however.

[Ellen Kratky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved that this book was small, simple and had both reflective questions and action steps. Suggestions will always need to be tailored to your lifestyle, but overall this book is helpful at reminding me what’s important when facing my never ending to-do list for my home and life.

[Christine55416 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just boring. There are SO many better and more interesting decluttering books on the market, this was a one, webpage blog post made onto a tortured, extended, novella, and it was embarrassingly painful to read. Just go to her Instagram or website instead.

[Maddie Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. The author presents facts about mental and physical clutter in a way that is non-judgmental and inspiring. Absolutely love the practical application section in the back. I’ve already recommended this book to multiple friends and family members.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much better option for me than KonMari. No thanking your keys in this one.

[flourgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy basic information. Not much new or notable but a good basic organizational book

[Jennifer Oppenheimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas! I’m inspired to free myself and my home of unnecessary things and things that I don’t absolutely love. I’ve told my family to get ready - the gazelle is coming their way. 💗

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I filled up a notebook page front and back with notes from this book. Good advice to keep me going on my constant decluttering/organizing journey. Recommended.

[Pinar · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s nothing new. 🙄

[Rebecca Preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

Very practical and great application for organizing the home! Recommend to anyone who is interested and enjoys in keeping a home!